Limited rainfall this past allowed the Saskatchewan harvest to mostly wrap up for the year.
The weekly crop report Thursday pegged the provincial harvest at 99% complete as of Monday, up a couple of points from a week earlier. Last year at this time, the harvest was basically at the same stage, with 98% of the crop off.
Only a few types of crops remain in the field, including oats, canola, flax, and soybeans. Oats are 99% harvested, and the remainder of that crop should be off in the next week. For oilseed crops, both canola and flax are 98% harvested. Soybeans remain the furthest behind at 90% complete, but the remaining 10% is ready to be combined.
Producers in the southeast, southwest and west-central regions have finished harvest, the report said. Nearly all producers in the northeast region have completed harvest as progress sits at 99%. Finally, harvest is close to wrapping up in the east-central and northwest regions at 98% done.
The province had very limited rainfall last week which allowed producers to get lots of field work done. The Wapella, Choiceland, and North Battleford areas received the most rainfall with 10 mm of precipitation. The dry conditions caused topsoil moisture to decrease slightly. Cropland topsoil moisture was rated 54% adequate, 37% short and 9% very short as of Monday, versus 60% adequate, 36% short and 4% very short a week earlier.
Since almost all crops are off in the province, little crop damage is being reported. Heavy winds continue to damage the few crops remaining in the field by blowing swaths around and shelling grain. Migratory birds and other wildlife continue to feed on the few remaining crops, but damage is minimal.
Southeast:
Only the Wapella area reported rainfall this week and they only received 10 mm. These dry conditions, paired with strong winds caused topsoil moisture levels to decline. Cropland topsoil moisture is now 48 per cent adequate, 45 per cent short and seven per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 45 per cent adequate, 46 per cent short and nine per cent very short. Finally, pasture topsoil moisture is 35 per cent adequate, 54 per cent short and 11 per cent very short.
Strong winds complicated harvest as producers were finishing combining this week. Producers also reported waterfowl and wildlife activity. Overall, crop damage was minimal since the few remaining crop acres were taken off last week.
The mild and dry conditions allowed lots of fieldwork to get done. Producers were busy getting harrowing, spraying and applying fall fertilizer. Producers are hoping to receive more rain soon for anhydrous ammonia applications and to improve soil moisture conditions for next year.
Southwest:
It was another dry week in the southwest and some producers are concerned about the dry conditions. Harvest has been complete for a couple of weeks now and producers are utilizing the mild weather to do other field work.
There was no rainfall reported in the southwest last week, which hurt topsoil moisture conditions.
The southwest currently has the lowest topsoil moisture levels in the province. Cropland levels are currently 27 per cent adequate, 52 per cent short and 21 per cent very short. Another heavy rainfall event in the southwest, much like the one in September, would greatly benefit soil moisture conditions for next spring.
East-Central:
Harvest is nearly complete in east-central Saskatchewan as 98 per cent of crops have been combined. This is a five per cent increase from last week and harvest should wrap up in the next week if dry conditions persist.
In the last week, the remaining spring wheat, oats, barley and canary seed crops were taken off. Currently, only a few flax, canola and soybean acres remain. Canola harvest is 98 per cent done in the region, while flax harvest follows closely at 92 per cent complete. Like the provincial trend, soybean crops are furthest behind as only 75 per cent of these crops have been harvested.
Almost no rainfall was reported in the region this week. The Danbury area got five mm, while the Whitebeech area got four mm. As a result, topsoil moisture levels slightly declined. Cropland topsoil moisture is currently 69 per cent adequate, 31 per cent short and zero per cent very short.
West-Central:
Last week, producers finished harvest in the west-central region and are glad to have the crop off in good time. Now, producers are making use of the dry conditions to work on post-harvest tasks.
Like much of the province, it was a dry week in the west-central region. The Marsden area was the only place to get rain and got a mere one mm. Despite this, topsoil moisture conditions are relatively unchanged. Cropland topsoil moisture is currently 63 per cent adequate, 34 per cent short and three per cent very short.
Northeast:
The northeast experienced the largest increase in harvest progress last week. Harvest is now 99 per cent complete, which is six per cent higher than the last report.
The only crops with acres left to combine are oats, flax and canola. Almost all oat crops are off as 99 per cent of these crops are in the bin. Both flax and canola follow closely at 97 per cent complete.
Some areas in the northeast got modest rainfall. The Choiceland area got the most rain with 10 mm, followed by the Star City area which received nine mm. Finally, the St. Brieux and Arborfield areas both received eight mm. Topsoil moisture levels are similar to the previous week and the northeast continues to have the best topsoil moisture conditions in the province. Cropland topsoil moisture is 87 per cent adequate and 13 per cent short.
Northwest:
Last week was cool and foggy in the northwest. Harvest is now 98 per cent complete, which is up five per cent from the previous week.
Most crops are completely off in this region, with only a few spring wheat, oats and canola crops left to harvest. Spring wheat and canola crops are at 99 per cent and 98 per cent complete, respectively. Oats are a little further behind, with harvest progress at 91 per cent complete.
There was very little rainfall in the northwest last week. The most precipitation fell around North Battleford, which was only 10 mm. Cropland topsoil moisture is currently one per cent surplus, 63 per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and eight per cent very short.
