Rainfall this past week across Saskatchewan week dramatically improved soil moisture levels but slowed early harvest activities, leaving some producers anxious about potential quality impacts on early seeded crops.
While the moisture was welcomed for later seeded crops still filling, it delayed desiccation and other field work, said the weekly provincial crop report on Thursday. The report pegged the overall Saskatchewan harvest at 2% complete as of Monday, up just 1 point from a week earlier and behind the five- and 10-year averages.
Most of the harvest progress has been in the southwest, with some activity beginning in the southeast and east-central regions. Producers in the west-central and northern regions have yet to start but expect to begin within the next two weeks if conditions permit, the report said.
Winter cereals continue to lead, with 16% of winter wheat and 14% of fall rye harvested. Pulse crops are also coming off, with 3% of lentils and peas combined. The first acres of spring cereals and oilseeds were taken off last week, including 2%t of barley and 1% each of spring wheat and canola.
Last year at this time, approximately half of winter cereal crops and one-quarter of pulse crops had been harvested.
Most areas of the province received significant precipitation this past week, with Beatty leading at 105 millimetres (mm), followed closely by Calder at 103 mm and Star City at 102 mm. The Bruno, Prince Albert and Saskatoon regions also recorded more than 90 mm. As a result, provincial cropland topsoil moisture now stands at 11% surplus, 75% adequate, 11% short and only 3% very short, compared to 5% surplus, 54% adequate, 33% short, and 8% very short the previous week.
Crop damage last week was mainly due to excess moisture, though impacts were minor and scattered. Heavy rain and strong winds caused some lodging, while grasshopper and bertha armyworm activity required spraying in certain areas.
