Rain stalls west-central harvest at 27 per cent

By Your Southwest Media Group

Farmers in the region had combined only 27 per cent of their fields as of Sept. 14, up from 25 per cent a week earlier and well behind the five- and 10-year averages of 74 and 65 per cent for that time, respectively.

The highest amounts fell south of Rosetown, with 46 millimetres in the Rural Municipality of Monet and 38 in Lacadena, followed by Fertile Valley, 36; St. Andrews and the RM of Milden, 24; Snipe Lake, 13; Pleasant Valley, 11; and the RMs of Biggar and Harris, eight.

Another 9.5 millimetres fell at the Rosetown airport on Sept. 14, bringing the total for the month to 82.9 millimetres, over 3.25 inches.

Only 24 per cent of the west-central barley that had been combined met malt standards, with 62 per cent No. 1. Most other crops mainly graded No. 2, the report showed.

Heavy rain and frost caused most of the damage.

“Many producers are concerned about grain quality, sprouting, bleaching and lodging,” the report said.

Topsoil moisture levels improved to 14 per cent surplus, 84 per cent adequate and two per cent short in fields, and seven per cent surplus, 91 per cent adequate and two per cent short in hay and pasture land.

Rain fell around the province, so farmers had combined only 32 per cent of their fields, up from 27 per cent the week before and far behind the five- and 10-year averages of 71 and 63 per cent.

Excessive moisture, strong winds and feeding by waterfowl did the most damage, while frost damage in later-seeded fields and hail damaged crops in some areas, the provincewide report said.

Farmers had combined 88 per cent of the lentils, 84 per cent of their peas, 47 per cent of the barley, 46 per cent of their durum and just 17 per cent of the spring wheat.

Only 17 per cent of the lentils had graded No. 1, with 70 per cent No. 2, and 18 per cent of the barley reached malt standard.

Farmers in the southwest had combined 60 per cent of their fields; southeast, 36 per cent; west-central, 27 per cent; northwest, 12 per cent and northeast, nine per cent.