It was a hot week in Saskatchewan with heavy thunderstorms bringing strong winds and large hail to some regions. Harvest is in full swing in certain areas, while rainfall and humid conditions stalled operations in other areas. Harvest progress continues to lag behind the five and 10-year averages with 12 per cent of the crop off.
The southwest continues to lead harvest progress as 23 per cent of crops are off, followed by the southeast where progress sits at 14 per cent. The east and west-central regions trail behind at 11 per cent and six per cent harvest progress, respectively. Only a few producers in the northern regions have started combining as progress sits at three per cent in the northeast and two per cent in the northwest.
Producers are primarily focused on combining winter cereal and pulse crops. Over half of winter cereals are in the bin with harvest progress for winter wheat at 70 per cent and fall rye at 66 per cent. There was also a notable increase in harvested pulse acres from last week, with 45 per cent of peas and 35 per cent of lentils now complete. Additionally, more producers are starting to harvest their spring cereals with triticale, barley and durum progress sitting at 42 per cent, 17 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively. The first acres of spring wheat, oats and chickpeas are coming off, but progress is minimal at this point.
Provincially, winter wheat grades are 23 per cent 1 Canada Western (CW), 65 per cent 2 CW, 11 per cent 3 CW and one per cent CW Feed. Winter wheat quality this year is lower than the 10-year average of 54 per cent 1 CW, 32 per cent 2 CW, nine per cent 3 CW, and five per cent CW Feed. For fall rye, grades are 30 per cent 1 CW, 56 per cent 2 CW, 13 per cent 3 CW and one per cent sample. Like winter wheat, fall rye quality this year is lower than the 10-year average of 52 per cent 1 CW, 39 per cent 2 CW, eight per cent 3 CW and one per cent sample.