Sask. producers reporting lower-than-average yields during harvest

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture says while harvest is progressing in the province, yields are proving to be disappointing for some producers.

“Reported yields are far lower than average for many parts of the province with some areas reporting some fields that have yielded almost nothing,” the ministry said in its weekly crop report.

Ninety-nine per cent of the winter wheat, 83 per cent of the fall rye, 85 per cent of the lentils, 84 per cent of the field peas, 57 per cent of the mustard, 40 per cent of the durum, 11 per cent of the chickpeas, 36 per cent of the spring wheat and 11 per cent of the canola has now been combined.

Provincially, 36 per cent of the crop is in the bin, up from 29 per cent last week and well ahead of the five-year average for this time of year of 22 per cent.

Harvest is furthest along in the southwest region of the province, with 47 per cent of the crop now combined. The southeast region is next at 42 per cent, followed by the west-central (36 per cent), northeast (34 per cent), east-central (25 per cent) and northwest (21 per cent) regions.

Recent rains have improved topsoil moisture conditions across the province.

Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 40 per cent adequate, 34 per cent short and 25 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is at 28 per cent adequate, 43 per cent short and 29 per cent very short.

However, heavy rains in some areas caused damage to crops still in the fields. Hail, strong winds, insects and the effects of the drought also have damaged crops.

The crop report covers the week of Aug. 24 through Monday, meaning it doesn’t include the effects of Tuesday’s hailstorm on crops in Saskatchewan.