The 2023 harvest has now wrapped up well ahead of normal in many areas of Saskatchewan.
The latest weekly crop report on Thursday pegged the overall provincial harvest at 91% complete as of Monday, up from 82% a week earlier and comfortably ahead of the five- and 10-year averages of 73%. It is the second fastest harvest pace in the province since 2018, trailing only the 2021 drought year when 95% of the harvest was complete at this time.
Many of this year’s crops are now entirely harvested, the report said, with the remaining crops nearing completion.
Just 7% of the provincial oat crop was still to be harvested as of Monday, along with 12% of the canaryseed. Later maturing crops, or fields seeded later, represented the remaining acres to be harvested. Canola was 80% in the bin as of Monday, followed by soybeans and flax at 64% and 63%, respectively.
The harvest in the Southwest and West-Central regions is now finished for the year. The Northwest reached 90% done as of Monday, followed by the Southeast at 89%, the Northeast at 88% and the East-Central at 82%.
“With many producers wrapping up harvest this week, they are now working their fields and applying post-harvest herbicides,” the report said.
Mostly dry conditions across the province this past week meant good harvest progress for producers. The most rainfall recorded was 15 mm in the Carnduff area. However, the lack of rain did lead to a further deterioration in topsoil moisture across the province. Cropland topsoil moisture was rated 20% adequate, 45% short, and 35% very short as of Monday, compared to 25% adequate, 49% short and 26% very short a week earlier.
Southeast
The southeast is in the final stretch of their harvest operations with 89 per cent of the crop off, ahead of the five-year average of 78 per cent.
With most of the crops harvested, only a few acres of spring wheat, durum and barley are left standing. Chickpeas, lentils, field peas, mustard and fall-seeded cereals are all completed in the region. Producers are currently working on flax at 94 per cent complete, oats at 93 per cent complete, canary seed at 80 per cent complete, , canola at 79 per cent complete and soybeans at 65 per cent complete.
Very little rain moved through the region this week, allowing for harvest to progress rapidly. The most rain received in the area was 15 mm in the Carnduff area. Topsoil moisture is becoming limited in the region. Twenty-five per cent of cropland has adequate soil moisture, 41 per cent is short and 34 per cent is very short.
Southwest
The region is now 98 per cent completed harvest, ahead of the five-year average of 89 per cent. Producers in the area need rain and moisture before next year’s crops are seeded.
Producers in the southwest are now focusing on preparing for winter as they wait for their last fields of canola at 95 per cent complete and flax at 68 per cent complete, to mature. Producers hope more rain and moisture come to replenish the soils for next year.
The most rain recorded this week was six mm in the Big Beaver area. This caused a decrease in topsoil moisture. Cropland is now 44 per cent short for moisture, 56 per cent is very short.
East-Central:
A dry week in the east-central region has given producers a chance to combine their fields with minimal interruptions. The region is now 82 per cent complete harvest, an increase of 16 per cent over last week. The region is ahead of the five-year average of 64 per cent.
Fall cereals, durum, mustard, peas and lentils are completed for the year. Producers are working on the few remaining acres of spring wheat and barley at 94 per cent complete, oats at 89 per cent completed and canary seed at 87 per cent completed. Producers are waiting for their canola at 66 per cent complete, flax at 57 per cent complete and soybeans at 42 per cent complete to finish maturing.
Minimal rainfall was received in the region this week, with Esterhazy recording the most at two mm. Soil moisture in the region is starting to become short. In cropland, 29 per cent has adequate moisture, 53 per cent is short and 19 per cent is very short.
West-Central:
Harvest is essentially complete this week in the west central region, with many producers parking their combines and hoping for moisture to follow. The area is 97 per cent completed harvest, ahead of the five-year average of 75 per cent.
With pulses, fall cereals and spring cereals completed in the region, only a few standing acres remain. Producers are currently cleaning up their canola at 95 per cent complete, mustard at 93 per cent complete, canary seed at 92 per cent complete and flax at 82 per cent complete.
Only trace amounts of rain were reported this week in the region, causing another decrease in topsoil moisture levels. Cropland topsoil is now seven per cent adequate for moisture, 39 per cent short and 54 per cent very short.
Northeast:
A dry week in the northeast has allowed producers to make great harvest progress. The region is now 88 per cent complete, ahead of the five-year average of 59 per cent.
With fall cereals, spring cereals and pulses harvested for the year, many producers are working on their later maturing crops to complete harvest. Oats are 95 per cent complete, canola is 77 per cent complete, canary seed is 63 per cent completed and flax is 25 per cent complete for the year.
The most rain recorded this week was just under three mm in the Vonda area. Despite the minimal moisture, topsoil moisture levels are still adequate. Forty-eight per cent of cropland has adequate moisture, 48 per cent is short and four per cent is very short.
Northwest:
Producers in the northwest have the end of harvest on the horizon, with 90 per cent of this year’s crop in the bin. This is ahead of the five-year average of 57 per cent.
Fall cereals, pulses and spring cereals are harvested for the year. In the region, the remaining crops are oats at 92 per cent complete, canola at 83 per cent complete and flax at 63 per cent complete.
There were only trace amounts of rain reported in the region, meaning a decrease in topsoil moisture. Forty-two per cent of cropland has adequate topsoil moisture, 37 per cent is short and 21 per cent is very short.
