Fifty-six per cent of the 2012 crop has been harvested, well above the provincial five-year (2007-2011) average of 40 per cent. Twenty-eight per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight combine, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report.

Significant harvest progress was made across the province. The southwest has 85 per cent combined; the southeast 76 per cent, the east-central region 50 per cent, the west-central region 40 per cent, the northeast 31 per cent and the northwest 27 per cent. Forty-four per cent of spring wheat, 68 per cent of durum, 52 per cent of barley and canola, 76 per cent of mustard, 83 per cent of lentils and 94 per cent of field peas have been combined.

Provincially, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as four per cent surplus, 58 per cent adequate, 30 per cent short and eight per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 52 per cent adequate, 32 per cent short and 14 per cent very short.

Rainfall this week ranged from trace amounts in the majority of the province to 26 mm in some areas of the northwest. Strong winds have damaged some canola crops. The west-central and northwestern areas also received hailstorms that have caused some damage.

Farmers are busy harvesting, seeding winter cereals, hauling bales and controlling weeds.

Follow the 2012 Crop Report on Twitter at @SKGovAg.