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Harvest in Saskatchewan is more than halfway done.
According to the weekly crop report from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, which covered the week ending on Monday, harvest is now 53 per cent complete across the province, an increase of 12 per cent from the previous week.
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But despite the good progress farmers across the province made on their work over the past week, rainfall slowed harvest operations in some parts of Saskatchewan and remains behind the five-year average of 73 per cent and the 10-year average of 62 per cent.
Harvest is furthest advanced in the southwest region, where 66 per cent of the year’s crops are in the bin. The southeast isn’t far behind, with harvest 58 per cent complete, while the west-central and northwest regions were both sitting at 47 per cent. Harvest was 46 per cent complete in east-central Saskatchewan, while only 42 per cent of crops in the northeast have been combined.
The winter wheat and fall rye crops have been completely harvested, the ministry said, with field peas and lentils close to complete as well. Flax and soybeans are the least advanced, with only six per cent of the flax crop and 13 per cent of the soybean crop in the bin.
“There was significant rainfall in some areas of the province during this reporting period,” the report noted.
“The Kipling area received the most rainfall this past week with 100 mm. The Lampman and Aberdeen areas closely followed with 85 mm and 81 mm of precipitation, respectively.”
But while the rain did delay harvest in some parts of the province, it was welcomed by farmers who have been struggling with dry conditions this year.
In cropland, topsoil moisture was rated as six per cent surplus, 66 per cent adequate, 22 per cent short and six per cent very short. In hayland, moisture levels were rated as six per cent surplus, 58 per cent adequate, 25 per cent short and 11 per cent very short. Pasture moisture levels were rated at three per cent surplus, 54 per cent adequate, 29 per cent short and 14 per cent very short.
Crop yields vary greatly across the province, the ministry added, due to the fluctuation of rainfall received during the growing season.
“After harvest has wrapped up, producers are hoping for lots of rain to restore depleted soil moisture reserves,” the ministry noted.
Crop damage over the week covered in the report was brought to you by the letter W: wind, waterfowl and wildlife. In some areas, the ministry said frost caused damage to later-seeded crops, while grasshopper activity remains high in some areas.
“Producers are still working hard to swath and combine crops,” the ministry explained.
“As we move into the later stages of harvest, more producers will be focused on post-harvest weed control, storing grain and hauling bales.”
The full version of the weekly crop report can be found on the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s website.
