While combines were able to roll across much of Saskatchewan last week, damp and cool weather slowed and will slow harvest heading into this week, the provincial agriculture department reported.
Harvest was 78 per cent complete, up from 66 per cent the previous week, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food’s crop report for the week ending Sept. 23. That’s up from the five-year average of 63 per cent, but down from 92 per cent at this time last year, the department said.
Rain at the beginning of this week is expected to stall harvest again and continue to deteriorate crop quality.
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Pastures were reported good to excellent by 29 per cent of reporters, down from 46 per cent at the end of August. About 90 per cent of reporters rated availability of livestock water as adequate also lower than at the end of August. Some in the south reported sloughs and dugouts were low or empty.
Crop damage was reported to the province as mainly caused by weathering, wind and frost. Concerns were also raised over crops sprouting and bleaching, as well as damage caused by migratory waterfowl in crops.
