Saskatchewan Harvest Pace Accelerates

The continuation of warm, dry weather allowed the pace of the Saskatchewan harvest to accelerate this past week.

 

The latest weekly crop report on Thursday pegged the overall harvest in the province at 15% complete as of Monday, up from 4% a week earlier and ahead of the five-year average of 12%. An additional 16% of the crop was swathed or ready to straight cut, slightly behind the average of 17%.

 

Last year, only 2% of the crop was in the bin.

 

Harvest progress is most advanced in the southern regions, with 31% of the crops off in the southwest region and 19% off in the southeast. The west-central was 12% combined, followed by the east-central at 9%, the northeast at 4% and the northwest at 2%.

 

More than half of the peas (56%) and lentils (59%) were harvested as of Monday, along with 20% of the barley, 15% of the durum, 9% of the oats and 5% of the spring wheat. The canola harvest was estimated at 2% complete, with an additional 16% swathed or ready to straight cut.

 

There was scattered rain showers throughout the province this past week, although most areas received just trace amounts. The general lack of rainfall, along with warm temperatures, continued to deplete topsoil moisture conditions in most areas of the province. Cropland topsoil moisture was rated as 1% surplus, 37% adequate, 42% short and 20% very short as of Monday, versus 44% adequate, 39% short and 17% very short a week earlier.

 

The majority of crop damage this past week was due to lack of moisture, heat, wind and insects such as grasshoppers, bertha armyworms and aphids. There continue to be reports of premature ripening and heat stress in both crops and pastures, the report said, adding there were also reports of localized flooding in the northwest region where higher amounts of rainfall was received.

 

Southeast:

 

Warm weather and dry conditions helped crops ripen in the region and allowed farmers to make good progress combining this week. Nineteen per cent of the crop is now combined, up from five per cent last week, and slightly behind the five-year average (2015-2019) of 21 per cent. An additional 16 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut, behind the five-year average (2015-2019) of 22 per cent.

 

Ninety per cent of fall rye, 87 per cent of field peas, 82 per cent of winter wheat, 73 per cent of lentils, 35 per cent of barley, 14 per cent of spring wheat, 12 per cent of durum and four per cent of canola is now combined. An additional 21 per cent of canola has been swathed or is ready to straight-cut.

 

Most of the southeast region received trace amounts of rain this week, but some of the northeastern parts of the region received over a half of an inch. Warm, dry conditions in most of the region this week depleted topsoil moisture ratings. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 46 per cent adequate, 46 per cent short and eight per cent very short.

 

The majority of crop damage this week was due to lack of moisture, wind and heat, as well as insects such as grasshoppers and aphids. There are concerns about the high fire risk in the region due to the hot, dry conditions. Pasture conditions in the region are rated as seven per cent good, 68 per cent fair, 20 per cent poor and five per cent very poor.

 

Southwest:

 

Continued hot dry conditions were favorable for harvest progress in the region. Thirty-one per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 11 per cent last week and well ahead the five-year average (2015-2019) of 24 per cent. An additional 17 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut, slightly ahead of the five-year average (2015-2019) of 16 per cent.

 

Ninety-three per cent of fall rye, 73 per cent of field peas, 65 per cent of lentils, 43 per cent of barley, 41 per cent of mustard, 28 per cent of oats, 18 per cent of durum, 14 per cent of spring wheat and eight per cent of canola is now combined. An additional 15 per cent of canola has been swathed or is ready to straight-cut.

 

The southwest region received very little rain, ranging from none in many areas to three mm in the Limerick and Hazenmore areas. With another hot week with limited rainfall, the topsoil moisture conditions in the region continue to deteriorate. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 13 per cent adequate, 41 per cent short and 46 per cent very short.

 

The majority of crop damage this week was due to lack of moisture, heat, wind and grasshoppers. There were reports of localized hail, as well as multiple reports of combine and grass fires due to the hot, dry conditions.

 

 

Farmers in the east-central region have made good harvest progress this week with nine per cent of the crop now combined, up from two per cent last week and ahead of the five-year average (2015-2019) of four per cent. An additional 17 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut, with the five-year average (2015-2019) being 16 per cent. There continues to be reports of premature ripening and incomplete filling of seed in crops.

 

Ninety per cent of winter wheat, 77 per cent of fall rye, 62 per cent of lentils, 55 per cent of field peas, 20 per cent of barley, four per cent of durum, two per cent of spring wheat and one per cent of canola is now in the bin. An additional 15 per cent of canola has been swathed or is ready to straight-cut.

 

There were scattered rain showers throughout the east-central region, with most areas receiving less than 10 mm of rain. Topsoil moisture conditions were maintained. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 38 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and 25 per cent very short.

 

The majority of crop damage this week was due to dry conditions, heat and wind. There were also reports of aphids and bertha armyworms. Pasture conditions in the region are rated as 11 per cent good, 28 per cent fair, 45 per cent poor and 16 per cent very poor.

 

 

Twelve per cent of the crop is now combined, up from two per cent last week and ahead of the five-year average (2015-2019) of eight per cent. An additional 18 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut, in line with the five-year average (2015-2019) of 18 per cent. There were continued reports of the heat causing premature ripening and incomplete seed filling in crops, and farmers suspect this will affect yields.

 

Fifty-three per cent of field peas, 34 per cent of lentils, 36 per cent of oats, 13 per cent of barley, three per cent of spring wheat, one per cent of durum and two per cent of canola has been combined. An additional 24 per cent of canola has been swathed or is ready to straight-cut.

 

The west-central regional received very little rain this week, ranging from trace amounts in many areas to 11 mm in the Cando area. Topsoil moisture ratings were reduced in the region this week. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 32 per cent adequate, 63 per cent short and five per cent very short.

 

The majority of crop damage this week was due to dry conditions, wind and heat. There were also reports of grasshoppers and aphids. Pasture conditions in the region are rated as 29 per cent good, 46 per cent fair, 24 per cent poor and one per cent very poor.

 

 

Four per cent of the crop in the northeast region has been harvest which is ahead of the five-year average (2015-2019) for this time of year of two per cent. An additional 15 per cent of crop has been swathed or is ready to straight-cut. The five-year average (2015-2019) is 11 per cent. The region received some rain this week, which will benefit crops that are in the seed filling stage but is unwanted in fields where harvest has already begun.

 

Thirty-four per cent of lentils, 23 per cent of field peas, 11 per cent of barley, two per cent of oats and one per cent of spring wheat is now in the bin. An additional 12 per cent of canola has been swathed.

 

There were scattered rain showers in the northeast region this week, with most of the region receiving less than 10 mm of rain but a few areas receiving over an inch. There was a slight reduction in topsoil moisture conditions in the northeast region this week. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 58 per cent adequate, 34 per cent short and six per cent very short.

 

 

There was progress made in the northwest region this week, with some of the earlier seeded and maturing crops starting to be combined. Two per cent of the crop has been combined which is right on track with the five-year average (2015-2019). An additional eight per cent of crop has been swathed or is ready to straight-cut, with the five-year average (2015-2019) being 10 per cent.

 

Ten per cent of field peas, four per cent of oats, three per cent of barley and one per cent of lentils have been combined. An additional seven per cent of canola has been swathed.

 

While the eastern parts of the northwest region received very little rain this week, areas west of Turtleford received the highest amount of rain in the province this week with 83 mm. Moisture conditions maintained this week, except for areas that received high amounts of rain rating more land as surplus for topsoil moisture with localized flooding reported. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent surplus, 68 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and eight per cent very short.

 

The majority of crop damage this week was due to wind, dry conditions, heat, bertha armyworms, wildlife and localized flooding in areas that received high amounts of rain this week. Pasture conditions in the region are rated as 11 per cent excellent, 47 per cent good, 32 per cent fair and 10 per cent poor.