ASSINIBOIA - The region is now 98 per cent completed harvest, ahead of the five-year average of 89 per cent, according to the crop report for the period of September 19 to 25. Producers in the area need rain and moisture before next year’s crops are seeded.
Producers in the southwest are now focusing on preparing for winter as they wait for their last fields of canola at 95 per cent complete and flax at 68 per cent complete, to mature. Producers hope more rain and moisture come to replenish the soils for next year.
The most rain recorded this week was six mm in the Big Beaver area. This caused a decrease in topsoil moisture. Cropland is now 44 per cent short for moisture, 56 per cent is very short. Forty per cent of hay and pastures are short in moisture and 60 per cent are very short. Producers are experiencing water shortages for their livestock and are concerned about the quality of water available for their animals.
With the crops off, producers are working their fields and marketing grain. Livestock producers are marketing cattle, hauling feed and water and preparing for winter.
