An additional 24 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. There were several areas affected by rain delays but the majority of the province was able to continue their harvest operations without issue.
East-Central Saskatchewan:
· Crop District 5 – Melville, Yorkton, Cupar, Kamsack, Foam Lake, Preeceville and
Kelvington areas
· Crop District 6A – Lumsden, Craik, Watrous and Clavet areas
Regardless of recent rain in much of the region, producers continue to make good harvest progress.
Thirty-eight per cent of the crop is now in the bin, up from 25 per cent last week and ahead of the five-year (2016-2020) average of 26 per cent for this time of year.
An additional 35 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut.
Warm and dry weather would be appreciated so that producers can return to the field.
Rainfall ranged from nil to 102 mm in the Rhein area, with most areas reporting over an inch of rain.
The Langenburg area reported 46 mm, the Saltcoats area 36 mm, the Kenaston area 33 mm, the Craik area 32 mm, the Allan area 28 mm and the Esterhazy and Kelliher areas 20 mm.
Topsoil moisture conditions have improved slightly thanks to the recent rain.
A large amount of moisture will be needed this fall to replenish both the topsoil and subsoil moisture for next year. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 58 per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and ten per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as three per cent surplus, 45 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 16 per cent very short.
Most crops in the region are coming off tough or damp and are being placed into aeration bins and dryers to reach an optimum moisture content for storage.
The moisture has also caused a large amount of downgrading for several crops in the region. Yields are below average in areas that were drier throughout the summer but areas that received timely rains are reporting yields closer to normal. Second growth in crops such as canola is making combining very difficult as the green plant material can plug up the sieves.
Producers are busy combining, swathing, moving cattle and hauling bales.
Provincially, the southwest region has made the most progress with 75 per cent of the crop now combined. The southeast has 67 per cent combined, the west-central 58 per cent, the east-central 38 per cent, the northeast 47 per cent and the northwest 37 per cent.
Ninety-six per cent of field peas, 93 per cent of lentils, 74 per cent of mustard, 66 per cent of barley, 75 per cent of durum, 58 per cent of spring wheat and 31 per cent of canola has now been combined. An additional 44 per cent of canola is swathed or ready to straight-cut.
Estimated average crop yields at this time are 27 bushels per acre for hard red spring wheat, 19 bushels per acre for durum, 38 bushels per acre for barley, 20 bushels per acre for canola, 21 bushels per acre for field peas and 817 pounds per acre for lentils. Crop yields were greatly affected by drought conditions during critical growing stages this season and yields are far lower in some areas than anticipated.
Rainfall last week ranged from trace amounts to 102 mm in the Rhein area which resulted in flooding and standing water in fields. Provincial cropland topsoil moisture conditions deteriorated slightly with recent strong winds even though rainfall was received in many parts of the province. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 38 per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and 23 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture improved this week and is rated as one per cent surplus, 25 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short and 35 per cent very short.
The majority of crop damage this past week was due to strong winds, drought and hail. Areas that received precipitation over the past few weeks have reported that standing crops such as cereals and lentils have experienced severe weathering and are being downgraded at the elevator. Some fields are in such poor condition that some producers have indicated they will not be harvested.
Producers are busy combining, swathing, baling straw and hauling bales. Livestock producers are busy moving cattle, hauling water and trying to take inventory of their winter feed supplies.
As of September 1, the AgriRecovery program, now referred to as the 2021 Canada-Saskatchewan Drought Response Initiative, is accepting producer applications. The initiative will consist of two payments totaling up to $200/head for cattle, with adjustments based on animal unit equivalents for other livestock. The initial payment will provide producers with $100 per breeding female equivalent in inventory as of August 1, 2021. Secondary payments of up to $100 per breeding female in inventory as of December 31, 2021, will be made to producers who have incurred additional costs to retain the animals. Producers with questions can call the initiative's dedicated toll-free number at 1-844-723-1211 or directly email skdri@scic.ca.
We want to remind producers to exercise caution and remain safe. We ask motorists to remain vigilant and to exercise patience when traveling around or near farm equipment on the highway.
