Over the past seven days, precipitation has fallen across most of the province, focusing heavily on the Central, Eastern, and Southern Regions.
Several Interlake stations and the Swan Valley station in the Northwest logged no rain whatsoever. The most was seen at the Kane Station totaling 54.8mm.
Soil moisture has been maintained well throughout the season, and the accumulation of growing degree days in strong supply, slightly varying at 95%-105% depending on location.
Early harvest numbers also continue to roll in, as winter wheat and fall rye crops are well past half done, at 60% and 72% respectively.
Most of that is being driven by the Central, Eastern, and Southwest areas, as both the Northwest and Interlake areas are just beginning.
Early yield estimates are 80 to 110 bu/acre in the Central region and an average of 75 bu/acre in the Eastern region.
In other cereals, Spring cereal harvest has started, with 3% of spring wheat and oats, and 15% of barley estimated as complete. With the latest spring wheat is in the soft to
hard dough stage.
Spring wheat quality is rated mostly good with 5% of the crop being reported as poor in the Southwest, Northwest, and Central regions.
Corn ranges from the R1 to R3 stage.
Oilseeds are beginning to be harvested, with canola beginning in the Central and the earliest-seeded sunflowers have completed flowering and reached seed development. Most flax fields are in growth stage 11.
Pulses and soybeans made progress, with field pea harvest ongoing in the Central Region, with most other areas mostly in the R 7 stage.
Soybeans in the Southwest, Northwest, and Interlake regions are mostly in the R4 to R5 stage. In the Central and Eastern regions, soybeans are at R5 to R6.
The warm weather and rainfall did create ideal conditions for forage and pasture growth across most of the province, and good progress has been made in putting up hay and silage.
Dairy producers are mostly done with their second cut of alfalfa, and the first cuts of beef hay have also been completed.
Drying conditions haven't been ideal though, as the humidity has left some heavy dew in the mornings.
Dugouts are at 70% of normal capacity, and water supplies are reported to be adequate.
Last week left the Northwest Region with hotter, drier conditions, leading to some good time for crops to grow and some of the harvest to begin.
Grandview received the most precipitation at 42 mm. Temperatures were in the mid to high 20s with Birch River station recording the highest daytime temperature of 29.3 degrees. The lowest overnight temperature was at Ruthenia station at 6.8 degrees.
Most spring wheat is in the dough development stage with the earliest seeded fields moving towards maturity. The later-seeded fields continue to catch up, and small start to spring wheat harvest so far.
The majority of canola crops have completed flowering and continue in pod development and maturity. A small start to swathing/desiccation has begun on the earliest maturing fields.
The recent heat has helped advance Soybean crops. They are in the R4-R5 stage and are looking good with more pod fill evident.
I'm sure many producers in the area are antsy to get harvest started, and hopefully, the forecast ahead shows us some more favorable conditions than the rain from the past couple of days.
Stay safe, and here's wishing you the best of luck this harvest season.
