Rainfall puts harvest well behind five-year-average

Rainfall and cool weather dampened Saskatchewan’s fields over this past week, but producers were able to make up some ground according to the latest crop report.

18 per cent of Saskatchewan’s crops are now in the bin, which is significantly down from the five year average (2014-2018) of 43 per cent. Last week the province said only 11 per cent of the crop had been harvested.

The southwest region is the most advanced at 31 per cent in the bin, while the northwest comes in as the least advanced at just seven per cent complete. Warm, windy, and dry weather is needed to get producers back into the fields.

83 per cent of the fall rye is complete across Saskatchewan, but flax and soybeans are struggling at just one and two per cent finished, respectively.

Throughout the province, 25 per cent of the crop is now swathed or ready to straight-cut.

Many areas of the province received rainfall over the past week, with the highest being 51 mm in the Big Beaver area.

Ian Boxall, who farms near Tisdale, told 650 CKOM Monday that the wet snap could be crippling for producers, especially those working with grain.

“When it gets to this time of year, all grain farmers want to do is get the crop off and in the bin in a timely manner, with good quality. Rain jeopardizes all of that.”

Across Saskatchewan, topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 17 per cent surplus, 75 per cent adequate, and eight per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated three percent surplus, 84 per cent adequate, and two per cent very short.

The full crop report can be found here.