Harvest nearly 90 per cent complete in Saskatchewan

Harvest in Saskatchewan continues to be well ahead of its average pace, thanks in large part to the weather.

In its weekly crop report, the Ministry of Agriculture said warm, dry conditions have allowed farmers to get 89 per cent of the crop in the bin, well ahead of the five-year average for this time of year of 63 per cent. Another seven per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut.

Producers in the southwest area of the province are furthest ahead, having combined 94 per cent of the crop. Farmers in the southeast (92 per cent), northeast (90 per cent), west-central (89 per cent), east-central (84 per cent) and northwest (77 per cent) regions also are progressing well.

To date, 99 per cent of lentils, 99 per cent of field peas, 97 per cent of durum, 94 per cent of spring wheat, 93 per cent of chickpeas, 89 per cent of barley, 80 per cent of oats, 80 per cent of canola and 64 per cent of flax has been combined. Another 15 per cent of canola is swathed or ready to straight-cut.

“Farmers with crop still in the field are hoping for these (weather) conditions to continue until harvest is complete, while farmers who have completed harvest are hoping for rain to rejuvenate topsoil and subsoil moisture before winter,” the report said.

The ministry said the most rainfall received in the province was 10 millimetres in the Macklin area. With little or no rain falling in most regions, topsoil moisture levels suffered.

Cropland topsoil moisture in the province is considered 25 per cent adequate, 46 per cent short and 29 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 16 per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and 44 per cent very short.

According to the ministry, some farmers are holding off planting winter cereals because of the low topsoil moisture.

Pasture conditions are rated as seven per cent good, 29 per cent fair, 41 per cent poor and 23 per cent very poor.