Many producers were able to return to the field last week and 55 per cent of the crop is now in the bin. This is up from 47 per cent last week but remains well behind the five-year (2014-18) average of 82 per cent for this time of year. Twenty-nine per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. Wet, cool weather continues to slow progress in much of the province. Much of the crop harvested so far is tough or damp and is being put into grain dryers and aeration bins.
Warm, dry and windy days are needed soon so that producers can return to the field. All regions in the province progressed with harvest this past week. Harvest is most advanced in the southwest region, where 71 per cent of the crop is now combined. The northeast region has 61 per cent combined, the west-central region 58 per cent and the southeastern region 55 per cent. The northwest region has 42 per cent combined and the east-central region 39 per cent.
Seventy-six per cent of barley, 59 per cent of durum, 58 per cent of mustard, 52 per cent of spring wheat, 50 per cent of canary seed and oats, 40 per cent of canola, 39 per cent of chickpeas, 28 per cent of soybeans and nine per cent of flax is now in the bin. An additional 48 per cent of canola and 19 per cent of mustard is swathed or ready to straight-cut. Estimated average crop yields for the province are 39 bushels per acre for field peas; 1,413 pounds per acre for lentils; 38 bushels per acre for canola; 23 bushels per acre for flax; 40 bushels per acre for durum; 44 bushels per acre for spring wheat and 65 bushels per acre for barley. Fourteen per cent of the spring wheat is estimated to grade 1CW, while 32 and 27 per cent is estimated to grade 2CW and 3CW, respectively.
Most areas of the province received some precipitation last week. The Moosomin area reported 20 mm, while the Elfros and Bethune areas received 16 mm. Across the province, topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 15 per cent surplus, 52 per cent adequate, 30 per cent sort and three per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 19 per cent surplus, 74 per cent adequate, six per cent short and one per cent very short. The majority of crop damage this past week was due to strong winds and frost. There continues to be many reports of crops sprouting, bleaching and staining and downgrading is expected at the elevator. Geese and wildlife are feeding on swathed crops and causing damage. Farmers are busy drying grain and waiting for the weather to improve so they can continue with harvest operations. A complete, printable version of the Crop Report is available online at www.saskatchewan.ca/crop-report.
