Harvest moving slowly in Sask. as farmers hope for warmer weather

Harvest is moving slowly on farms across Saskatchewan, as producers hope for warm weather to help bring their crops to maturity.

According to the latest crop report from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, which covered the week ending on Monday, harvest is four per cent complete across the province, well behind the five-year average of 15 per cent and the 10-year average of 12 per cent. But harvest is still slightly more advanced than the same time last year, when only three per cent of the province’s crops were in the bin.

Read more:

• Farmers say southeast Sask. rain won’t dampen start of harvest
• Cool weather slows the start of harvest on Saskatchewan farms
• Nature’s Food Bank: Turning a problem into protein

“Cool weather, rainfall and humidity slowed crop development and harvest operations last week,” the ministry wrote in its report.

“While harvest has begun in some areas, mainly on early seeded pulse crops, spring and winter cereals, most crops are still developing and not yet ready to combine.”

Fall rye is furthest along, with 44 per cent of the crop combined, followed by triticale (37 per cent) and winter wheat (33 per cent).

Harvest is furthest advanced in the southwest, where nine per cent of the year’s crop has been combined, followed by the southeast at four per cent, the west-central region at two per cent and the east-central region at one per cent.

Scattered rain and thunderstorms over the week covered by the report brought much-needed moisture to some regions, but early-morning humidity shortened the windows for harvest and created poor conditions for desiccation.

In cropland, topsoil moisture was rated as two per cent surplus, 54 per cent adequate, 37 per cent shot and seven per cent very short. In hayland, topsoil moisture levels were sitting at two per cent surplus, 52 per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and eight per cent very short. In pastures, topsoil moisture was rated as one per cent surplus, 43 per cent adequate, 41 per cent short and 15 per cent very short.

“Provincially, 81 per cent of reporters indicated no water shortages are occurring or are anticipated for livestock producers,” the ministry explained.

“Moderate shortages were reported by nine per cent of respondents, while nine per cent indicated shortages are expected within the next one to two months, and one per cent reported severe shortages.”

Dry conditions, disease pressures and pests were the most commonly reported sources of crop damage during the week ending Monday, the ministry said, with producers in central and northern regions spraying for insects.

“Harvest is a busy and demanding time and producers are reminded to take appropriate safety precautions during harvest operations,” the ministry advised.

“This includes having fire suppression equipment readily available and exercising caution when working around powerlines.”