Saskatchewan’s harvest 90 per cent complete

MarketsFarm — Excellent weather over the week ended Monday saw Saskatchewan farmers make good harvest progress, with 90 per cent of the province’s crops off the field, according to the latest provincial report.

Harvest progress was up from 81 per cent the previous week — and from the five-year average of 82 per cent.

While only trace amounts of rain were reported, heavy morning fogs and high humidity were causing delays in some areas with harvest activities pushed back to the afternoon. Grain moisture levels were higher than normal.

Harvest in the southwest and west-central regions was virtually complete with mostly flax waiting to be harvested, which will likely occur after the next heavy killing frost. The northwest has 94 per cent of its crop off, the northeast 87 per cent, southeast 86 per cent and east-central region 81 per cent.

The harvest of lentils and field peas was finished. Durum was 98 per cent combined, while 97 per cent of the chickpeas, 93 per cent of the spring wheat, 90 per cent of the barley, 82 per cent of canola and 66 per cent of the flax was harvested across the province.

All areas of the province were reporting that they were either extremely dry or becoming drier each week. This includes the southeast and east-central regions, which started the season with an abundance of moisture.

Cropland topsoil moisture was rated as 28 per cent adequate, 41 per cent short and 31 per cent very short. Hay and pastureland topsoil moisture was rated as 22 per cent adequate, 41 per cent short and 37 per cent very short.

The limited moisture throughout much of the harvest season has allowed crop quality to remain high, especially hard red spring wheat, which was being reported as 75 per cent No. 1 CW, 23 per cent No. 2 CW and two per cent No. 3 CW.

The majority of crop damage during the week was due to wind, waterfowl and wildlife. Wind continues to impact unharvested crops by blowing swaths around, as well as shelling out crops and causing lodging.