Another five per cent of the harvest has been completed in Saskatchewan to a total of 32 per cent, states the provincial crop report covering the week of September 8-14.
But the progress is still behind the five-year average of 71 per cent and the 10-year average of 63 per cent.
By region, the southeast is 36 per cent complete, the southwest is at 60 per cent complete, the east-central region 18 per cent, west-central 27 per cent, the northeast is furthest behind at 9 per cent complete, and the northwest is at 12 per cent complete.
Rain continues to slow down farmers around the province. Excessive moisture was among the primary causes of crop damage this past week along with strong winds, waterfowl activity, hail, and frost in later-seeded crops.
The Rural Municipality (RM) of Sarnia recorded the most rainfall this past week at 97 millimetres (mm), followed by the RM of Sasman with 85 mm and the RM of Aberdeen with 80 mm.
The R.M. of Sarnia is located around Holdfast which is northwest of Regina, while the R.M. of Sasman is around Kuroki in the east-central region, and the R.M. of Aberdeen is located northeast of Saskatoon.
The only consolation from the rain is topsoil moisture levels for crop, hay and pasture lands in the province are very adequate.
Crop land topsoil moisture is 34 per cent surplus, 63 per cent adequate and 3 per cent short; hay land moisture is 21 per cent surplus, 74 per cent adequate, 4 per cent short and 1 per cent very short; and pasture moisture is 13 per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate, 6 per cent short and 2 per cent very short.
The harvest of winter wheat and fall rye is almost done with winter wheat at 93 per cent and fall rye at 98 per cent, while other crop types are catching up.
Among oilseeds, mustard is 51 per cent combined, canola 15 per cent, soybeans 7 per cent and flax 5 per cent.
For spring cereals, triticale is 89 per cent harvested, barley 47 per cent, durum 46 per cent, oats 19 per cent, canary seed 18 per cent, and spring wheat 17 per cent.
For pulses, lentils are 88 per cent harvested, field peas are 84 per cent complete and chickpeas are behind at 26 per cent.
Crop reporters gathered crop quality grades for field peas, lentils, durum, and barley.
Field peas:
- 30 per cent graded as 1 Canada (CAN) compared to 42 per cent for the 10-year average;
- 61 per cent graded as 2 CAN compared to 51 per cent for the 10-year average;
- 8 per cent graded as 3 CAN compared to 6 per cent for the 10-year average; and
- 1 per cent graded as sample, similar to 1 per cent for the 10-year average.
Lentils:
- 17 per cent graded as 1 Canada (CAN) compared to 31 per cent for the 10-year average;
- 70 per cent graded as 2 CAN compared to 52 per cent for the 10-year average;
- 9 per cent graded as 3 CAN compared to 15 per cent for the 10-year average; and
- 4 per cent graded as sample, compared to 2 per cent for the 10-year average.
Durum:
- 23 per cent graded as 1 Canada Western (CW) compared to 39 per cent for the 10-year average;
- 28 per cent graded as 2 CW similar to 28 per cent for the 10-year average;
- 25 per cent graded as 3 CW compared to 20 per cent for the 10-year average; and
- 24 per cent graded as other, compared to 13 per cent for the 10-year average.
Barley:
- 18 per cent graded as malt compared to 31 per cent for the 10-year average;
- 53 per cent graded as 1 CW compared to 51 per cent for the 10-year average; and
- 29 per cent graded as 2 CW compared to 18 per cent for the 10-year average.
As farmers are eager to get back into the field once conditions are dry enough, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture reminds producers and the public to keep safety a top priority.
The Farm Stress Line is also available to provide confidential support to producers and their families at 1-800-667-4442.
