This year’s harvest is nearly three-quarters of the way through, but rain is going to slow things down.
The provincial crop report says 74 per cent of harvest is done, up from 61 per cent last week.
Producers in the southwest region is getting closer to the finish line at 95 per cent complete, while the southeast is 77 per cent done, and the east-central, west-central, and northwest regions are all at 63 per cent complete. The northeast is over the halfway point at 58 per cent.
Crops Extension Specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture Tyce Masich says winter wheat, triticale, field peas, lentils, and fall rye are all in the bin. Durum is the most harvested spring-seeded crop at 93 per cent complete, followed by chickpeas at 89 per cent, barley 88 per cent, spring wheat 81 per cent, oats 73 per cent, and canary seed at 49 per cent. For oilseeds, mustard leads harvest progress at 90 per cent and canola is 47 per cent harvested. Flax is way behind in harvest progress at 33 per cent along with soybeans at 25 per cent.
Masich says the rain will delay combining but it will definitely help areas where it’s dry such as the southwest as well as others for next year.
Indian Head had the most rain recorded at 49 mm, following by the Marsden area at 48 mm, Milden 42, Lizard Lake 41 mm, and 39 mm each for Francis and North Battleford.
Masich says the rain improved soil moisture conditions. Moisture for cropland is one per cent surplus, 41 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short, 21 per cent very short. Moisture for hayland is 36 adequate, 39 per cent short, and 25 per cent very short. Pasture moisture is 26 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short, and 34 per cent very short.
The report says pasture conditions vary by region due to the rain. Provincially, less than one per cent of pastures are in excellent conditon, while 22 per cent are good, 39 per cent fair, 26 per cent poor, and 13 per cent very poor. The best pasture condition are being reported in the northeast and the poorest in the southwest.
Masich says crop damage this week was again due to wind, grasshoppers, and migratory birds.
As produces continue to get everything into the bin, others are starting post-harvest work, such as weed control, storing grain, and hauling bales.
The Ministry of Agriculture reminds producers to not get complacent with the recent rainfall as the risk of fire is still present when working in the field.
A summary of harvest progress by region can be found below:
Southeast
Harvest is now 77 per cent complete in the southeast, which is up 12 per cent from last week. This is a lower increase than the last reporting period, which is due to scattered rainfall in the region causing harvest delays. This is still greater than the five-year average of 66 per cent and 10-year average of 67 per cent.
Harvest is complete for winter wheat, triticale, lentil and field pea crops, with fall rye harvest almost wrapped up at 96 per cent harvested. Additionally, chickpea harvest will be wrapping up soon as 92 per cent have been harvested. Barley and durum lead spring-seeded cereal harvest progress with 94 per cent and 92 per cent, respectively. Spring wheat follows closely behind as 86 per cent of these acres have been harvested. For other spring cereals, 85 per cent of oats have been harvested, along with 49 per cent of canary seed. Mustard is currently 87 per cent harvested, which leads oilseed crops. Canola and flax distantly follow aa 56 per cent and 46 per cent harvested, respectively. Soybeans have the highest percentage of crop remaining in the field as only 33 per cent have been harvested.
There was a significant amount of rainfall in certain areas during this reporting period. The Indian Head area received the most rainfall in the province with 49 mm. The Francis area got 39 mm of rain, while the Trossachs and Avonlea areas each received 28 mm.
The rainfall improved topsoil moisture conditions which were drying out prior to the rain. Cropland topsoil moisture is now 61 per cent adequate, 29 per cent short and 10 per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 53 per cent adequate, 35 per cent short and 12 per cent very short. Finally, pasture topsoil moisture is 52 per cent adequate, 34 per cent short and 14 per cent very short.
Pasture conditions in the southeast are better than provincial averages. Thirty-four per cent of pastures are in good condition, 35 per cent are fair, 26 per cent are poor and five per cent are considered very poor.
Wind and waterfowl were the main sources of crop damage this past week, but damage is considered minor. Once fields dry out, producers will be busy harvesting their remaining crops. Producers are also baling straw and post-harvest harrowing.
Southwest
Harvest is nearly complete in southwest Saskatchewan as 95 per cent of crops have been taken off, which continues to lead the province in harvest progress. Producers are significantly ahead of the five-year average of 77 per cent and the 10-year average of 73 per cent for harvest progress.
All fall-cereal, oat, triticale, soybean and field pea crops have been harvested. Ninety-nine per cent of lentil crops and 91 per cent of chickpeas have been harvested. Harvest is nearly complete for the remaining spring-seeded cereals as 98 per cent of barley, 97 per cent of spring wheat and durum and 87 per cent of canary seed is off. Lastly, most oilseed crops have been combined with 97 per cent of mustard, 94 per cent of canola, and 74 per cent of flax in the bin.
Some areas in the southwest received rain during this reporting period. The most rainfall seen in the southwest was around Richmound, which got 26 mm of precipitation, followed by areas around Dollard and Leader that received 15 mm.
The rain did not significantly impact topsoil moisture and conditions remain dry in the southwest. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated nine per cent adequate, 31 per cent short and 60 per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is four per cent adequate, 33 per cent short and 63 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is also dry as four per cent is adequate, 39 per cent is short and 57 per cent is very short.
The poorest pasture conditions in the province are found in the southwest as a mere five per cent are in good condition, 40 per cent are fair, 30 per cent are poor and 25 per cent are in very poor condition.
The main sources of crop damage this past week were from dry conditions, wind and grasshopper activity. Now that harvest is largely wrapping up, producers are hoping for lots of rain this fall to improve soil moisture and mitigate some of the negative effects of the dry conditions.
East-Central
The east-central region made good harvest progress this past week as producers crossed the half-way point of harvest. Harvest is currently 63 per cent complete, which is up 17 per cent from last week. Like much of the province, harvest in the east-central region is above the five -and 10-year averages. The five-year average for this time is 49 per cent and the 10-year average is 47 per cent.
Harvest is complete for fall cereal, triticale, field pea and chickpea crops in this region. Lentils follow closely behind with 99 per cent harvested. Durum has the fewest acres remaining for spring-seeded cereals as 87 per cent of crops have been harvested, followed by barley at 81 per cent and spring wheat at 80 per cent. Over half of the oats are harvested with 54 per cent harvest progress. Only 10 per cent of canary seed crops have been harvested. Mustard harvest progress leads all oilseed crops with 90 per cent of the crop in the bin. Canola and flax are further behind with only 34 per cent and 14 per cent of crops harvested, respectively. Lastly, half of the soybean crops are off as harvest progress for this crop is sitting at 50 per cent.
The east-central received modest rainfall this week, which was enough to cause harvest delays. The Calder area received the most rain with 25 mm, while Foam Lake and Jedburgh areas both received 18 mm.
Topsoil moisture conditions did improve due to the rainfall, which producers were happy to see. Topsoil moisture for cropland is 60 per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and a mere two per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 47 per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and 13 per cent very short. Finally, pasture topsoil is rated 45 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 13 per cent very short.
Pasture conditions in this region are some of the best in the province, largely due to part of the east-central receiving more rain during the growing season relative to much of the province. Twenty-nine per cent of pastures are in good condition, 39 per cent are in fair condition, 17 per cent are poor and 15 per cent are very poor.
Crop damage was mainly caused by strong winds and recent dry conditions in some areas. Aside from harvesting, producers are busy desiccating late-seeded crops, moving livestock and post-harvest harrowing.
West-Central
Harvest progress this past week increased nine per cent to 63 per cent complete in this region, which is the smallest increase in the province this week. Harvest progress is behind the five-year average of 70 per cent, but ahead of the 60 per cent 10-year average. Many producers in this region experienced rain delays which resulted in slowed progress.
Harvest has finished for fall cereal and field pea crops and lentils are nearly complete at 99 per cent harvested. Well over half of most cereal crops have been harvested, with barley being the closest to being done as 88 per cent of the crop is off. Triticale follows with 75 per cent harvested and spring wheat is a close third at 74 per cent harvest completed. Seventy-one per cent of durum is in the bin, while 67 per cent of oats have been harvested. Canary seed is the only cereal with more than half the crop in the field, as only 43 per cent of canary seed acres have been harvested. Like much of the province, mustard harvest leads all oilseed crops with 59 per cent of the crop off. Harvest progress for canola is at 41 per cent and nine per cent for flax. Most soybeans are still standing as only 15 per cent have been harvested, while no chickpeas have been harvested yet.
West-central Saskatchewan received significant rainfall last week as the highest recorded amount was 48 mm in the Marsden area. The Milden area received 42 mm and Lizard Lake area received 41 mm. Baldwinton and Sonningdale areas both received notable rainfall at 30 mm and 24 mm, respectively.
The abundance of rainfall helped improve topsoil moisture conditions. Cropland topsoil moisture is 38 per cent adequate, 49 per cent short and 13 per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 35 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and 21 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is 33 per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and 20 per cent very short.
Pasture conditions are slightly better in the west-central compared to the provincial average. Twenty-nine per cent of pasture acres are in good condition, 50 per cent are fair, 13 per cent are poor and eight per cent are very poor.
The only notable crop damage in this region was from wind and mild grasshopper activity. Despite causing harvest delays, producers welcomed the rain as conditions have been dry in the west-central region.
Northeast
The northeast experienced the highest increase in harvest progress this past week, as progress increased from 34 per cent to 58 per cent. This is ahead of both the five- and 10-year averages of 50 per cent and 44 per cent respectively.
Harvest of fall cereals, durum and triticale is complete and field pea crops are almost wrapped up with 99 per cent harvested. For spring-seeded cereals, 85 per cent of barley, 75 per cent of spring wheat, 64 per cent of oats and 39 per cent of canary seed have been harvested. Twenty-nine per cent of canola has been combined while only nine per cent of flax is off. Other legumes are making good progress as 76 per cent of lentils, 75 per cent of chickpeas and 50 per cent of soybean crops have been harvested.
The Lake Lenore area received the most rainfall in the northeast with 27 mm. Ridgedale area received 15 mm, while Flett Springs and Yellow Creek areas both got 14 mm. Recent rainfall benefited topsoil moisture as cropland topsoil moisture is 53 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short and eight per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 45 per cent adequate, 45 per cent short and 10 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is 38 per cent adequate, 50 per cent short and 12 per cent very short.
Pasture conditions in the northeast are some of the best in the province. Four per cent of pastures are in excellent condition, 33 per cent are in good condition, 42 per cent are fair, 16 per cent are poor and only five per cent are very poor. These strong pasture conditions relative to the rest of the province are because the northeast has generally received more precipitation this year than the rest of the province.
Crop damage this week was mainly caused by strong winds and waterfowl. Some producers experienced rain delays this week but are mainly focused on getting the crop off in good time when crops dry out.
Northwest
Just like in east- and west-central regions, harvest is 63 per cent complete in the northwest. This is well ahead of the five-year average of 45 per cent and 10-year average of 38 per cent.
Harvest has wrapped up for fall cereal, mustard and lentil crops in the northwest. Nearly all peas have been harvested as 98 per cent have been combined. Spring wheat leads spring cereals in harvest progress with 78 per cent, with barley closely trailing at 74 per cent. Oats are making steady progress as 69 per cent of crops are off. Finally, 58 per cent of flax is in the bin while 36 per cent of canola has been harvested.
The area around North Battleford received the most rainfall in the northwest with 39 mm, followed by Maidstone area with 36 mm. Meadow Lake, Speers and Rabbit Lake all received 24 mm of precipitation. The rain improved topsoil moisture conditions from last week. Cropland topsoil moisture is now 45 per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and 17 per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 36 per cent adequate, 48 per cent short and 16 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is 31 per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and 22 per cent very short.
For northwest pastures,18 per cent are in good condition, 58 per cent are fair, 19 per cent are poor and five per cent are very poor. Pastures in this region would have benefited from the rain this past week, but producer are hoping for more rain this fall to replenish soil moisture and improve conditions for next year.
The main sources of crop damage this past week were from strong winds and waterfowl. Some producers have paused harvest due to wet conditions. Aside from harvest, producers in the Northwest are currently moving livestock and hauling bales.