Harvest Starting To Progess In Some Parts of Province

Producers across Saskatchewan are getting into the field to get the 2020 crop in the bin, and progress was made on the harvest in much of the southern half of the province. Less than ideal conditions in recent weeks in the north, however, have producers in those regions still waiting to get out in the field in some areas. 

 

Provincially, four percent of the crop has been combined, which is just behind the five year average of five percent. Another six percent of the crop has been swathed or is ready for straight cut, behind the five year average of eight percent.  

 

The progress does vary between regions. The southwest is the furthest along, with 11 percent combined. Five percent has been combined in the southeast, along with two percent in the central regions and less than one percent in the northern regions. In the northern regions, farmers have started to desiccate and swath earlier-seeded crops. 

 

Fall rye and winter wheat are coming off quite quickly so far. The report indicates 62 percent of the fall rye has been harvested, along with 37 percent of the winter wheat. Other crops seeing substantial progress so far include peas (22 percent), lentils (19 percent) and mustard (14 percent).  

 

The last week was a relatively dry one for most of the province, with the exception of some storm events. One of those storms helped the Glenavon region in the southeast to receive 77 millimetres of rain. The other parts of the province saw anywhere from no rain to up to half an inch (12 mm). For crops that are nearly mature or ready to harvest, rain isn’t needed, but some of the later-seeded crops still need precipitation to held with seed fill.  

 

The moisture conditions, due to the lack of rain and heat, declined in the majority of Saskatchewan last week. Cropland topsoil is now rated 44 percent adequate across the province, 39 percent short and 17 percent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil is rated 33 percent adequate, 42 percent short and 25 percent very short. 

 

Some crop damage was reported this week, with the majority of it being attributed to wind, heat wildlife and insects. Grasshoppers are one of the more prevalent insects cited as causing damage. Flea beetle damage in canola has also been reported in some areas.  

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.