Rain and snow halts late harvest operations in Southwest

Back to back damp weeks have slowed late harvest progress across the Southwest, with producers now having just 12 per cent of the crop to harvest.

According to the Saskatchewan Agriculture Crop Report for the period of September 18 to 24, producers now have 88 per cent of crops in the bin, up just two per cent from the previous week, and only six per cent up from the report two weeks ago.

Despite the slowdown, the Southwest remains ahead of the five-year average of 77 per cent of crops being harvested at this time of year.

The report notes that widespread rains fell, with as much as 48 millimetres falling in the Fife Lake area, 23 mm near Hazenmore, and 21 mm in the Limerick region.

According to Saskatchewan Agriculture data, Vanguard has recorded the most rainfall in the area since April 1 at 26.5 centimetres, while the Kyle area has the lowest rainfall total since April 1 at 10.2 centimetres.

The September rains have not been timely, but they have allowed topsoil moisture conditions to improve significantly. In the Southwest, hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are now rated as 24 per cent adequate, 63 per cent short, and 13 per cent very short.

The Southwest also remains ahead of the rest of the province in harvest work. The Southwest at 88 per cent is just slightly ahead of the Southeast at 87 per cent. The West Central (59 per cent) and East Central (58 per cent) regions are both near 60 per cent completed. Trailing the way is the Northeastern area at 34 per cent and the Northwest region at 27 per cent.

The crop report notes that the majority of crop damage this past week was due to lodging while rain and snow contributed to quality loss.

Saskatchewan Harvest 2018 (as of September 24)

per cent combined

Fall rye 99 Winter wheat 99 Lentils 97 Peas 96 Durum 82 Mustard 76 Chickpeas 74 Barley 72 Spring wheat 53 Oats 49 Canola 48 Canaryseed 32 Flax 28 Soybeans 22

Saskatchewan Harvest 2018 (as of September 24)

per cent completed by region Southwest 88 Southeast 87 West Central 59 East Central 58 Northeast 34 Northwest 27

Southwest Crop Conditions Winter Wheat

Combined - 96 per cent; Ready to Straight Combine - 4 per cent.

Fall Rye

Combined - 82 per cent; Greenfeed/silage - 18 per cent.

Spring Wheat

Combined - 81 per cent; Ready to Straight Combine - 10 per cent; Standing - 7 per cent; In Swath - 2 per cent.

Durum

Combined - 83 per cent; Ready to Straight Combine - 10 per cent; Standing - 5 per cent; In Swath - 2 per cent.

Barley

Combined - 89 per cent; Ready to Straight Combine - 3 per cent; Standing - 3 per cent; Greenfeed/silage - 5 per cent.

Oats

Combined - 75 per cent; Ready to Straight Combine - 7 per cent; Standing - 6 per cent; Greenfeed/silage - 12 per cent.

Canaryseed

Combined - 53 per cent; Ready to Straight Combine - 20 per cent; In Swath - 14 per cent; Standing - 13 per cent.

Flax

Standing - 46 per cent; Combined - 37 per cent; Ready to Straight Combine - 17 per cent.

Canola

Combined - 75 per cent; Ready to Straight Combine - 13 per cent; Standing - 6 per cent; In Swath - 6 per cent.

Mustard

Combined - 81 per cent; Ready to Straight Combine - 10 per cent; Standing - 9 per cent.

Soybean

Standing - 45 per cent; Combined - 35 per cent; Ready to Straight Combine - 20 per cent.

Field Peas

Combined - 99 per cent; Ready to Straight Combine - 1 per cent.

Lentils

Combined - 98 per cent; Ready to Straight Combine - 2 per cent.

Chickpeas

Combined - 69 per cent; Ready to Straight Combine - 20 per cent; Standing - 11 per cent.