More than 1/2 the Sask. crop in bin

Farmers have seen lots of rain in recent days, but fortunately the harvest is ahead of schedule.

According to the Saskatchewan Agriculture Ministry, farmers now have 55 per cent of the crop combined, compared to the five-year average of 44 per cent combined.

Another 30 per cent is swathed or ready to straight cut, the ministry said in its weekly crop report Thursday.

It's a dramatic turnaround from the early summer, when crop development was about two weeks behind schedule in many areas due to slow snow melt and a cooler-than-normal spring.

Late summer has seen several weeks of warm dry weather.

However, that came to an end Wednesday and Thursday, with rain across the grain belt.

Harvest was most advancedin the southwest and leastin the northeast.

Good yields as well as good quality are being reported by many farmers.

Of the crops that have been harvested so far, 97 per cent of peas, 83 per cent of lentils and 70 per cent of durum wheatis estimated to fall within the top two quality grades, the crop report said.

Next week's crop report might not have as much cheery news, however. Wet weather is keeping farmers off their combines and frost warnings have been issued for the days ahead.