Harvest and fieldwork efforts stalled by significant rainfall

More rain hit the ground this week than last week in the province, according to the weekly Saskatchewan Agriculture crop report for August 5th-11th. 

Although it was welcome in areas where crops were seeded later, some producers are concerned about the potential impact the rain will have on quality of crops seeded earlier in the season. 

The rain also stalled operations in many areas, and most producers are now waiting for some warm, dry weather to support crop development. 

 Rainfall was significant across most of Saskatchewan. The Beatty area northwest of Melfort received the most with 105 millimetres (mm), followed by the Calder area near the Manitoba border with 103 mm and the Star City area with 102 mm. The Bruno, Prince Albert and Saskatoon areas all received 90 mm of rain or more.

Following the soaking, provincial cropland topsoil moisture now sits at 11 per cent surplus, 75 per cent adequate, 11 per cent short and only three per cent very short. For hayland, topsoil moisture is eight per cent surplus, 68 per cent adequate, 16 per cent short and eight per cent very short. Pastures have topsoil moisture levels at six per cent surplus, 67 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and eight per cent very short. 

Producers, mainly in the southwest, have been able to get two per cent of provincial crops harvested. This is behind the provincial five- and 10-year averages. Some producers in the southeast and east-central are starting to take crop off, however no one in west-central or north regions has fired up teir combines yet.