Rain Welcomed Despite Slowing Saskatchewan Harvest

Wet weather may have slowed the Saskatchewan harvest this past week, but the moisture was still welcomed by many producers. 

The latest weekly Saskatchewan crop report on Thursday said the rainfall eased concerns about field and equipment fires and raised hope that pastures may see a little regrowth after a hot, dry summer in many areas of the province. The Pelly area received the largest amounts at 44 mm, followed by the Melfort and Moosomin areas at 30 mm. 

However, cropland topsoil moisture levels remained little changed on the week despite the rainfall, rated 1% surplus, 37% adequate, 40% short, and 21% very short as of Monday. That compares to 1% surplus, 37% adequate, 38% short and 24% very short the previous week. 

An estimated 73% of the Saskatchewan crop was in the bin as of Monday, up from 64% the previous week and ahead of the five-year (2017-2021) average of 68%. An additional 18% of the crop was ready to be swathed or straight-cut. 

Harvest is most advanced in the southwest region, where 96% of the crop was combined as of Sunday. The west-central region had 89% combined, the southeast 65%, the northwest 63%, the northeast 58%, and the east-central 52%. 

The lentil and pea harvest was 97% complete as of Monday, followed by durum at 94%, barley at 78%, spring wheat at 77%, canola at 52% and flax at 35%. An additional 36% of the canola was swathed or ready to straight-cut as of Monday.