Saskatchewan harvest progress continued ahead of the five- and 10-year average this past week, even as severe weather struck some parts of the province.
Thursday’s weekly crop report showed the provincewide harvest at 15% complete as of Monday, up from 6% a week earlier and compared to the five- and 10-year averages of 13% and 11%, respectively. However, the harvest does trail last year, when 21% of the crop was already in the bin at this time.
A few areas received severe storms producing heavy rain and hail causing extensive crop damage, the report said. In contrast, persistent heat and lack of moisture in other areas of the province continued to rapidly advance crop maturity.
“Producers that have started harvest are indicating variable yields across the province,” the report said. “In many regions, the lack of moisture and increased heat has impacted grain fill, resulting in yield reductions across various crops.”
The bulk of the harvest to date has occurred in the Southwest region, where 29% of the crop was reported harvested as of Monday. The Southwest was followed by the Southeast at 21% done, and the East-Central at 17%. The West-Central and Northeast regions were both at 5% complete as of Monday, with the Northwest at 1%. Most of the progress in the Northeast Region is limited to the Hanley area, which has experienced relatively drier conditions compared to the remaining areas.
Lentils and field peas continue to lead the spring-seeded crops in harvest progress at 50% and 44% complete, respectively. An estimated 17% of the barley and mustard crops were off, with durum at 14%, oats at 11%, and spring wheat at 4%. Only 2% of the canola in the province was reported harvested as of Monday.
The highest amount of rainfall this past week fell in the Craven area at 69 mm, followed by the Strasbourg area at 66 mm and the Caron area at 52 mm. The Arborfield area received 49 mm and the Rosthern area received 48 mm. Recent moisture has helped improve topsoil moisture conditions across some areas of the province. As of Monday, cropland topsoil moisture was rated 35% adequate, 41% short and 24% very short versus 29% adequate, 48% short and 23% very short a week earlier.
Crop damage over the past week was mainly due to the persistent lack of moisture throughout many regions, along with the increased temperatures. Crop lodging, due to wind damage, was also reported across the province along with hail damage in isolated areas. Grasshoppers persist in the province's drier regions too.
Southeast:
Producers within the region are busy harvesting, desiccating and swathing. Currently, overall harvest progress sits at 21 per cent for the region despite some rain delays. This is ahead of the five-year average of 11 per cent and 10-year average of 14 per cent reported for the region. Large variations in harvest progress are reported between census divisions given the differences in moisture conditions experienced throughout the growing season. Many producers are hopeful for rain following harvest to help replenish soil moisture conditions.
Within the southeast region, 88 per cent of fall rye has been harvested as well as 51 per cent of winter wheat. For spring seeded cereal crops, 32 per cent of both durum and oats are harvested, 29 per cent of barley, followed by only eight per cent of spring wheat harvested. For pulse crops within the region, 66 per cent of field peas are harvested followed by 49 per cent of lentils and 25 per cent of chickpeas. Mustard is ahead in harvest completion for oilseeds with 31 per cent in the bin. Currently, canola sits at four per cent harvested within the region. Harvest percentages reported include per cent of crop harvested as feed. A full summary of individual crop harvest progress for all regions can be viewed in the attached harvest progress table.
Regionally, 40 per cent of the fall rye is reported at 1 CW and 60 per cent 2 CW. Winter wheat grade quality is reported at 39 per cent 1 CW, 54 per cent 2 CW, five per cent 3 CW and two per cent as feed.
Rainfall was variable throughout the region with widely scattered storms reported, producing heavy rain, high winds and hail in some areas. The highest rainfall recorded fell in the Craven and Strasbourg areas which reported 69 mm and 66 mm respectively. The Odessa area received 32 mm over the past week and the Creelman area received 14 mm.
Topsoil moisture continues to fall short within the region. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is 33 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and 30 per cent very short.
Southwest:
As harvest quickly advances within the region, some producers have indicated that cattle are being moved to other pastures due to the deteriorating conditions from the lack of moisture and heat. Producers are hopeful for moisture following harvest completion to assist with soil moisture conditions, pasture regrowth and replenishing dugouts and sloughs within the region.
The southwest region leads in harvest progress at 29 per cent. This is ahead of the five-year average of 26 per cent and 10-year average of 23 per cent for the region.
Within the region, fall rye harvest is complete followed by 91 per cent of the winter wheat harvested. For spring seeded cereal crops, triticale is 65 per cent harvested, barley is 51 per cent, oats are 26 per cent, spring wheat is 20 per cent and durum is 17 per cent. Canary seed sits at 14 per cent harvested. For pulse crops within the region, 72 per cent of field peas are harvested followed by 68 per cent of lentils. Mustard is ahead in harvest completion for oilseeds with 22 per cent harvested and canola sitting at seven per cent complete. Harvest percentages reported include per cent of crop harvested as feed. A full summary of individual crop harvest progress for all regions can be viewed in the attached harvest progress table.
Regionally, 63 per cent of the fall rye is reported at 1 CW, 28 per cent at 2 CW and nine per cent is reported at 3 CW. Winter wheat grade quality is reported at 83 per cent 1 CW and 17 per cent at 2 CW. Producers have indicated concerns for bushel weights in other crops within the region which will result in downgrading.
Rain was variable throughout the region with many areas receiving little precipitation over the past week to a few isolated areas receiving higher rainfall amounts. The highest rain recorded fell in the Caron area at 52 mm followed by the Moose Jaw area at 35 mm. The Richmound area received 31 mm over the past week and the Shaunavon area received 20 mm.
Topsoil moisture continues to be impacted in the region due to the drier conditions. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is 14 per cent adequate, 29 per cent short and 57 per cent very short.
East-Central:
Producers within most of the region are just beginning harvest operations with many still busy doing equipment maintenance, desiccating, swathing, hauling bales and completing haying. Harvest has been able to rapidly progress in the far west side of the region due to the drier conditions which caused crops to advance quickly as compared to the rest of the region. Producers are expressing concern over yield impacts due to the lack of moisture and heat in areas within the region.
Currently, the east-central region is 17 per cent complete harvest. This is ahead of the five-year average of six per cent and 10-year average of five per cent for the region.
Within the region, fall rye harvest is 72 per cent complete followed by winter wheat at 38 per cent harvested. For spring seeded cereal crops, barley is eight per cent harvested, durum is seven per cent, spring wheat is two per cent and both triticale and oats are one per cent complete. For pulse crops within the region, 25 per cent of lentils are harvested followed by 16 per cent of field peas. No oilseed crops have been harvested to date within the region. Harvest percentages reported include per cent of crop harvested as feed. A full summary of individual crop harvest progress for all regions can be viewed in the attached harvest progress table.
Regionally, 84 per cent of the fall rye is reported at 1 CW and 16 per cent at 2 CW. Winter wheat grade quality is reported at 96 per cent 1 CW, three per cent at 2 CW and one per cent at 3 CW.
Scattered rain fell throughout much of the region over the past week. The highest amount recorded fell in the Wadena area at 38 mm. The Jedburg area received 23 mm, the Raymore area received 22 mm and the Hanley area received 11 mm over the past week.
Recent moisture has improved topsoil moisture within the region. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is 68 per cent adequate, 27 per cent short and five per cent very short.
West-Central:
As harvest progresses within the region, producers are also busy with equipment maintenance, desiccating, swathing, hauling bales and completing haying. Producers have expressed concerns with yield and bushel weight impacts from the lack of rain and heat damage occurring throughout the region. Although rain is too late to be beneficial for most crops, producers are hopeful for rain following harvest to help replenish soil moisture conditions.
Currently, the west-central region is five per cent complete harvest. This is behind the five-year average of 13 per cent and 10-year average of 10 per cent for the region.
Within the west-central region, 50 per cent of fall rye has been harvested and 26 per cent of winter wheat. For spring seeded cereal crops, 18 per cent of oats have been harvested for feed with two per cent of barley harvested and one per cent of durum. For pulse crops within the region, 24 per cent of field peas are harvested followed by 22 per cent of lentils. For oilseed crops, both canola and mustard sit at one per cent harvested within the region. A full summary of individual crop harvest progress for all regions can be viewed in the attached harvest progress table.
Regionally, 60 per cent of the fall rye is reported at 1 CW and 40 per cent at 2 CW. Winter wheat grade quality is reported at 25 per cent 1 CW, 50 per cent at 2 CW and 25 per cent at 3 CW.
Rainfall was limited over the past week with the highest amount recorded in the Sonningdale area at 13 mm. The Marengo area received 8 mm and the Marsden area received 6 mm. The Macklin and Biggar areas both received 5 mm over the past week.
Topsoil moisture continues to be impacted in the region due to the drier conditions. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is 14 per cent adequate, 69 per cent short and 17 per cent very short.
Northeast:
As harvest progresses within the region when the weather allows, producers are also busy with equipment maintenance, desiccating and monitoring crop stage for swathing. Producers indicate rain would still be beneficial on later seeded crops and pastures but areas with more advanced crops are hopeful for rain after harvest is complete to help with replenishing soil moisture.
Harvest progress within the region sits at five per cent. This aligns with the five-year average of five per cent and is ahead of the 10-year average of four per cent.
Within the northeast region currently, 49 per cent of fall rye has been harvested along with five per cent of barley, eight per cent of lentils and six per cent of peas. Of the fall rye harvested within the region, producers indicate grade quality to be 3 CW. A full summary of individual crop harvest progress for all regions can be viewed in the attached harvest progress table.
Rain fell throughout the region with many areas receiving higher amounts. Arborfield recorded the highest amount of rainfall over the past week at 49 mm followed by the Rosthern area at 48 mm. The Duck Lake area received 39 mm and the Nipawin area received 35 mm.
Topsoil moisture conditions remain similar to reports from previous weeks. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is one per cent surplus, 55 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and two per cent very short.
Northwest:
As harvest is just starting for some producers within the region, many are anticipating starting within the next week if weather allows. Producers are busy swathing, desiccating and monitoring desiccated crops for dry down. The persistent lack of moisture and increased heat has impacted grain fill within the region across various crops.
Currently, the northwest region is one per cent complete harvest. This is behind the five-year average of three per cent and 10-year average of two per cent for the region.
Within the northwest region currently, winter wheat harvest is complete. Fall rye sits at five per cent harvested and spring wheat is one per cent complete. Three per cent of oats have been harvested for feed. Of the pulse crops, 14 per cent of lentils have been harvested and ten per cent of field peas. Producers have not reported grades for winter wheat or fall rye that has been harvested within the region. A full summary of individual crop harvest progress for all regions can be viewed in the attached harvest progress table.
Rainfall was variable over the past week throughout the region with many areas reporting minimal amounts. The highest rainfall recorded fell in the Hafford area at 18 mm. The Speers area received 13 mm over the past week and the St. Walburg area received 11 mm.
Topsoil moisture conditions remain similar to previous weeks. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is 26 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and 30 per cent very short.
