Harvest is advancing despite delays due to wet field conditions. Warm and dry weather is needed before many producers can return to the field.
Fifty-two per cent of the 2015 crop is combined and 30 per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. The five-year (2010-2014) average for this time of year is 42 per cent combined and 33 per cent swathed or ready to straight-cut.
Regionally, producers in the southwest are furthest advanced, having 75 per cent of the crop combined. Producers in the southeast have 73 per cent combined. Forty per cent of the crop is combined in the west-central region; 37 per cent in the east-central region; 30 per cent in the northwest and 29 per cent in the northeast.
Rainfall this past week ranged from trace amounts to more than an inch in some southwestern and northeastern areas. Provincially, topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 11 per cent surplus, 82 per cent adequate, six per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are rated as five per cent surplus, 81 per cent adequate, 12 per cent short and two per cent very short.
Strong winds have blown swaths around and lodged and shelled out some standing crops. Some parts of the province received frost, but damage is minimal in most cases as crops were mature.
Of the crops that have been harvested so far, 86 per cent of field peas, 76 per cent of lentils and 70 per cent of durum are estimated to fall within the top two quality grades. However, weather-related quality issues such as bleaching and sprouting remain a concern in many areas. While overall yields are reported to be about average, they vary from region to region.
The Ministry of Agriculture has a Forage, Feed and Custom Service listing for producers to advertise and source feed products. It is available at www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/FeedForageListing.
Farmers are busy with harvest operations and hauling bales.
Follow the 2015 Crop Report on Twitter at @SKAgriculture.
