Frequent moisture slows late harvest operations
Frequent moisture prevented Southwest producers from completing much additional harvest work according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Crop Report for the period of September 25 to October 1.
Just two per cent of the harvest was completed this past week, and producers have only progressed harvest an additional 10 per cent over the previous three weeks.
With 90 per cent of the crop in the bin, the Southwest remains ahead of the five year average of 85 per cent.
Crops recently taken off the fields are coming off very tough and are being placed into aeration and drying bins. The region will now need a series of warm, dry and windy days in order to get the rest of the crop off.
The period of Sept. 25 to Oct. 1 did not feature too much rain, but there was widespread snow back on October 1.
“Yield estimates at this time remain about average overall, although they vary greatly across the region,” the Crop Report notes of the estimates in the Southwest. “Many crops have yielded much less than expected. Spring wheat grades at this time are being reported as 69 per cent 1 CW, 22 per cent 2 CW, six per cent 3 CW and six per cent CW Feed. Most crop damage this past week was due to lodging from snow and rain; downgrading is expected at the elevator as some crops are bleached or have sprouted.”
The rain and snow has helped improve topsoil moisture conditions in the region. Cropland topsoil moisture is now rated as 54 per cent adequate, a significant improvement from the six per cent adequate estimate in the August 14 to 20 Crop Report.
However, cropland is still reported as 35 per cent short and 11 per cent very short.
Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are now rated at 44 per cent adequate, 43 per cent short and 13 per cent very short.
The Southwest remains ahead of the rest of the province in harvest work. The Southwest at 90 per cent is just slightly ahead of the Southeast at 89 per cent. The West Central (62 per cent) and East Central (61 per cent) regions are also hoping for drying weather, while the situation is more of a concern further north where the Northeastern area sits at 45 per cent and the Northwest region at only 33 per cent combined.
Saskatchewan Harvest (as of October 1)
per cent combined Fall rye 99 Winter wheat 99 Lentils
Peas
Durum Chickpeas Barley Mustard Spring wheat Oats
Canola Canaryseed Flax Soybeans 98 97 84 78 78 76 58 57 52 50 33 29
Saskatchewan Harvest (as of October 1)
per cent completed by region Southwest 90 Southeast 89 West Central 62 East Central 61 Northeast 45 Northwest 33
Saskatchewan Harvest Estimated Crop Yields
(as of October 1) Winter Wheat - Southwest 25; Provincial 40.
Fall Rye - Southwest 21; Provincial 32.
Hard Red Spring Wheatsouthwest 29; Provincial 44.
Other Wheat - Southwest 27; Provincial 49.
Durum - Southwest 28; Provincial 33.
Oats - Southwest 39; Provincial 82.
Barley - Southwest 41; Provincial 61.
Canaryseed - Southwest 882; Provincial 1188.
Flax - Southwest 14; Provincial 22.
Canola - Southwest 23; Provincial 37.
Mustard - Southwest 760; Provincial 883.
Soybean - Southwest 15; Provincial 24
Peas - Southwest 24; Provincial 36.
Lentil - Southwest 1170; Provincial 1343.
Chickpeas - Southwest 1205; Provincial 1234.