Harvest 81 per cent complete, well ahead of five-year average: Crop report

Harvest in Saskatchewan is more than 80 per cent complete and well ahead of the five-year average, according to the weekly crop report from the Ministry of Agriculture.

According to the report, harvest is 81 per cent complete across the province, up from 73 per cent last week and ahead of the five-year average of 75 per cent. Harvest is largely complete in the southwest and west-central regions, the report noted, but some parts of the province were slowed down by cool, wet weather.

The crop report, which covered the period from Sept. 20 to Monday, showed harvest was most advanced in the southwest, with 98 per cent of the crop already in the bin. The west-central region was not far behind, with harvest 97 per cent complete.

The southeast was 74 per cent complete, the northwest was 70 per cent complete, the northeast was 69 per cent done, and harvest in the east-central region was 65 per cent complete.

The harvest of lentil and pea crops was almost complete, the report noted. The durum and chickpea harvests were both more than 90 per cent complete, while barley (86 per cent) and spring wheat (83 per cent) weren’t far behind. The canola harvest is rolling along too, with 66 per cent of the harvest complete and another 26 per cent ready to be swathed.

The southwest and northeast got the most rain during the most recent reporting period, with some parts of the province getting 35 millimetres.

Cropland topsoil moisture was rated as one per cent surplus, 34 per cent adequate, 35 per cent short, and 30 per cent very short. For hay and pasture land, moisture was rated as one per cent surplus, 27 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short, and 33 per cent very short.

Some producers are reporting on-site water shortages, the report said, which are severe in a few cases.

“Those producers are reporting that the situation is getting worse each week they don’t receive rain,” the report read. “Producers are hauling water, bringing livestock closer to home or are drilling new wells to replace depleted or unsafe water sources.”

The lack of soil moisture is slowing down the planting of winter cereals in many areas, the report noted, and the dry conditions are also delaying the application of fall fertilizer.

Some crop damage was caused by wind, waterfowl and wildlife in the most recent reporting period. High winds blew around swaths and caused lodging, the report said.

While producers are rarely eager for frost, the report noted that a bit of overnight chill could be beneficial this week.

“Frost would be helpful for producers who are struggling with green stems as it will kill off green growth and reduce the need for herbicide applications,” the report read.