Saskatchewan Harvest Surges to Near Two-Thirds Complete

Sep 18, 2020
Amid mostly dry conditions again this past week, the Saskatchewan harvest has surged to near two-thirds complete.
 
According to the latest weekly crop report on Thursday, the overall Saskatchewan harvest reached 62% complete as of Monday, up from 43% a week earlier and well ahead of the five-year average of 48%. Last year at this time, cool and wet conditions meant that only 23% of the crop was in the bin. In fact, this year’s harvest pace to date is the fastest in the province since 2017 when 67% of the crop was off.
 
Most of the province received little rainfall this past week. And while that allowed good harvest progress, topsoil moisture conditions in the province continued to deteriorate due to strong winds and minimal rainfall. Cropland topsoil moisture was rated as 30% adequate, 41% short and 29% very short as of Monday, compared to 2% surplus, 34% adequate, 41% short and 23% very short a week earlier.
 
Durum grades are estimated as 55% No. 1 CW, 33% 2 CW, 9% 3 CW and 3% 4 CW and 5 CW. Pea grades are estimated as 38% No. 1 CAN, 56% 2 CAN and 6% 3 CAN. Lentil grades are estimated to be 35% 1 CAN, 58% 2 CAN, 6% 3 CAN and 1% sample grade.
 
The harvest is most advanced in the southwest region, where 90% of the crop was in the bin as of Sunday. The southeast was next at 77% combined, followed by the west-central at 61%, the east-central at 51%, the northeast at 33% and the northwest at 18%.
 
An estimated 97% lentils, 94% of field peas, 87% of mustard and 72% of barley were harvested as of Monday, along with 86% of durum, 69% of chickpeas, 55% of spring wheat, 42% of canola and 28% of flax. An additional 47% of canola was swathed or ready to straight-cut.
 
The majority of crop damage this week was due to frost, wind and dry conditions. Damage from frost varied depending on the temperature and stage of the crop, with later seeded and less mature crops impacted the most. Wind continued to blow swaths and shell out crops. There were also reports of damage caused by wildlife, waterfowl and ergot in durum crops.
 
Southeast:
 
Good harvest progress was made this past week in the region. Seventy-seven per cent of the crop has been combined, up from 59 per cent last week and remaining ahead of the five-year (2015-2019) average of 61 per cent. An additional 14 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut.
 
Very little rainfall was received in the region this past week. The area south of Broadview received the highest amount of rain with four mm. Crop, hay and pasture land remain dry in the region. Once harvest is wrapped up, farmers are hoping for high amounts of precipitation to replenish topsoil and subsoil moisture as well as ensure there are adequate water sources for livestock. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 20 per cent adequate, 53 per cent short and 27 per cent very short.
 
Durum grades in the region are estimated as 38 per cent 1 CW, 40 per cent 2 CW, 20 per cent 3 CW and two per cent 4 and 5 CW. Pea grades are estimated as 63 per cent 1 CAN, 36 per cent 2 CAN and one per cent 3 CAN. Lentil grades are estimated to be 37 per cent 1 CAN, 57 per cent 2 CAN and six per cent 3 CAN.
 
The majority of crop damage past week was due to winds, lack of moisture and frost. A lot of the crops avoided frost damage as they were already combined or mature, but late-seeded a
 
Southwest:
 
Huge progress was made in the region with week, with 90 per cent of the crop now in the bin. This is up from 71 per cent last week and well ahead of the five-year (2015-2019) average of 65 per cent. An additional seven per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut.
 
Rainfall in the region ranged from none to four mm in the Kyle area. Topsoil moisture conditions remain mainly short in the region due to minimal rainfall. High amounts of precipitation are needed to improve moisture conditions for next year and replenish water sources for livestock. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as three per cent adequate, 41 per cent short and 56 per cent very short.
 
Durum grades in the region are currently being estimated as 67 per cent 1 CW, 29 per cent 2 CW, three per cent 3 CW and one per cent 4 and 5 CW. Pea grades are estimated as 53 per cent 1 CAN, 42 per cent 2 CAN and five per cent 3 CAN. Lentil grades are estimated to be 38 per cent 1 CAN, 55 per cent 2 CAN, five per cent 3 CAN and two per cent sample grade.
 
The majority of crop damage past week was due to wind and lack of moisture. There were some reports of frost damage, but the majority of crops are near maturity and avoided high amounts of harm. Ergot was reported in some durum crops. There is still a risk of fire hazards in the field due to dry conditions.
 
East-Central:
 
Dry conditions this week allowed for good harvest progress in the region. Fifty-one per cent of the crop has been combined, up from 29 per cent last week and ahead of the five-year average (2015-2019) of 37 per cent. An additional 37 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. Recent cool, damp conditions have slowed the dry down of more mature crops and some of the crop is coming off tough and needing to be placed into aerations bins or dried.
 
Minimal rainfall was received in much of the east-central region. Warm, dry conditions are desired to aid with harvest progress, but many are hoping for high amounts of precipitation after harvest to replenish topsoil and subsoil moisture. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 32 per cent adequate, 33 per cent short and 35 per cent very short.
 
Durum grades in the region are currently being estimated as 35 per cent 1 CW, 37 per cent 2 CW, 25 per cent 3 CW and three per cent 4 and 5 CW. Pea grades are estimated as 54 per cent 1 CAN, 45 per cent 2 CAN and one per cent 3 CAN. Lentil grades are estimated to be 52 per cent 1 CAN, 47 per cent 2 CAN and one per cent 3 CAN.
 
The majority of crop damage was due to frost, wind and lack of moisture. Wind has caused swaths to blow around and for crops to shell out. There was also reported damage caused by waterfowl.
 
West-Central:
 
Good harvest progress was made this week with 61 per cent of crop now combined in the west-central region. This is up from 38 per cent last week and remains ahead of the five-year (2015-2019) average of 44 per cent. An additional 31 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. Cool temperatures this week have slowed the dry down of crops and farmers are hoping for warmer weather.
 
Rainfall in the west-central region ranged from none to 10 mm in the Harris and Macklin areas. Topsoil moisture continues to deplete in the region and there are concerns of fire hazards in the field. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 34 per cent adequate, 50 per cent short and 16 per cent very short.
 
Durum grades in the region are currently being estimated as 16 per cent 1 CW, 56 per cent 2 CW, 27 per cent 3 CW and one per cent 4 and 5 CW. Pea grades are estimated as 13 per cent 1 CAN, 78 per cent 2 CAN, eight per cent 3 CAN and one per cent Sample grade. Lentil grades are estimated to be 18 per cent 1 CAN, 74 per cent 2 CAN and eight per cent 3 CAN.
 
The majority of crop damage this past week was due to frost, wind and dry conditions. Winds have been blowing swaths around and shelling out crops. Cold temperatures and frost have damage some late-seeded and maturing crops.
 
Northeast:
 
Despite cool, damp conditions this week farmers were able to make great progress harvesting the 2020 crop. Thirty-three per cent of the crop is now combined, which is up from 17 per cent last week and ahead of the five-year (2015-2019) average of 28 per cent. An additional 44 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. A lot of the crop is coming off tough and is needing to be placed in aeration bins or dried.
 
There was little rainfall received in the region this past week, ranging from none to 25 mm in the Nipawin area. Moisture conditions in the region have improved this week with less land being rated surplus for moisture. Warm, dry conditions are desired to support harvest progress. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 59 per cent adequate, 33 per cent short and seven per cent very short.
 
Pea grades are estimated as 13 per cent 1 CAN, 85 per cent 2 CAN and two per cent 3 CAN.
 
The majority of crop damage past week was due to wind, waterfowl and frost as well as reports of localized hail.
 
Northwest:
 
Dry conditions this week have supported harvest progress. Eighteen per cent of the crop has been combined, up from seven per cent last week and slightly behind the five-year (2015-2019) average of 22 per cent. An additional 58 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. Cool temperatures slowed the dry down of crops. Farmers are hoping for warm, dry conditions for the remainder of harvest.
 
Rainfall was minimal in the region this past week. The Barthel area received the highest amount of rain this week with just one mm. Topsoil moisture conditions in the region are quite good. Much of the crop is coming off tough and damp and needing to be dried. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate and 19 per cent short.
 
Pea grades are estimated as 30 per cent 1 CAN, 49 per cent 2 CAN, 20 per cent 3 CAN and one per cent sample grade.
 
The majority of crop damage past week was due to frost, wind and wildlife.
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