Saskatchewan producers have three per cent of the 2016 crop in the bin, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. Seven per cent of the provincial crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. Harvest progress is on par with the five-year average (2011-2015). The break in rain showers toward the end of the week allowed producers in many parts of the province to continue with harvest.
Sixty-two per cent of the winter wheat, 15 per cent of the peas, five per cent of the lentils and four per cent of the barley and mustard have been combined. Nine per cent of the canola and mustard has been swathed. Harvest is furthest ahead in the southeastern part of the province, where producers have eight per cent of the crop combined.
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Yields are estimated to be above the five- and 10-year averages across all crops, with the exception of lentils and chickpeas.
The majority of the rainfall came earlier in the week, and ranged from trace amounts to 102 mm at Tramping Lake. Some other areas reporting significant amounts of rain this week include Bethune (43 mm), Earl Grey (56mm), Harris (86 mm), Rosetown (62 mm), Landis (77 mm), Alvena (52 mm), Hafford (50 mm) and Nipawin (49 mm).
Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 24 per cent surplus, 74 per cent adequate and two per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 10 per cent surplus, 82 per cent adequate and eight per cent short. Crop districts 7A and 8A are reporting that 53 and 57 per cent, respectively, of cropland have surplus topsoil moisture.
Producers may have difficulty accessing fields due to all the rain, and other fields may be too soft to support harvest equipment. The majority of last week’s crop damage was caused by excess rain and lodging.
Producers are busy with harvest and haying.
