Sask. harvest on track to end ahead of 5-year average

More than a quarter of Saskatchewan crops are now in the bin as fall harvest continues for farmers.

According to figures released in the province’s latest weekly crop report, 27 per cent of all crops are now in the bin.

Those numbers show an increase of about 13 per cent when looking at the previous five-year average for this time of year. While yields vary across province at this point, an additional 17 per cent of crops were listed as swathed for the week ending on Aug. 27.

Many farmers seemed to take advantage of warm and dry weather before showers moved through the province this past week. Topsoil moisture conditions remained largely unchanged at 25 per cent adequate, according to the province.

The southern parts of the province are once again leading the harvest progress. Southwestern Saskatchewan has 46 per cent of crops combined, while the southeastern areas have 42 per cent of crops combined.

Northern parts of the province are moving along at a much slower rate, with five per cent of northwestern crops in the bin.

The crop report noted the effect the dry conditions have had on crops.

“Many southern and central areas have not received a significant rainfall in close to two months and crops continue to rapidly dry down,” the report said in a news release. “The majority of crop damage this past week was due to lack of moisture and strong wind.”

“There continue to be reports of stubble and grass fires even though light showers helped to reduce fire risk in some areas.”

SaskPower reported six cases of farm machinery making contact with electrical equipment in the last week, raising August’s total to 18.