While the weather in southeast Saskatchewan was cool and rainy for much of the past week, it didn’t prevent farmers from making progress on the 2021 harvest.  

According to the latest crop report released by the provincial government, the region now has 30 percent of the crop in the bin, which is well ahead of the five-year average of 19 percent. Another 21 percent of the crop is swathed or ready for straight cut.  

The rains seen in the southeast helped to replenish the moisture levels somewhat, but a lot more would be needed to break the drought conditions. While the rain did help with the moisture levels, though, it will also result in the downgrading of some crops still in the field. 

Across southeast Saskatchewan, cropland topsoil moisture is now rated as five percent surplus, 51 percent adequate, 35 percent short and nine percent very short. For hay and pasture land topsoil moisture, it is rated as 32 percent adequate, 46 percent short and 22 percent very short.  

There was some crop damage reported in the past week. This was primarily due to the season-long drought conditions, strong winds, grasshoppers and flea beetles. Concerns about the risk of fire in the fields were also somewhat alleviated due to the recent rainfall.