Due to dry weather and wind, the harvesting progress is now only two per cent below the five-year average.
A dry and windy week has allowed producers to make significant harvest progress, said the Saskatchewan Agriculture’s crop report for September 13 to 19. A total of 60 per cent of crops had been combined with 28 per cent swathed or ready to straight-cut. The five-year (2011-2015) average for this time of year is 62 per cent combined.
Harvest is furthest ahead in the southeast, where producers have 73 per cent of the crop in the bin. A total of 66 per cent of the crop is combined in the southwest, with 53 per cent in the east-central region, 57 per cent in the west-central region, 54 per cent in the northeast and 48 per cent in the northwest.
Per crop, 97 per cent of field peas, 85 per cent of lentils, 57 per cent of durum, 56 per cent of spring wheat, 47 per cent of canola and 15 per cent of flax have been combined. The weather was mainly good for harvest season, though rain showers toward the end of the week stalled some field operations in the central and northern regions.
Precipitation ranged from nil to 89 mm in the Tramping Lake area, while the Elfros area reported 18 mm; Rosthern and Unity, 15 mm; and Nipawin, Debden and Barthel, 19 mm. All other areas reporting rain received less than 12 mm for the week.
Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture had a rating of nine per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate and five per cent short. Porcupine Plain, Tisdale and Arborfield areas got relief from excess moisture conditions, but 36 per cent of cropland acres are reported to have surplus moisture at this time.
In areas around Rosetown, Kindersley and Biggar, 21 per cent of the crops have surplus moisture. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture was rated as four per cent surplus, 84 per cent adequate, 11 per cent short and one per cent very short.
Pasture growth due to moisture had been consistent throughout the growing season. Pasture conditions across the province were rated as seven per cent excellent, 70 per cent good, 21 per cent fair and two per cent poor.
Strong winds in the area blew canola swaths around, while hail was reported in the Tantallon and Wynyard areas. Diseases such as bleaching, sprouting, fusarium and earth tag were causing grade loss.
Producers are busy harvesting, as well as hauling bales and controlling weeds.
The crop report is available weekly on the Saskatchewan Agriculture website or on Twitter.
