Cool and wet weather the past week has the Saskatchewan harvest falling farther behind the average pace.
The latest provincial crop report on Thursday pegged the overall harvest at 6% complete as of Monday. That’s up just 4 points from a week earlier and is now 10 points behind the average. Last year at this time, more than one-quarter (27%) of the Saskatchewan crop was in the bin. An additional 8% of the crop was swathed or ready to straight-cut as of Monday, behind the average of 19%.
Rainfall covered a significant portion of the province this week, with amounts ranging from trace amounts to up to 130 mm in the Lipton area. Provincially, topsoil moisture on cropland was rated as 7% surplus, 78% adequate, 12% short and 3% very short as of Monday, compared to 1% surplus, 75% adequate, 21% short and 3% very short a week earlier.
Harvest progress is most advanced in the southern regions where 12% of the was off as of Monday. Producers in the west-central region had 3% combined, the east-central region 2%, the northeast region 1% and less than 1% of the crop is combined in the northwest region. Producers expect harvest operations to be in full-swing as the crops mature in the coming weeks.
An estimated 52% of the fall rye, 43% of the winter wheat, 27% of the field peas, 25% of the lentils, 4% of the barley, 3% of the durum, 2% of the oats and 1% of the mustard and spring wheat was stored in bins. An additional 5% of canola and 1% of the mustard had been swathed.
The majority of crop damage this week was from strong winds and hail. Farmers are busy getting ready for harvest, swathing, desiccating and combining crops.
Southeast:
Producers have made good harvest progress this week in the region despite rainfall and cool weather. Twelve per cent of the crop is now combined, up from three per cent last week, but behind the five-year (2014-2018) average of 25 per cent for this time of year. Twelve per cent of the crop is now swathed or ready to straight-cut.
Significant amounts of rain were reported in parts of the region this week. Rainfall ranged from trace amounts to 74 mm in the Maryfield area. The Lampman area received 49 mm, the Stoughton area 33 mm, the Tantallon area 40 mm, The Briercrest area 18 mm and the Radville area up to 5 mm. Topsoil moisture on cropland is one per cent surplus, 89 per cent adequate, nine per cent short and one per cent very short.
The majority of crop damage this past week is due to strong winds. Producers are busy hauling bales, getting equipment ready for harvest, desiccating and combining crops.
Southwest:
Harvest continues to progress at a moderate rate in the region. Twelve per cent of the crop has been combined — which is up from three per cent last week — while eight per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut. This is behind the five-year (2014-2018) average for this time of year which is 29 per cent combined.
Some areas of the region reported significant rainfall, while others received small amounts. Rainfall ranged from trace amounts to 56.5 mm in the Limerick area. The Rockglen area reported 14 mm, the Gravelbourg and Mortlach areas 14 mm, the Hazenmore area 5 mm, the Tyner area 15 mm and the Kyle area 27 mm. In the region, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as nineteen per cent surplus, 72 per cent adequate and nine per cent short.
No significant crop damage was reported this week in the region. Producers are busy hauling bales, getting equipment ready for harvest, desiccating and combining crops.
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