Harvest in province complete

REGINA — The 2013 harvest is, for all intents and purposes, complete with 99 per cent of the crop in the bin, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly crop report.

Weather has been favourable for harvest operations throughout most of the grainbelt, allowing producers to take off well-above average yields and above-average crop quality, the report said Thursday.

Average yields for spring wheat are up 35 per cent and canola yields up 36 per cent over the 10-year average (2003 to 2012). Average yields for spring wheat are 46 bushels per acre, durum 45 bushels per acre, oats 91 bushels per acre, canola 38 bushels per acre, peas 43 bushels per acre and lentils 1,700 pounds per acre. The majority of crops are rating average to above-average in quality and are reported as falling within the top two quality grades.

Most regions report the majority of the crop is harvested, although some areas in the southeastern and east-central regions are 95 per cent combined. These areas have experienced significant rainfall throughout the growing and harvest seasons, resulting in some yield and quality loss. Some flax, chickpeas, canaryseed and oats are still being combined.

Cattle producers have adequate to surplus winter feed supplies.

The number of acres seeded to winter wheat is on par with 2012. However, due to a late harvest, wet conditions in some areas and dry soil conditions in other regions, the number of acres seeded has decreased in the east-central, westcentral and northeastern regions compared to the previous year. Acres seeded to winter wheat have increased in parts of the south.