Another week of decent weather should just about wrap up this year’s Saskatchewan harvest.
Thursday’s crop report pegged the overall provincial harvest at 89% complete as of Monday, up from 74% the previous week and 26 points ahead of the five-year average. An additional 7% of the crop was swathed or ready to straight-cut, most of it canola and flax.
Harvest is most advanced in the southwest region, where 94% of the crop was combined as of Sunday. The southeast region was 92% combined, followed by the northeast at 90%, the west-central at 89%, the east-central at 84%, and the northwest at 77%.
An estimated 99% of the lentils and peas were harvested as of Tuesday, along with 97% of the durum, 89% of the barley, 94% of the spring wheat, 93% of the chickpeas and 80% of the oats. The canola harvest was 80% done, while flax was 64% complete.
Many areas of the province were dry this past week, with the Macklin area receiving the most rainfall at 10 mm. Other parts of the province received small amounts of rain ranging between 1 mm to 5 mm, which will do very little to maintain or replenish the topsoil moisture. Farmers with crop still in the field are hoping for the dry conditions to continue until harvest is complete, while farmers who have completed harvest are hoping for rain to rejuvenate topsoil and subsoil moisture before winter, the report said.
Provincial cropland topsoil moisture was rated as 25% adequate, 46% short and 29% very short as of Monday, compared to 36% adequate, 38% short and 26% very short a week earlier.
Farmers are busy wrapping up harvest, hauling bales, moving cattle, hauling water and post-harvest field activities such as herbicide application. Several reports indicate that farmers are holding off planting winter cereals due to low topsoil moisture.
Southeast:
Minimal rainfall and warm day-time temperatures allowed for great harvest progress to be made. Ninety-two per cent of the crop is now in the bin, up from 81 per cent last week and remaining well ahead of the five-year (2016-2020) average for this time of year of 74 per cent. An additional four per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut.
There was very little rainfall in the region again this week. The Weyburn area received the highest amount with 3 mm. Another week of no significant precipitation has further depleted topsoil moisture conditions. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 34 per cent adequate, 53 per cent short and 13 per cent very short.
The majority of crop damage this past week was due to wind, frost and lack of moisture. There was also damage caused by wildlife and waterfowl. Most crops have avoided damage due to frost by already being harvested, but some of the later maturing crops such as corn and soybeans have seen some damage. Farmers are hoping that the frost will kill off the regrowth in their fields and save them from having to spray.
Rainfall late in the season allowed for some pastures to green up and improve their ability to support cattle grazing; now they are beginning to dry down again and more rain will be needed before winter to help the grass recover.
Southwest:
Good harvest progress continued to be made in the region, with many farmers starting to finish up harvest for the year. Ninety-four per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 85 per cent last week and remaining well ahead of the five-year (2016-2020) average of 79 per cent. An additional two per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut.
Very little rainfall was received throughout the region this past week. The Shaunavon, Consul and Admiral areas all received 3 mm. This region has suffered from extreme drought during the entire 2021 growing season and is in desperate need of rainfall to replenish topsoil moisture. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 11 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 47 per cent very short.
The majority of crop damage this past week was due to wind, frost and lack of moisture. With most of the crop off now in the region, a significant rain would be welcome.
Farmers are busy combining, harrowing, hauling bales, moving cattle and starting to plan their fall activities. Many farmers in the region have indicated that it is too dry to plant winter cereals this year.
East-Central:
Favourable harvesting weather has allowed producers to make great progress in the region. Eighty-four per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 63 per cent last week and remaining ahead of the five-year (2016-2020) average of 54 per cent. An additional 11 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut.
Most of the east-central region did not receive rain this past week. Kenaston received the most with 2 mm and the Kuroki and Holdfast areas received 1 mm. Crop, hay and pasture land soil moisture continues to deplete. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 32 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and 31 per cent very short.
The majority of crop damage this past week was due to wind, light frost and waterfowl.
Dry conditions have limited pasture growth in the region and rain is required to improve moisture conditions for next year.
West-Central:
Eighty-nine per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 79 per cent last week and remaining well ahead of the five-year (2016-2020) average of 62 per cent. An additional four per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. Good progress was made throughout last week, due to very few delays from rain or morning dew. Much of the crop left to be combined is canola and flax. Regrowth in canola has complicated harvest and farmers must wait for it to dry down before harvesting.
There was not much precipitation received this past week across the region. The Macklin area received the most with 10 mm. Once harvest is complete a large rainfall is needed throughout the region to recover the severe moisture deficit.
Rainfall in the region this past week has done little to improve topsoil moisture conditions. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 16 per cent adequate, 52 per cent short and 32 per cent very short.
The main cause of crop damage this past week was hard frost, wind and lack of moisture. There were some reports of damage caused by waterfowl. There was also lodging reported in areas that received strong winds.
Northeast:
Farmers were able to get a lot of their fields combined this past week and some are completely done. Ninety per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 69 per cent last week and remaining well ahead of the five-year (2016-2020) average of 44 per cent. An additional nine per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. Farmers are hoping for warm, dry weather to progress crop maturity and dry down, especially on canola regrowth.
Very little rainfall fell throughout the region this past week. The Garrick and Arborfield areas received 3 mm while the Bruno and Melfort areas received 2 mm. This rain will do very little for the topsoil moisture and did not cause long delays in harvest. Moisture conditions have continued to decline this week. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 35 per cent adequate, 64 per cent short and one per cent very short.
Pastures in this region are in desperate need of moisture to help them recover from the severe drought that they have suffered since the spring.
Northwest:
Combines were rolling in the region for most of the week, but there were some rain delays for some farmers. Seventy-seven per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 57 per cent last week and now ahead of the five-year (2016-2020) average of 35 per cent. An additional 16 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. For the most part the crop is coming off dry but for some producers it is tough or damp and must be put into aeration bins or grain dryers. Warm, dry weather is desired to mature and dry down crops.
There was no significant rainfall throughout the region but several areas received light rain showers that were enough to interrupt harvest. This precipitation will not change the topsoil moisture and another more significant widespread rain is needed to help recharge the ground water.
Moisture conditions reduced slightly in the region this past week. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 26 per cent adequate, 33 per cent short and 41 per cent very short.
The majority of crop damage this past week was due to wind, frost, waterfowl, and wildlife. Farmers have noted green regrowth is making harvest difficult but hope the frost will cause the regrowth to die down.
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