Harvest is underway in Saskatchewan according to the newest crop report, released today showing off that progress.

According to that harvest is now 4 per cent complete in Saskatchewan, ahead of the 5 and 10-year average of 2 per cent. 

Crop Extension Specilaist with the Ministry of Agriculture Mackenzie Hladun describes the progress of various crops.

The producers have been working on taking winter cereals and pulse crops off this week. Fall rye is the most advanced with 43 per cent of the crop off. Winter wheat is currently 15 per cent harvested for the year. Field peas are the most harvested of all spring-seeded crops, with 22 per cent of this year's crop in the bin. Lentils are not far behind, with 17 per cent of the crop being harvested."

"In general, harvest is just beginning for oil seeds such as canola, flax, mustard, and soybeans. Right now what we're seeing is that harvest progress is the most advanced in the southwest with 11% of that region being harvested. The Northwest region is only just beginning with less than one per cent of their crop off."

operations to get feed crops such as hay and silage are also ongoing.

"Many hay and salvage operations are finishing the last fields right away, and provincially dry land alfalfa yields are estimated to be 1.2 tons per acre, while greenfeed is estimated to be 1.4 tons per acre. Irrigated alfalfa is estimated to yield 2.9 tons per acre, while greenfeed is estimated to yield 1.2 tons per acre. Silage yields are currently estimated to be about 4.4 tons per acre."

"Water quality is a concern for many of our livestock producers this year given those dry conditions, if any producers are feeling that their water quality should be tested, they're welcome to bring in samples to our local regional offices for water quality testing."

Moisture is varied across the province, with the southwest receiving a much-needed boost.

"For this past week, we saw scattered and varying rain showers move through the province this week. The southwest reported the most precipitation, with about 36 millimeters being reported in the Eyebrow region. The Pelly region also reports different moisture with 31 millimeters, while other areas of the province received as little as trace amounts. Provincially, we're seeing that 12 per cent of cropland has adequate topsoil moisture, 35 per cent of short and four to three per cent is very short. 10 per cent of hay and pasture that has adequate topsoil moisture, 43 per cent short, and 48 per cent very short."

Hladun reminds drivers to be careful when going along roads as farm equipment will be busy over the next few weeks.