Saskatchewan Harvest Ahead Of Five-Year Average

Scattered showers throughout the province have caused short delays to harvest, but producers are happy to finally receive rain.

Crops Extension Specialist Matt Struthers says so far seven per cent of crop has been combined with another six per cent of the crop ready to straight cut.

That's ahead of the five-year average for this time of year, which is one per cent combined and two per cent ready to straight-combine.

"Fifty-four per cent of winter wheat, 51 per cent of fall rye, 37 per cent of field peas and 29 per cent of lentils are now in the bin. So that's quite normal usually, you know, winter cereals and then your pulses come off first. But there's quite a few fields of canola being swathed and I'm sure being combined quite quickly. And then your harvest is most advanced in the south and west central region, where 12 per cent of crop in the southwest, eight per cent of crop in the southeast and seven per cent of crop in the west-central is combined. Producers in the northern regions have a little more than one per cent of the crop combined. "

Struthers says the majority of crop damage this week was due to the wind storms which has lodged some crops making it harder to harvest.

He notes there's also the drought stress and heat, as well as wildlife - such as gophers, elk and deer - that have started to munch on some crops.

Grasshoppers and flea beetles continue to be an issue.

The recent rain storms also brought some isolated reports of hail in a few areas.

Producers are busy wrapping up haying activities, many producers have noted that hay yields are below average this year.

This week's crop report puts the estimated average dryland hay yields for the province are 0.80 tons per acre for alfalfa, 0.70 tons per acre for alfalfa/bromegrass, 0.60 tons per acre for other tame hay, 0.60 tons per acre for wild hay and 1.0 tons per acre for greenfeed. Estimated average irrigated hay yields are 1.3 tons per acre for alfalfa, 1.80 tons per acre for alfalfa/bromegrass and 2.2 tons per acre for greenfeed.

Struthers says the rain helped soil moisture a little but more is needed.

"Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as six per cent adequate, 32 per cent short and 62 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and 67 per cent very short."