Wet and cool weather in early October slowed harvest progress for many producers in the province, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly crop report.
Eighty-four per cent of the Saskatchewan crop is now in the bin, up from 74 per cent last week. Twelve per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut.
The five-year (2010 to 2014) average for this time of year is 83 per cent combined and 12 per cent swathed or ready to straight-cut.
The southeast continues to lead the way in terms of progress, at 94 per cent combined, compared to 88 per cent last week. The southwest is next at 92 per cent.
Many producers in the southeast have wrapped up harvest operations, but others will need at least another week of warm and dry weather before they are finished.
The five-year average for this time of year in the southeast is 82 per cent combined.
Crop yields in general are considered to be about average but they vary throughout the region. Of the hard red spring wheat that has been harvested so far, 40 per cent is expected to fall into the 1 Canada West (CW) grade, 45 per cent at the 2 CW, 12 per cent into 3 CW and three per cent into CW feed.
Quality remains a concern in some crops due to the wet conditions this fall. Swaths are slow to dry down in some areas and some tough grain is being placed into aeration.
Rainfall in the region ranged from trace amounts to 32 millimetres in the Weyburn area. Many parts of the southeast received some rain during the weekend, which slowed harvest progress.
Cropland topsoil moisture is currently rated as 10 per cent surplus, 82 per cent adequate and eight per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate and 17 per cent short.
Across the province, 81 per cent of the crop is combined in the west-central region, 75 per cent in the east-central region, 74 per cent in the northeast and 73 per cent in the northwest.
Eighty-six per cent of barley, 85 per cent of durum, 84 per cent of spring wheat, 81 per cent of canola, 79 per cent of soybeans, 61 per cent of chickpeas, 47 per cent of flax and 45 per cent of canary seed have been combined.
Crop yields vary from region to region but are generally within the average range. Average yields are reported as 37 bushels per acre for spring wheat, 32 bushels per acre for durum, 59 bushels per acre for barley, 34 bushels per acre for canola and 32 bushels per acre for peas.
Of the hard red spring wheat that has been harvested so far, 27 per cent is expected to fall into the 1 CW grade, 41 per cent at 2 CW, 23 per cent for 3 CW and nine per cent will be CW feed.
Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland across the province are rated as 14 per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate and eight per cent short.
Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent surplus, 80 per cent adequate, 11 per cent short and four per cent very short.
