Cool weather slows the start of harvest on Saskatchewan farms

Cooler weather over the past week has slowed harvest progress on farms across Saskatchewan, but the change in the weather came with some benefits as well.

According to the latest crop report from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, which covered the week ending on Monday, harvest is two per cent complete across the province as the cooler temperatures slowed down crop development. That puts Saskatchewan farmers behind the five-year average of six per cent and the 10-year average of five per cent, but slightly ahead of the one per cent completion recorded at the same time in 2025.

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But while the cooler weather may have slowed the start of harvest for the crops that are furthest along – largely cereal and early seeded pulses – the ministry said it also helped maintain crop condition and reduced the stress on crops in areas that had seen hot, dry weather in previous weeks. Farmers in most areas of the province are still waiting for their crops to finish developing before harvest can begin, the ministry added.

“Scattered showers provided much-needed moisture, but overall conditions remain dry,” the ministry wrote in its report.

“Additional precipitation would be beneficial, particularly for later-seeded crops as they continue to progress through the grain-filling stage.”

The Chesterfield and Milton areas got the most rain over the week covered by the report, with 20 millimetres, followed by farms around Milden, where 16mm of rain fell.

The ministry said topsoil moisture levels in cropland were sitting at one per cent surplus, 48 per cent adequate, 43 per cent short and eight per cent very short during the week covered by the report.

It was a similar story in hayland, where topsoil moisture was rated as one per cent surplus, 49 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and eight per cent very short.

Topsoil moisture in pastures, meanwhile, was rated as one per cent surplus, 39 per cent adequate, 46 per cent short and 14 per cent very short.

“Most producers have either completed or are wrapping up final haying and silage operations,” the agriculture ministry stated.

“Provincially, dryland alfalfa yields are averaging 1.90 tonnes (t) per acre, while greenfeed yields are averaging 2.79 t per acre. Under irrigated conditions, alfalfa yields are averaging 3.90 t per acre and greenfeed yields are averaging 6.85 t per acre. Provincial silage yields are currently estimated at 7.00 t per acre.”

Hot and dry conditions were the most common cause of crop damage during the week ending on Monday, the ministry added, while some producers have reported minor damage from wind, gophers, bertha armyworms and sclerotinia disease.

The ministry encouraged farmers to keep safety at the top of their minds while starting harvest operations, pointing to the risks from fires and overhead power lines in particular.

Drivers on Saskatchewan highways were also encouraged to keep safety in mind, as plenty of large agricultural equipment will be moving around on the roads.

“Motorists are encouraged to exercise extra patience and caution when approaching or passing large agricultural equipment,” the ministry said.