Through early September, conditions have generally been cool and moderately wet. Over the past week, almost all Regions in the province have experienced hail. Additionally, a frost occurred between September 12 and 13 in most fields of the South, Central, North West and Peace Regions. The potential damage of hail or frost has not yet been determined. The hot and sunny weather in the forecast for the upcoming week is welcome news for producers.
Harvest operations have been delayed due to the wet and cool weather conditions. Provincially, about 20 per cent of crops have been harvested (up five per cent from last week), 29 per cent are in the swath (up nine per cent from a week ago) and 51 per cent remain standing (down 14 per cent from last week). It seems that producers are cautious about laying their crops in damp soils and are taking the risk of yield loss due to head breakage under windy conditions as the crops continue to dry standing. Across the province, nearly 85 per cent of dry peas, 67 per cent of canola, 39 per cent of barley, 31 per cent of spring wheat and 15 per cent of oats are either harvested or swathed. When compared to the 5-year average (2011-2015), harvest progress is behind in all Regions and down about 17 per cent provincially.
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Surface and sub-surface soil moisture ratings (5-year averages in brackets) across the province slightly improved to 86 (58) and 80 (63) per cent good to excellent, respectively with three (one) and one (less than one) per cent excessive. Pasture conditions are rated as three (11) per cent poor, 26 (34) per cent fair, 60 (44) per cent good and 11 (11) per cent excellent. Tame hay conditions have similar ratings and are reported as three (13) per cent poor, 24 (36) per cent fair, 61 (41) per cent good and 12 (10) per cent excellent.
