Warm temperatures across the province have helped rapidly develop and ripen crops, with some reports of premature ripening.
Four percent of crops in the province have been combined, up one percent from last week and slightly behind the five-year average of five percent. Six percent of the crop has been swathed or is ready to straight-cut, behind the five-year average of eight percent.
62 percent of fall rye, 37 percent of winter wheat, 22 percent of field peas, 19 percent of lentils, and 6 percent of barley has been combined. An additional 3 percent of canola has been swathed or is ready to straight-cut.
The southwest region has the most percentage of crop combined at 11 percent, 5 percent of the crop has been combined in the southeast, 2 percent in the central regions, and less than one percent in the northern regions. Some farmers in the northern regions have started to desiccate and swath early seeded crops with many planning to follow suit in the next couple of weeks.
Most of the province received a trace amount of rain this week, with the Glenavon area receiving the most rain with 77 mm. Some rain was reported in parts of the eastern crop districts of the east-central and southeast regions. The rest of the province received anywhere from zero up to 13 mm or rain.
Moisture conditions declined this week throughout most of the province, except in areas in the southeast and east-central regions that received rain. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 44 percent adequate, 39 percent short, and 17 percent very short. Hay and pastureland topsoil moisture is rated as 33 percent adequate, 42 percent short, and 25 percent very short.
The causes of crop damage in the province remain the same, with most caused by wind, heat, lack of moisture wildlife and insects such as grasshoppers. There have been some reports of flea beetle damage in canola crops, as well as localized hail damage.
