Favourable weather conditions over the last two weeks allowed many farmers around Saskatchewan to wrap up harvest.
The provincial crop report has harvest at 82 per cent complete, up 19 per cent from the previous week. However, it's behind the five year average of 97 per cent and the ten year average of 88 per cent complete for this time of the season.
Farmers in the southwest and west-central regions are furthest along at 92 per cent, followed by the northwest region at 80 per cent, the southeast 77 per cent, and both the east-central and northeast regions are at 74 per cent complete.
The harvest of fall rye, winter wheat, and triticale is complete while field peas (99 per cent), lentils (98 per cent), and mustard (95 per cent) are almost done.
Among the rest of the spring cereal crops, barley and durum are both 92 per cent harvested, spring wheat 88 per cent, oats 77 per cent, and canary seed 68 per cent.
Of the oilseed crops, canola is 72 per cent complete, flax is 51 per cent, and soybeans 27 per cent.
Chickpeas are the furthest behind other pulses at 89 per cent harvested.
Crop reporters followed up on yields for all crop types.
For cereal crops, oats is the highest reported at 94 bushels per acre, followed by barley at 72 bushels, hard red spring wheat at 53, and durum 45 bushels an acre.
For pulses, field peas are yielding an average of 37 bushels per acre, lentils 1,532 pounds per acre, and chickpeas 1,751 pounds.
For oilseeds, canola is yielding about 40 bushels an acre, flax 26 bushels, and mustard 1,039 pounds.
Crops Extension Specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture Kim Stonehouse said yields are variable overall.
"Last year we were significantly above these yields, but they're similar to what we reported last month and the average provincial yields remain at or above historical averages for most crop types," he said. "They are variable throughout the province due to the regional rainfall levels and agronomic challenges that may have happened during the growing season."
Regarding the quality of hard red spring wheat, Stonehouse says it's also variable.
The Crop Report had 31 per cent of hard red spring wheat as 1 Canada Western (CW), 44 per cent graded as 2 CW, 19 per cent as 3 CW, and six per cent as CW Feed.
There is less crop damage reported since more crops have been harvested but what remains in the field did receive minor to moderate damage from wind, wildlife, and freezing temperatures.
There was little to no rain this past week with topsoil moisture levels still very adequate.
Crop land moisture is rated at eight per cent surplus, 83 per cent adequate, 8 per cent short, and one per cent very short.
Hay land moisture is three per cent surplus, 84 per cent adequate, 11 per cent short, and two per cent very short.
Pasture topsoil moisture is two per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate, 16 per cent short, and three per cent very short.
Fall field work is underway for producers finished with harvest, including spraying for weeds, harrowing, applying fertilizer, and moving livestock.
With dry conditions and farmers starting post-harvest work, the Ministry is reminding everyone to still keep safety top of mind.
