Producers had their harvesting slowed due to rainfall, which brought the progress down to below the four-year average, said the crop report submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The crop report for September 6 to 12 said that producers were still able to continue working in the west-central and northeastern regions, due to the fact that the rain was infrequent.
The total amount of the crop that has been combined is at 38 per cent, and 38 per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut. The five-year average for this time of year is slightly higher at 44 per cent combined.
By region, harvest is furthest ahead in the southeast, where producers have 52 per cent of the crop in the bin. A total of 47 per cent of the crop is combined in the southwest, with 29 per cent in the east-central region, 35 per cent in the west-central region, 33 per cent in the northeast and 17 per cent in the northwest.
The progress of the crops are: winter wheat, 97 per cent combined; field peas, 89 per cent; lentils, 72 per cent; durum, 30 per cent; spring wheat, 29 per cent; and canola, 25 per cent.
Durum grades are being reported as two per cent at 1 Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD), 17 per cent at 2 CWAD, 30 per cent at 3 CWAD and 51 per cent at 4 and 5 CWAD.
Pea grades are 25 per cent 1 Canada (CAN), 59 per cent 2 CAN, 15 per cent 3 CAN and one per cent at a sample grade. Lentil grades are four per cent 1 CAN, 42 per cent 2 CAN, 43 per cent 3 CAN and 11 per cent sample grade.
In the Frobisher area, precipitation ranged from nil to 43 millimetres. The Maryfield area reported receiving 36 millimetres of rain; Eyebrow, 32 millimetres; Foam Lake, 42 millimetres; Nether Hill, 26 millimetres; and Porcupine Plain, 36 millimetres.
Across Saskatchewan, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 14 per cent surplus, 84 per cent adequate and two per cent short. In areas around Porcupine Plain, Tisdale and Arborfield, 62 per cent of cropland is reported to have surplus moisture, while in areas around Rosetown, Kindersley and Biggar, 22 per cent of cropland acres have surplus moisture. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as eight per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate and six per cent short.
There have been reports of frost in some areas in the northwest, with temperatures dipping to minus two degrees Celsius. Very little crop damage is expected, however, as the majority of crops are mature. Wet harvest weather has caused a downgrading in crops while bleaching, sprouting, fusarium and earth tag are causing grade loss.
Producers are now harvesting and seeding winter wheat. Updates on the status of the harvest may be found on Twitter or on the Saskatchewan Agriculture website.
