Saskatchewan producers managed to make good harvest progress this past week, despite several heavy storms resulting in total crop loss for some producers.
Thursday’s weekly crop report estimated the provincewide harvest at 25% complete as of Monday, up 10 points from a week earlier and ahead of the five-year average of 21%. Last year, the harvest was one-third done.
The 2024 harvest is the most advanced in the Southwest Region, where 44% of the crop was off as of Monday, followed by the Southeast at 28% complete, the East-Central at 25%, and the West-Central at 15%. The Northeast and Northwest regions were bringing up the rear at 12% and 7% done, respectively.
The fall rye and winter wheat crops were 84% and 74% harvested as of Monday, with lentils and peas at 72% and 68%. The mustard crop was 43% harvested followed by durum at 37%, barley at 31%, chickpeas at 24%, oats at 19%, and soybeans at 14%. The spring wheat and canola crops were 13% and 8% in the bin, with canary seed at 5% complete and flax at 2% done.
Crop yields vary across the province with some producers experiencing higher than expected yields while others are once again seeing less than average in the areas hit hardest by the heat and dry conditions, the report said.
Due to the heavy thunderstorms experienced over the past week, topsoil moisture has improved for some regions while others are still experiencing extremely dry conditions, the report said. “These areas will need substantial rainfall and snow coverage to ensure a good start to the 2025 growing season,” it added.
The storms brought high winds and hail, which was as big as golf balls in some areas, battering crops.
The Glenavon area reported 94 mm of rain this past week, and the Creelman area reported 76 mm. The central and northern regions received rain as well, ranging from 20 to 30 mm over the week.
Cropland topsoil moisture was rated1% surplus, 39% adequate, 36% short, and 24% very
Short as of Monday, a modest improvement from 35% adequate, 41% short and 24% very short the previous week.
Crop damage over the past week was mainly due to strong winds, heavy rain and severe hail resulting in lodged or completely lost crops. Strong winds also blew swaths around resulting in loss of yield, making harvest more difficult.
Southeast:
Producers in the southeast were making good progress in their fields before large storms completely halted some harvest operations. These storms caused delays as well as damage by blowing around swaths, lodging crops and flooding and hailing out crops. Due to these setbacks producers have only taken off 28 per cent of the crop in the region, up from 21 per cent last week and ahead of the five-year average of 22 per cent. Some producers have noted their crops are not yet ready for harvest and are hoping they dry down quickly to avoid any issues as we enter September.
Producers have made significant progress in their fall cereals; winter wheat is now 79 per cent and fall rye is 86 per cent in the bin for the year. Field peas and lentils are also nearing completion, with 85 per cent of field peas and 73 per cent of lentils harvested for the year. Producers are focusing on spring seeded cereals; 40 per cent of durum, 36 per cent of oats, 33 per cent of barley and 16 per cent of spring wheat are harvested in the region. Mustard leads the oilseed progress, with 53 per cent of the crop in the bin. Eleven per cent of canola has been harvested so far.
There were several heavy downpours in the region over the past week resulting in crop damage and delays. The Glenavon area received 94 mm, the Creelman area 76 mm, the Radville area 55 mm and the Rouleau area 34 mm over the course of the week. The heavy rain has flooded low lying areas and caused issues for producers with swathed crops.
Soil moisture in the region has improved due to the rain. Six per cent of crop land is rated to have surplus moisture, 70 per cent adequate moisture, 19 per cent is short and five per cent is very short.
Southwest:
The southwest continues to lead harvest progress this week with 44 per cent of this year’s crop harvested, as they largely missed most of the storms experienced by the rest of the province. This year’s progress is slightly ahead of the five-year average of 43 per cent. As the conditions remained dry in the region once again this year, producers hope that they can finally receive rain as we get closer to the fall.
Producers wrapped up their fall cereal harvest this past week with 100 per cent of winter wheat and 93 per cent of fall rye harvested this year. Seven per cent of fall rye was harvested for feed. Field peas and lentils continue to lead pulse harvest progress, with 87 per cent of peas and 86 per cent of lentils harvested. Mustard continues to lead oilseed progress, with 55 per cent of this year’s crop in the bin. Thirty-two per cent of canola has been harvested so far. With the fall cereals and pulse crops mostly harvested, producers are focusing on harvesting spring seeded cereals. Forty-eight per cent of durum, 42 per cent of spring wheat, 54 per cent of barley and 25 per cent of oats have been harvested for the year; additionally, 22 per cent of oats have been harvested as feed.
The region as a whole did not receive widespread rains but most of the eastern half of the region received precipitation as thunderstorms rolled across from Alberta to Manitoba. The Aneroid area received 31 mm, the Spring Valley area 26 mm and the Caron area 22 mm over the past week. The rainfall did little to improve the overall topsoil moisture conditions in the region. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as six per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 58 per cent very short.
East-Central:
Rain caused minor delays over the past week, but producers are reporting their crops are maturing quickly with 25 per cent of this year’s crop combined, which is ahead of the five-year average of 12 per cent. Some producers are noting that crop maturity is quite variable within their fields and even within individual plants, leading to challenging discussions for producers as they decide how best to harvest these specific fields.
Producers now have 53 per cent of winter wheat and 86 per cent of fall rye in the bin for the year. Field peas are 57 per cent harvested, and lentils are 61 per cent harvested for the year. Canola has finally been reported as harvested with one per cent of the crop now coming off. As they ripen down, producers are focusing on spring seeded cereals with 11 per cent of spring wheat, 15 per cent of durum and 16 per cent of barley harvested for the year.
The region received a wide range of precipitation over the week, with the Rhein area reporting 40 mm, the Yorkton area 33 mm, the Foam Lake area 21 mm and the Pelly area 16 mm. The rain will hopefully help any later seeded crops that are still filling, but overall it will not have a drastic impact on topsoil moisture as the region remains very dry. The crop land topsoil moisture rating is 56 per cent adequate, 34 per cent short and 10 per cent very short.
West-Central:
Conditions remain dry in the west-central region, allowing for producers to continue and increase their harvesting momentum, with 15 per cent of the crop now in the bin and producers expecting to keep up a good pace as long as the rains hold off. This year’s progress is behind the five-year average of 23 per cent. Crops all across the board are being harvested with initial yields for many coming in under expectations and regional averages.
Producers in the region are nearing completion on their fall cereal harvest, with 50 per cent of winter wheat and 83 per cent of fall rye now taken off with another 50 percent of winter wheat in the swath. Fifty-six per cent of field peas and 59 per cent of lentils have been harvested in the region. Six per cent of the canola has been harvested, and this will quickly increase as the crop ripens or is swathed. Producers are moving into their spring cereals with 20 per cent of the barley, 10 per cent of spring wheat, eight per cent of oats and five per cent of durum taken off.
There were a few scattered showers that moved through the region this week, bringing with it minor to moderate hail damage. The Asquith area reported 30 mm, the Perdue area 25 mm and the Sonningdale area 10 mm. The rain did not drastically improve moisture conditions in the region, but it did allow a slight reprieve. Cropland moisture is rated as nine per cent adequate, 62 per cent short and 29 per cent very short.
Northeast:
The northeast region now has 12 per cent of this year’s harvest completed, slightly ahead of the five-year average of nine per cent. Producers are patiently waiting for their crops to dry down and some are starting to ramp up swathing and desiccating activities. This week saw storms roll through some of the region resulting in delays.
Fall rye harvest has wrapped up, allowing producers to focus on spring seeded crops. So far 38 per cent of field peas, 21 per cent of barley, 13 per cent of lentils and two per cent of spring wheat have been harvested so far. If conditions remain dry, harvest will move along quickly in the region.
Like most of the province, the northeast received precipitation throughout the week with some areas such as Rosthern reporting 28 mm. Other notable precipitation was reported in the Bruno area (25 mm) and the St. Brieux area (18 mm). Crop land topsoil moisture is rated as 55 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short and six per cent very short.
Northwest:
Producers in the northwest are seven per cent done with harvest, which is just above the five-year average of six per cent. Producers are busy swathing and desiccating as harvest is entering full swing. Some producers have reported the yields they are seeing are lower than expected, and are hoping that their later seeded fields will be more productive.
Field peas are now 50 per cent harvested for the year, while 37 per cent of lentils are in the bin for the year. Spring cereals are just starting to go through the combine and are being led by barley with 13 per cent and four per cent of spring wheat harvested. Four per cent of the flax has also come off in the region. Crops will be quickly harvested as they mature, and the weather remains optimal for harvesting.
There was scattered rain throughout the region causing minor delays and crop damage. The Hafford area reported the most rain with 41 mm, the Glaslyn area 27 mm and the St. Walburg area 17 mm. Soil moisture remains very poor, with 26 per cent of crop land having adequate moisture, 48 per cent is short and 26 per cent is very short.
