WINNIPEG, (MarketsFarm) – Swathing and combining were underway as of the week of August 6 to 12, according to the Saskatchewan crop report released on Thursday.

At this point the harvest was behind the five-year average of four per cent complete and last year’s pace at this time of five per cent.

The fall rye harvest was furthest along at 19 per cent complete, followed by winter wheat at 14 per cent. Fields peas were at eight per cent and lentils at one. No other crops rated any progress.

Across the province, the harvest progressed the most in the southern regions. The central and northern region had either just started or farmers were waiting to begin.

Precipitation delayed some of the harvest in the south last week with trace amounts up to 82 millimeters in the Pense area. There were reports of crop damage due to strong winds or localized flooding.

Topsoil moisture levels rated three per cent surplus, 78 adequate, 17 short and two very short. On pastures and hay lands moisture levels were one per cent surplus, 72 adequate, 25 short, and two very short.

Hay yields were below average overall, with dryland yields at 0.9 tons per acres for alfalfa, one ton for alfalfa/bromegrass, 0.8 for other tame hay, 0.7 for wild hay and 1.8 tons for greenfeed.

Irrigated hay yields garnered 2.4 tons for alfalfa, 2.2 for alfalfa/bromegrass, 1.9 for other tame hay, 1.2 for wild hay and 3.2 for greenfeed.