Southeast Sask. leads the way during harvest season

Saskatchewan farmers are making good progress with this year’s harvest.

The most recent report from the province suggested farmers have nine per cent of the crop combined, while 21 per cent of crops have been swathed.

Farmers in the southeast are leading the way with 19 per cent harvested and in the bin, followed by the southwest at 12 per cent. In the east-central region six per cent is combined, four per cent in the west-central, while the north, east and west are at three per cent.

The combined crop numbers are as follows:

• 83 per cent of winter wheat
• 20 per cent of fall rye
• 41 per cent of field peas
• 21 per cent of lentils
• 10 per cent of barley
• 5 per cent of mustard
• 4 per cent of spring wheat
• 3 per cent of durum
• 2 per cent of canola

Thirty-three per cent of canola and 12 per cent of mustard have been swathed.

Some rain fell in Saskatchewan over the past week, with areas in the northwest – such as Meadow Lake – receiving 119 millimetres.

The majority of the province, however, received little to no rain.

Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 18 per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate and four per cent short.

Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate, nine per cent short and one per cent very short.

The report said the majority of crop damage was caused by too much water, strong winds, lodging and diseases like fusarium head blight, sclerotinia and mould.