Saskatchewan Crop Report: Harvest kicks off in Saskatchewan

MarketsFarm – As the calendar turned to August, some combining has already started in Saskatchewan according to the province’s weekly crop report.

For the week ended Aug. 1, the harvest has started for a select number of crops mostly located in the west-central and southwest regions. So far, one per cent of the province’s dry pea, lentil and winter wheat crop have been harvested, along with 0.5 per cent of fall rye and 0.4 per cent of barley. The harvest progress is in line with historical averages, unlike last year when three per cent was already completed due to the historic drought.

However, parts of regions where the harvest has begun received rainfall, delaying combining and desiccating. The harvest in the eastern half of Saskatchewan is still a week to 10 days away due to later seeding.

Certain areas of the province received heavy rains from localized storms, resulting in flooding and crop damage. The area around Unity received 53 millimetres of rain while Briercrest was hit with 49 mm. By comparison, Swift Current only saw nine mm.

Despite the rains, topsoil moisture declined slightly across Saskatchewan. Cropland topsoil moisture was rated at four per cent surplus, 64 per cent adequate, 25 per cent short and seven per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture was at two per cent surplus, 65 per cent adequate, 20 per cent short and 13 per cent very short. Pasture conditions are at 59 per cent good-to-excellent, a major improvement from last year with some pastures fully recovered from the drought.

Drought and minor flooding were culprits for crop damage during the week, as well as disease, wind, hail and grasshoppers. Several storms caused severe crop damage including hailstorms from Marengo to Lake Diefenbaker, which also damaged vehicles, machinery and buildings.