There have been a few weather delays in northern areas, but the harvest is proceeding in other part of the province.
Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly crop says 39 percent of combining was done as of Monday, September 3rd. That is well ahead of the five-year average of 25 per cent.
Here is the combining breakdown by region:
Southwest 60 percent
Southeast 56 percent
West Central 32 percent
East Central 32 percent
Northeast 14 percent
Northwest 8 percent
Thirty-two percent of the crop is now swathed or ready to straight-cut.
This is the combining progress by crop:
Winter Wheat 92 percent
Peas 86 percent
Lentils 83 percent
Mustard 53 percent
Durum 49 percent
Barley 46 percent
Spring Wheat 28 percent
Oats 26 percent
Canola 19 percent
Canaryseed 8 percent
Flax 5 percent
Fifty-seven percent of canola and 11 percent of mustard are swathed or ready to straight-cut.
Yields range from average to well below average, depending on moisture received during the growing season.
Jason Nolting farms east of Craik, about halfway between Saskatoon and Regina. He says yields have been better than expected.
“The wheat is 50 to 60 (bushels an acre) probably. We haven’t done any canola yet. The lentils have been good and the barley has been good to really good.”
Nolting says there was good moisture in May. That was followed by a lengthy dry period in June and then a few timely showers.
Allan Maystrowich farms at Willowbrook, about 25 kilometres west of Yorkton. He describes the growing season as dry with spotty rain.
“The barley was below average, but I had some hail so it’s hard to say. The oats was poor on lighter land and we’re just starting on canola.”
Maystrowich says it’s taking canola longer to cure in the swath under dry conditions.
“Usually in seven to ten days the canola is off. Now there is some laying out over 14 days and it’s not ready yet.”
Southern and central Saskatchewan will need rain following harvest. Provincial topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 22 percent adequate, 47 percent short and 31 percent very short. Hay land and topsoil moisture is rated as 18 percent adequate, 41 percent short and 42 percent very short.
The full crop report, including moisture maps and precipitation totals, can be viewed at the following link: