Producers in southern Saskatchewan are working to get the 2019 crop into the bin, as harvest continues into the end of August.

Due to the late rain in and around Moose Jaw, nearby producers haven't been able to collect their crops at the average rate, as the drying speeds up the ripening process. The latest crop report from the provincial ministry of agriculture shows three percent of the crop is now in the bin. This is up from one percent last week, but still behind the five year average of 14 percent.

Cory Jacob is a crops extension specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture. He explained the five-year average isn’t necessarily how people should be comparing the crop.

“We had some really good years where we could start harvest quite early, and that’s being reflected in being behind the five-year average,” Jacob pointed out.

In addition to the amount combined, another seven percent of the crop has been swathed or is ready for straight-cut.

Jacob expects that number to go up substantially in the coming weeks.

“When the crops mature, producers are going to get out and be rolling quite heavy and hard,” he said.

Provincially, agriculture producers have combined two percent of the crop, with another five percent swathed or ready for straight-cut.