Producers across the province now have 16 per cent of the 2015 crop combined and 19 per cent swathed or ready to straight-cut, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly crop report.
The five-year (2010-2014) average for this time of the year is six per cent combined and 14 per cent swathed or ready to straight-cut.
Last week, only nine per cent of the crop was combined, while last year at this time, just over one per cent the crop was combined. “Provincially, we went from nine to 16 per cent, so we’re doing pretty good,’’ said Brent Flaten, integrated pest management specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture in Moose Jaw.
Southwestern producers are the most advanced, with 33 per cent of the crop combined, while those in the southeast have 27 per cent combined. By contrast, only eight per cent of the crop is combined in the west-central region, three per cent in the east-central and northwestern regions, and two per cent in the northeast.
“Progress was made despite rain in some areas,’’ Flaten said. “We didn’t need that late-season rain.’’
Rainfall and cool temperatures during the week caused some delays in harvesting, the report said. Rainfall ranged from trace amounts to two and a half inches in some areas.
There are reports of bleaching, staining or sprouting of some cereal crops due to weather conditions. Hail, wind and frost also caused some crop damage. “Some of the issues (with cereal crops) are bleaching and staining. With the pulses, there are issues with pod-splitting. Those late rains when the crop is ripe are not good for it.”
Source : LeaderPost