Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly crop report says 23 per cent of the provincial crop was combined as of Monday. That is up 11 per cent from the previous week—but well behind the five-year average of 40 per cent and the 10-year average of 34 per cent.

For some producers, combining is more challenging than previous years. Tyce Masich is a crops extension specialist who helps compile the weekly crop report.

Combining is 39 per cent complete in the southwest and 33 per cent in the southeast.  Central and northern regions are all in the same range:  east-central (16 per cent), northeast (13 per cent), northwest (12 per cent) and west-central (10 per cent). Many crop in the west-central region have not reached full-maturity, with most spring cereal crops still standing.

This is the provincial harvest progress by crop:  peas (73 per cent), lentils (60 per cent), barley (34 per cent), durum (30 per cent), oats (17 per cent), and spring wheat (14 per cent).

Scott Anderson farms in the Hanley area about 80 kilometres south of Saskatoon.

Most regions of the province were dry last week—with relatively small amounts of rain in the southwest. Piapot had the most at 25 millimetres with Shaunavon at 18 millimetres.

Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 67 per cent adequate, 29 per cent short and two per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is three per cent surplus, 51 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and nine per cent very short.

Wind is causing the most crop damage right now. Grasshoppers and berth armyworms continue to cause minor crop damage in the northeast and northwest as well.