Amid another week of mostly dry weather, the Saskatchewan harvest has just about wrapped up for the year.
The latest weekly crop report on Thursday pegged the overall harvest across the province at 95% complete as of Monday, up 6 points on the week and 25 points ahead of the five-year average. An additional 3% of the crop was swathed or ready to straight-cut as of Monday, although the report did note some challenges with harvesting crops like canola and flax due to regrowth.
Harvest is most advanced in the southwest region, where 98% of the crop was combined as of Monday. The southeast and west central regions had 95% combined, followed by the east-central and northeast regions at 94% and the northwest at 93%.
Although it allowed good harvest progress, the lack of precipitation this past week - along with wind and warm temperatures - continued to negatively impact topsoil moisture. The Arborfield and Luseland areas received 2 mm while the remainder of the province saw trace amounts or nothing at all. Producers are hoping their stubble and crop residues will be enough to trap good amounts of snow over the winter to help restore some of their depleted soil moisture, the report said.
Cropland topsoil moisture was rated 17% adequate, 50% short and 33% very short as of Monday, compared to 25% adequate, 46% short and 29% very short a week earlier.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to wind, waterfowl and wildlife. Wind has continued to blow swaths around and shell out crops. There continues to be symptoms reported in the crops caused by lack of moisture and frost as well. At this point of the season frost will be helpful for producers who are struggling with regrowth in their fields as it will kill off green growth and reduce the need for herbicide applications.
Producers are busy combining, hauling grain, hauling bales, moving cattle and starting other fall field work such as post-harvest weed control and harrowing. Winter cereals are not able to be planted in many areas of the province due to the extreme lack of soil moisture. Fall fertilizer applications are also not possible in many regions due to the dry conditions, the report said.
Southeast:
Producers in the region continued to make great progress this past week with 95 per cent of the crop now combined. This is up from 92 per cent last week and remaining well ahead of the five-year (2016-2020) average for this time of year of 79 per cent. An additional two per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. Most of the crops still out in the field are canola, flax and soybeans that have experienced regrowth. Producers are starting to do additional fall field work, such as post-harvest spraying in fields where there are actively growing weeds.
There was no precipitation reported for the region this past week. While the dry conditions allowed for harvest to continue without delay, many producers in the region are hoping for rain soon to alleviate the stress and worry created by the drought. Despite the region reporting very dry conditions, it has one of the higher ratings of soil moisture in province. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 25 per cent adequate, 56 per cent short and 19 per cent very short. Reporters are noting that the ground is dry and hard. Significant rainfall is needed prior to freeze up and snowfall over the winter to ensure adequate moisture for next year’s growing season. Some areas of the region are too dry to allow seeding of winter cereals or application of fall fertilizers.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to strong winds and wildlife. Wind has continued to blow around swaths and damaging seed heads, resulting in lost seed.
Southwest:
Harvest has practically wrapped up in the region and producers are starting to switch gears and conduct other fall field work. Ninety-eight per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 94 per cent last week and remaining well ahead of the five-year (2016-2020) average of 85 per cent. Producers plan to finish combining the later maturing flax, soybeans and low spots over the next week or so. Many producers are now focusing on other fall work such as post-harvest weed control, rock picking, harrowing and moving cattle.
The southwest received virtually no rain this past week with only a few areas reporting trace amounts. Soil moisture and dugout water levels are very low and producers are becoming more concerned each day it doesn’t rain. There are rising concerns about water availability over the winter since dugouts have been tapped out or their quality is too poor. Topsoil moisture conditions remained around the same level this week as in the previous week. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as twelve per cent adequate, 51 per cent short and 37 per cent very short.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to wind and lack of moisture throughout the growing season. The ground is still dry and cracked. Substantial amounts of precipitation will be needed over the fall and winter months to replenish the subsoil and topsoil moisture conditions for next year. There were reports of heavy to light frost across the region but so much crop has been harvested or is too mature to have been harmed.
East-Central:
Ninety-four per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 84 per cent last week and remaining well ahead of the five-year (2016-2020) average of 62 per cent. An additional 14 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. Producers are noting that regrowth in flax and canola has become an issue and is preventing straight cutting until it can be dried down.
No precipitation was reported for the region this week. Soil moisture is very low resulting in very little fall field work being done. There are several reports of fall seeded cereals not germinating due to the overly dry conditions. Moisture conditions declined sharply this past week. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 19 per cent adequate, 49 per cent short and 32 per cent very short. More rain is needed in the region to rejuvenate moisture levels in the subsoil and topsoil.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to wind, waterfowl, frost and lack of moisture. Some of the crop is coming off tough and being placed into aeration bins or grain dryers.
West-Central:
Great progress continued to be made this week and currently 95 per cent of the crop is combined. This is up from 89 per cent last week and remaining well ahead of the five-year (2016-2020) average of 68 per cent. An additional four per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut.
There was very little rain received in the west-central region this past week; the Luseland area reported two mm while others in the region show no rain at all. Producers are hoping for a large rainfall now that harvest is pretty well wrapped up. Minimal rain and windy conditions have reduced topsoil moisture conditions in the region and the situation is becoming very desperate for some producers. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as six per cent adequate, 39 per cent short and 55 per cent very short.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to windy conditions and waterfowl. Wind has continued to blow swaths around. There were minor to heavy frosts reported in the region but it is unlikely it will cause any issues, it will more than likely help stop further regrowth and allow harvest to quicken.
Northeast:
Slow and steady harvest progress was made in the region this past week with 94 per cent of the crop now combined, up from 90 per cent last week. This remains well ahead of the five-year (2016-2020) average of 57 per cent. An additional five per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. While relatively dry conditions favored harvest progress, some crops such as canola, flax and faba beans are still not ready for harvest due to regrowth.
Most of the region received trace amounts of rain this past week. The Arborfield area received the highest amount of rain in the region with two mm. Producers in the region, especially cattle producers, hope that a significant amount of rain is received very soon. Topsoil moisture conditions have reduced in the region due to relatively dry and windy conditions. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 26 per cent adequate, 53 per cent short and 21 per cent very short.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to wind blowing around swaths, waterfowl and wildlife. Frost was reported in the region but it was not severe enough to be a killing frost.
Northwest:
Harvest continued to progress in the region this past week. Ninety-three per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 77 per cent last week and ahead of the five-year (2016-2020) average of 48 per cent. An additional four per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. While much of the crop is still needed to be aerated and dried, more of the seed is coming off dry or nearly dry in the region this week.
There was very little rainfall in the northwest region this past week with areas reporting only trace amounts. Producers are noting issues with herbicide and fertilizer applications and with soil sampling due to the hard, dry soil. Significant amounts of rain are needed to help bring the region’s soils to their normal levels of moisture. There was a reduction in topsoil moisture conditions in the northwest region this week due to minimal precipitation and windy conditions. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as twelve per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and 41 per cent very short.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to wind, lack of moisture, wildlife and frost. Wind has been blowing swaths around but has also helped to dry some of the crop in the field.
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