Harvest is underway according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's Weekly Crop Report for August 7 to 13. Four per cent of the 2012 crop is combined while seven per cent is swathed or ready to straight combine. The five year (2007-2011) provincial average for this time of year is three per cent combined and six per cent swathed or ready to straight combine.
Fifty-two per cent of the winter wheat, 47 per cent of the fall rye, two per cent of the barley, seven per cent of the mustard, 13 per cent of the lentils and 22 per cent of the field peas have been combined. Eleven per cent of the canola, 13 per cent of the mustard, six per cent of the lentils, four per cent of the winter wheat and 18 per cent of the fall rye have been swathed.
Livestock producers in many areas of the province finished haying this past week, although rainfall delayed progress in some areas. The average provincial hay yields on dry land are 1.5 tons per acre for alfalfa, 1.6 tons per acre for alfalfa/brome, 1.3 tons per acre for other tame hay and wild hay and 1.9 tons per acre for greenfeed. On irrigated land, the average provincial hay yields are 2.1 tons per acre for alfalfa, 2.4 tons per acre for alfalfa/brome, 3.1 tons per acre for other tame hay and 2.5 tons per acre for greenfeed.
Many areas of the province received rainfall this past week which has delayed harvest operations. The majority of crop damage is due to insects, disease, wind and hail.
Across the province, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as nine per cent surplus, 73 per cent adequate, 16 per cent short and two per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 69 per cent adequate, 23 per cent short and four per cent very short.
Farmers are busy swathing, combining and hauling hay.
