We’re a third of the way through harvest.
The Saskatchewan Crop Report says 33 percent has been combined, up from 21 percent last week, and ahead of the 5-year average of 23 percent as well as the 10-year average of 20 percent.
Crops Extension Specialist MacKenzie Hladun says the southwest is furthest advanced at 60 percent complete, followed by by the west-central at 39 percent, the southeast 20 percent, east-central 12 percent, northeast 8 percent, and northwest 5 percent.
Hladun says all crop types are reaching maturity, allowing producers to make progress on harvest.
According to the crop report, “fall cereals are nearing completion, with 96 percent of fall rye and 89 percent of winter wheat in the bin for the year. Lentils and field peas are leading the way in spring seeded crops, with 80 percent of each crop harvested. Mustard made significant progress this week, with 55 percent of the crop harvested, ahead of other oilseeds including canola (10 percent) and flax (7 percent). Producers are currently focusing on getting their spring cereals harvested and have 48 percent of durum, 46 percent of barley, 26 percent of spring wheat and 19 per cent of oats harvested. 60 per cent of triticale is harvested, with 56 per cent being used for feed.”
The east side of the province got the most moisture this past week, and it had a positive affect on crop land and hay and pasture land moisture levels.
The Bankend area got the most rain at 50 mm, and the Tisdale area received 34 mm. Crop land topsoil moisture is 32 percent adequate, 43 percent short and 24 percent very short, while hay and pasture land is 22 percent adequate, 49 percent short and 29 percent very short.
Grasshoppers and gophers continue to cause damage, and as well as geese that are returning. The crop report also noted “environmental damage such as hail, wind, drought and localized flooding.”
A region-by-region breakdown is below.
Southeast
With the rain staying out of the southeast for a few days, producers in the region were able to make great progress with harvest. Harvest in the southeast is now 35 per cent complete, ahead of the five-year average of 31 per cent.
Producers in the region have made significant progress in their fall cereals. Winter wheat is now 80 per cent complete and fall rye is 93 per cent complete. Field peas and lentils are also nearing completion, with 82 per cent of field peas and 78 per cent of lentils harvested for the year. Regarding spring seeded cereals; 38 per cent of spring wheat, 41 per cent of durum, 51 per cent of barley and 33 per cent of oats are harvested in the region. Mustard leads oilseed progress, with 49 per cent of the crop in the bin. Ten per cent of canola has been harvested so far.
A few scattered showers made it through the region. The Tantallon area received the most moisture with 27 mm reported. Soil moisture in the region diminished a little this week; 28 per cent of crop land has adequate moisture, 39 per cent is short and 33 per cent is very short. Sixteen per cent of hay and pasture land has adequate moisture, 53 per cent is short and 32 per cent is very short.
Crop damage this past week is mostly due to drought and grasshoppers with some reports of wind damage. Producers are busy with harvest and are working cattle. With the crops coming off quickly, many producers are hoping late season rains will come and replenish soil moisture.
Southwest
The southwest region continues to lead harvest progress this week with 60 per cent of this year’s crop harvested. The area is ahead of the five-year average of 46 per cent.
Producers have wrapped up their fall cereal harvest this past week and now have 95 per cent of winter wheat and all of fall rye harvested for year. Twenty-seven per cent of fall rye was harvested for feed. Field peas and lentils continue to lead pulse harvest progress, with 88 per cent of peas and 85 per cent of lentils harvested. Mustard continues to lead oilseed progress, with 65 per cent of this year’s crop in the bin. Thirty-three per cent of canola has been harvested so far. Currently, producers are focusing on harvesting spring seeded cereals. Forty-eight per cent of spring wheat, 56 per cent of durum, 77 per cent of barley and 60 per cent of oats have been harvested for the year.
A few scattered showers moved through the region this week; however, little moisture relief was provided. The Cabri area received 28 mm this week. Overall, topsoil moisture declined this week, with 61 per cent of crop land short in topsoil moisture and 39 per cent very short. Fifty-three per cent of hay and pastures are short in moisture and 47 per cent are very short.
Crop damage this week is primarily due to drought stress as well as grasshopper and gopher pressure. Producers are busy combining, desiccating and hauling water and feed for their livestock. Many producers are hoping for long, slow rains once the rest of the crop is off.
East-Central
After some rain delays, conditions have improved and harvest is once again in full swing. Crops in the region are now 19 per cent harvested, ahead of the five-year average of 15 per cent.
Producers have made great progress in their fall cereals this week and have 96 per cent of winter wheat and fall rye in the bin for the year. Field peas are 82 per cent harvested and lentils are 77 per cent harvested for the year. Mustard leads oilseed progress with 32 per cent of the crop in the bin, ahead of canola at four per cent and flax at two per cent. Producers are mainly focusing on spring seeded cereals right now, 39 per cent of barley, 13 per cent of spring wheat, 11 per cent of durum and six per cent of oats are harvested for the year.
Scattered showers moved through the region this week. The Bankend area received the most rain, with 50 mm recorded. This moisture helped replenish soil moisture and 54 per cent of crop land now has adequate moisture, 33 per cent is short and 13 per cent is very short. In pastures and hay land, 37 per cent have adequate soil moisture, 50 per cent is short and 13 per cent is very short.
Crop damage this past week is primarily due to drought stress and grasshopper damage, with localized flooding and wind damage reported. Producers are busy desiccating and combining mature crops, while others are hauling feed and water for livestock.
West-Central
As the dry conditions persist in the west-central region, producers have been able to progress through harvest with minimal interruption. Harvest is now 39 per cent complete, ahead of the five-year average of 25 per cent.
Producers in the region have completed their fall cereal harvest. Twelve per cent of fall rye was harvested for greenfeed and/or sileage. Field peas and lentils lead pulse harvest at 81 per cent and 74 per cent. Mustard is at 32 per cent and canola is at complete15 per cent. Spring cereals have been the focus of harvest this week, with 37 per cent of spring wheat, 35 per cent of durum, 46 per cent of oats and 57 per cent of barley have been harvested.
A few scattered showers moved through the region this week, the Hanley area reporting the most rain received at 25 mm. A slight reprieve was seen in topsoil moisture this week. Eighteen per cent of crop land has adequate moisture, 51 per cent is short and 31 per cent is very short. Nine per cent of hay and pastures have adequate moisture, 37 per cent is short and 53 per cent is very short.
Crop damage this past week is due to drought stress and grasshoppers. Producers are busy desiccating and harvesting, working livestock and hauling water and feed. Producers are hoping for slow, soaking rains once the crops are off to improve soil moisture for the next growing season.
Northeast
The northeast region now has 13 per cent of this year’s harvest completed, slightly ahead of the five-year average of 12 per cent. Producers have been able to make the most of a few days without moisture in the region.
With the fall cereals harvested for the year, producers are making headway in their field peas at 58 per cent harvested and lentils are virtually complete. Spring cereals are the primary focus of harvest in the region right now, with 44 per cent of durum, 36 per cent of barley, 15 per cent of spring wheat and nine per cent of oats harvested. Minimal harvest progress has been made in oilseed crops.
A few scattered showers moved through the northeast this week, with the Tisdale area reporting 34 mm. An increase in topsoil moisture was reported this week, with three per cent of crop land having a surplus of topsoil moisture, 77 per cent is adequate, 19 per cent is short and two per cent is very short. Five per cent of hay and pastures have a surplus of moisture, 67 per cent is adequate, 27 per cent is short and one per cent is very short.
Crop damage this past week is mostly due to wind and drought damage, with some localized flooding. Producers are busy desiccating and combining crops, while working livestock and hauling bales.
Northwest
Harvest is eight per cent complete in the region, which is just below the five-year average of nine per cent. Producers are wrapping up desiccating as harvest is entering full swing.
Producers have shifted their focus from fall rye, which is 94 per cent harvested, to their spring seeded crops this week. Field peas are 56 per cent harvested for the year and 85 per cent of lentils are in the bin for the year. Spring cereals are just starting to go through the combine and are being led by barley with 10 per cent of the crop harvested. Two per cent of flax and canola have been harvested for the year.
This week, the most rain received was in the Turtleford area at 21 mm. Soil moisture remains relatively unchanged this week, with 45 per cent of crop land having adequate moisture, 49 per cent is short and seven per cent is very short. Thirty-six per cent of hay and pastures have adequate soil moisture, 52 per cent is short and 12 per cent is very short.
Crop damage this week is due to localized flooding, wind damage and geese in the fields. Producers are busy swathing canola, combining, and hauling water and feed for livestock.
