Saskatchewan producers made solid progress in the field this past week, with some producers now finished combining and the overall harvest nearly catching up to the 10-year average.
Thursday’s weekly crop report showed the harvest at 82% complete, up 19 points from the previous week, even as humidity and heavy dew limited the number of available combining hours each day.
Although progress remains behind the five-year average of 97%, it is now just 6 percentage points below the 10-year average of 88%. At this time last year, harvest was 93% complete.
Harvest is furthest advanced in the southwest and west-central regions, both at 92% complete, followed by the northwest at 80%. The southeast is 77% finished, while the east-central and northeast regions are both at 74%.
Among spring cereals, barley and durum are both 92% harvested, followed by spring wheat at 88% and oats at 77%. Spring wheat harvest advanced 23 percentage points from the previous week, while barley gained 16 points, durum 13 and oats 24.
Canola harvest jumped 27 percentage points to 72% complete, while flax advanced from 24% to 51%. Mustard harvest reached 95%, while soybeans were 27% complete.
Among pulses, field peas were 99% harvested, lentils 98% and chickpeas 89%.
Updated yield estimates in today’s Saskatchewan report are close or slightly better than those reported last month, with most crops yielding at or above historical averages.
Compared with Statistics Canada's model-based estimates released last month, however, the provincial yield figures are mixed, with higher estimates for durum, lentils, chickpeas, mustard and flax, but lower estimates for spring wheat, barley, oats, canola and peas.
The latest Saskatchewan provincial yield estimates, with Statistics Canada's September estimates in brackets, are:
With most Hard Red Spring wheat now harvested, the report said quality is generally below historical averages because of variable rainfall, wet conditions and pest activity during the growing season.
An estimated 31% of the crop is grading No. 1 Canada Western, while 44% is grading No. 2, 19% No. 3 and 6% feed.
Rainfall was minimal across Saskatchewan last week, with the North Battleford and Rabbit Lake areas receiving the highest amounts at just 5 mm.
Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture is rated 8% surplus, 83% adequate, 8% short and 1% very short.
Crop damage has declined as harvest advances, although wind, wildlife and freezing temperatures continue to affect some remaining fields.
With combining finished on some farms, producers are turning their attention to fall fieldwork, including weed control, harrowing, fertilizer applications and moving livestock.
The full crop report is available here:
https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/api/v1/products/128638/formats/157476/download
