Harvest in Saskatchewan us already underway. Producers in the province have two per cent of the crop combined and three per cent swathed or ready to straight-cut, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture for the week ending August 7.
The five-year average for harvest for this time of year is two per cent combined and two per cent swathed or ready to straight-cut. The ten-year average is also two per cent combined. Last year at this time, harvest was underway in much of the province but only one per cent of all crops in the province were combined. Frequent rains were delaying both harvest and haying operations. Many areas received around 100 mm of rain in heavy downpours, causing crops to lodge and fields to flood.
Of the various crops being harvested this past week, 75 per cent of the fall rye, 31 per cent of the winter wheat, 11 per cent of the field peas and 10 per cent of the lentils are now in the bin, while five per cent of the mustard and one per cent of the canola has been swathed.
Harvest is most advanced in the southwest, where six per cent of the crop is now combined. Producers in the southeast have four per cent combined, while many producers in the central and northern regions expect to be in the field in the coming weeks.
The majority of the province received rainfall during the reporting week that has replenished topsoil moisture and helped later-seeded crops fill. Rainfall ranged from trace amounts to 80 mm in the Turtleford area. There were reports of heavy downpours in some areas of the north that have flooded fields, roads and yards. While the rain has been welcomed in some areas, it is too late to be of benefit in more southern areas where crops are rapidly drying down.
Topsoil moisture conditions have slightly improved with the recent rainfall. Across the province, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as two per cent surplus, 36 per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and 24 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 29 per cent adequate, 34 per cent short and 35 per cent very short.
