Sask. harvest remains ahead of five-year average

Harvest is progressing well in Saskatchewan, but especially in southern areas of the province.

In its weekly crop report, the Ministry of Agriculture said farmers have combined 96 per cent of the crop in the southwest region of the province and 89 per cent in the southeast.

Producers are behind that pace in the west-central (78 per cent combined), east-central (69 per cent), northeast (51 per cent) and northwest (43 per cent) regions.

The ministry said 77 per cent of the crop is in the bin across the province, up from 62 per cent last week. The average over the past five years for this time of year is 59 per cent.

An additional 18 per cent of the 2020 crop has been swathed or is ready to straight-cut.

The report said much of the crop coming off in the central and northern regions requires aeration or drying.

Ninety-nine per cent of lentils, 98 per cent of field peas, 95 per cent of durum, 86 per cent of barley, 77 per cent of chickpeas, 74 per cent of spring wheat, 71 per cent of oats, 61 per cent of canola and 52 per cent of flax has been combined.

A further 35 per cent of canola has been swathed or is ready to straight-cut.

Recent rain helped improve topsoil moisture around the province.

Cropland topsoil moisture is now rated as 37 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short and 24 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 27 per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and 35 per cent very short.

Some producers reported crop damage this week due to wind, frost, waterfowl and wildlife.