More dry weather allowed the Saskatchewan harvest to move further toward completion this past week.
Thursday’s weekly crop report pegged the overall harvest in the province at 82% complete as of Monday, up from 68% a week earlier and comfortably ahead of the five- and 10-year averages of 64% and 62%. Last year at this time, an estimated 70% of the crop was in the bin.
Harvest in the Southwest Region is essentially complete, with 97% of the crop off and only a few flax acres remaining. The harvest in the West-Central Region was 92% complete as of Monday, followed by the Southeast at 79%, the Northeast and Northwest at 75% each, and the East-Central at 66%.
Producers mainly focused on harvesting oilseed crops and made substantial progress this past week. The canola harvest reached 65% complete across the province as of Monday, up 23 points on the week. Mustard was 97% complete, with soybeans at 47% and flax at 39%. Oat harvest has also progressed rapidly, with 79% of the crop harvested, an increase of 21 points from the previous week. Durum was 94% complete, barley 92% and spring wheat 88%. The chickpea harvest reached 87% complete as of Monday.
The harvest of fall cereals, canary seed, peas, and lentils is complete for the year.
But while the dry weather has allowed by much better-than-average harvest progress this fall, moisture is needed badly in many areas of the province. The Stoughton area received the most rain in the province this past week at just 10 mm.
Cropland topsoil moisture in the province was rated 25% adequate, 49% short and 26% very short as of Monday. That compares to 35% adequate, 41% short and 24% very short the previous week. Back in early May, cropland topsoil moisture was rated 72% adequate, 21% short and just 2% very short.
“Producers are hoping for timely rains once harvest is complete,” the report said.
Southeast:
With limited rain, producers in the southeast were able to stay in the fields this week and harvest is now 79 per cent complete. This is ahead of the five-year average of 74 per cent.
Spring seeded cereals are nearing completion in the region, with durum being virtually complete, barley is 93 per cent, oats 92 per cent and spring wheat 89 per cent complete. Oilseeds are now the main focus for producers, with 77 per cent of mustard in the bin followed by 62 per cent of canola, 48 per cent of soybeans and 42 per cent of flax. Chickpeas are 87 per cent harvested and canary seed is 53 per cent complete. Harvest of fall cereals, peas and lentils is complete.
Minimal rain was received in the southeast this week, with the most, 10 mm, received in the Stoughton area. Topsoil moisture is becoming limited, with 30 per cent of cropland having adequate moisture, 43 per cent is short and 27 per cent is very short.
Southwest:
With only a few acres left standing, the southwest is beginning to wind down their harvest operations. The southwest is now 97 per cent complete, ahead of the five-year average of 86 per cent.
Both fall and spring cereals are completely harvested in the southwest, as well as mustard, peas and lentils. Flax is the least harvested crop, with 41 per cent in the bin. Canaryseed and chickpeas are both 94 per cent harvested for the year. Canola is very near completion, with 96 per cent of the crop harvested for the year.
Very little rain was seen in the southwest this week. Two mm was the most reported, received in the Vanguard region. Topsoil moisture is very limited in the region; 50 per cent of cropland and hay and pastures is short and 50 per cent is very short.
East-Central:
Due to a lack of rainfall, producers were able to combine with minimal interruptions. The region is now 66 per cent completed harvest, ahead of the five-year average of 56 per cent.
Producers are finishing up their spring seeded cereals and are now focusing on their canola harvest. Durum is 87 per cent complete, barley is 82 per cent, spring wheat is 78 per cent, oats are 60 per cent and canary seed is 19 per cent. Mustard harvest is complete for the year, canola is 48 per cent complete and soybeans are 34 per cent harvested. Peas and lentils are completely harvested and little progress has been made in chickpeas.
The Goodeve area received the most rain in the region this week, recording seven mm. Topsoil is mostly short in the region, with 33 per cent of cropland having adequate moisture, 60 per cent is short and seven per cent is very short.
West-Central:
The end of harvest is quickly approaching for many producers in the west-central region, with 92 per cent of harvest completed. This is ahead of the five-year average of 72 per cent.
Producers have now completed harvest of peas, lentils, mustard, soybeans and fall cereals. Spring cereals are virtually complete with spring wheat being 95 per cent harvested, durum is 98 per cent, barley is 97 per cent, canary seed is 94 per cent and oats are 91 per cent complete. Producers are focusing on getting their last oilseed field combined, with 84 per cent of canola and 61 per cent of flax harvested for the year.
Minimal rain was received in the west-central region this week. The Smiley area received the most rainfall, recording five mm. Topsoil moisture is limited in the region, with six per cent of cropland having adequate topsoil moisture, 51 per cent is short and 43 per cent is very short.
Northeast:
Producers in the northeast made the most of the dry weather and have now completed 75 per cent of their harvest. This is ahead of the five-year average of 52 per cent.
Producers in the region have made great progress harvesting all crop types this past week and are now focusing on getting their oilseeds in the bin for the year. Fifty-five per cent of canola is harvested so far, while 18 per cent of flax is in the bin. Barley is 97 per cent complete, spring wheat is 93 per cent, oats are 86 per cent and canary seed is 62 per cent. Chickpeas are 51 per cent harvested for the year. Fall cereals, durum, lentils and field peas are completed for the year.
The Tisdale area received the most rain this week, recording 6.8 mm. Topsoil moisture in the northeast is still adequate. Seventy-five per cent of cropland has adequate topsoil moisture and 25 per cent is short
Northwest:
A dry week meant rapid harvest progress in the northwest region. Producers in the northwest have been busy combining this week and are now 75 per cent harvested for the year. This is ahead of the five-year average of 45 per cent.
Producers are completing their spring seeded cereals this week and turning their attention to their oilseeds. Barley is 85 per cent complete, spring wheat is 83 per cent and oats are 80 per cent complete. Sixty-four per cent of canola is in the bin for the year, while producers are waiting for flax to dry-down and have not yet started combining. Fall cereals, field peas and lentils are harvested for the year.
The St. Walburg area received the most rain this week, recording just three mm. Topsoil moisture is beginning to be limited, with 37 per cent of cropland having adequate moisture, 55 per cent is short and eight per cent is very short.
