Saskatchewan harvest passes two-thirds mark

Combining remains behind the five-year (83 per cent) and ten-year (72 per cent) averages, but made decent progress last week in spite of some late combine starts.

Fog and higher humidity meant farmers could not get on the field as soon as they wanted, according to Tyce Masich, an extension specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture extension specialist.

Breaking down harvest progress by region, the southwest is 80 per cent combined, southeast (70 per cent), northwest (69 per cent) west-central (65 per cent), northeast (61 per cent) and east-central (59 per cent).

Harvest progress by crop has peas at 99 per cent combined, lentils (96 per cent), barley (86 per cent), durum (78 per cent), spring wheat (73 per cent), oats (70 per cent), canola (42 per cent), soybean (23 per cent) and flax (18 per cent).

The largest amount of rain last week was recorded at Rhein—east of Yorkton—at 44 millimetres. Carnduff and Blaine Lake each had 20 millimetres.

Provincial cropland topsoil moisture is rated at two per cent surplus, 59 per cent adequate, 32 per cent short and seven per cent very short.  Masich says farmers are prepared for potential fire under the dry conditions.

Waterfowl damage was more present this week as geese, cranes and other waterfowl continue their journey south.

Check out the charts below as well as the full region-by-region crop report.