Warm and dry weather in many areas of the province as of August 22, has allowed Saskatchewan producers to combine nine per cent of the 2011 crop. Eighteen per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly Crop Report.
The five-year (2006-2010) provincial average for this time of year is 10 per cent combined and 17 per cent swathed or ready to straight-cut. Harvest has progressed most in the southwest where 21 per cent of the crop has been combined.
Sixty-four per cent of the winter wheat, 69 per cent of the fall rye, 37 per cent of the lentils, 34 per cent of the field peas, five per cent of the canola and six per cent of the mustard have been combined. Thirty-five per cent of the canola, 23 per cent of the mustard, five per cent of the spring wheat and oats, seven per cent of the durum and 12 per cent of the barley are swathed or ready to straight-cut.
The majority of crop damage is due to wind, insects and hail.
Pasture conditions across the province are rated as 11 per cent excellent, 68 per cent good, 19 per cent fair and two per cent poor. Ninety-nine per cent of livestock producers have indicated they have adequate livestock water supplies.
Across the province, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as three per cent surplus, 74 per cent adequate, 22 per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 72 per cent adequate, 26 per cent short and one per cent very short.
Farmers are busy swathing, combining and hauling bales.
