Rain delayed harvest in the eastern half of the province last week and the long weekend Labour Day forecast is calling for extensive rain.

The Saskatchewan Agriculture weekly crop report says as of Monday, 18 per cent of the provincial crop had been combined, which is well-behind the 5-year average of 39 per cent and 10-year average of 34 per cent.

The southwest is furthest advanced at 38 per cent combined, southeast 19 per cent, west-central 17 per cent, east-central 10 per cent with the northeast and northwest at four per cent each. As for crops, lentils are 73 per cent harvested, peas 66 per cent, durum 20 per cent, oats 12 per cent, spring wheat 6 per cent and canola is only four per cent combined.

Volunteer crop reporters were asked to assess crop yields—–the following are provincial estimates.

The highest rainfall last week was recorded in the Jansen area at 136 millimetres. Other notable amounts were 125 millimetres in the Esterhazy area, 82 millimetres at Foam Lake, 70 millimetres in the Humboldt and the RM of Redberry, Shellbrook had 53 millimetres while Perdue checked in with 40 millimetres.

While the rain is not needed at harvest, it did improve provincial cropland topsoil moisture conditions. Eleven per cent is now rated as surplus, 64 per cent adequate 20 per cent short and 5 per cent very short.

Crop damage over the past week was mainly due to wind and rain, which caused some localized flooding.  Sclerotinia damage was also reported in canola, especially in areas that received large amounts of rain.