SASKATCHEWAN AGRICULTURE CROP REPORT — Producers worked hard to advance harvest before rain arrived last week and caused delays. Harvest progress is now at 23 per cent, up from 16 per cent last week and just behind the five-year average (2017-2021) of 26 per cent. The southwest and west-central regions are the furthest advanced in their operations and some producers have reported they are close to finishing.
The southwest has 67 per cent of the crop now combined. The west-central region has completed 36 per cent, the southeast 16 per cent, the east-central nine per cent, the northwest six per cent and the northeast four per cent.
Sixty-six per cent of the winter wheat, 62 per cent of the fall rye, 74 per cent of the lentils, 66 per cent of the field peas, 46 per cent of the mustard, 51 per cent of the durum, 16 per cent of the spring wheat and eight per cent of the canola has now been combined. An additional 21 per cent of the canola and 13 per cent of the mustard is swathed or ready to straight-cut.
Much of the province received rain this past week. Most areas in the southwest and west-central received very minimal amounts, while the other regions received enough heavy rain to lodge crops and further delay harvest. The Lake Lenore area received 92 mm, the Tisdale area 75 mm, the Foam Lake area 35 mm, the Mossbank area 23 mm and the Shaunavon area 10 mm. Rain will further delay crop maturity in areas where the crop is still very green. Producers in the driest areas of the province welcome the moisture, even if it means they must halt their harvest activities for a short period.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 55 per cent adequate, 15 per cent short and 18 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 50 per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and 20 per cent very short.
Most crop damage this past week was due to heavy rain, minor hail, strong winds and insects. The lodged crops could see quality downgrading and possible yield loss.
There have been multiple reports of grain samples being denied at the elevator due to samples containing grasshoppers. Producers will have to clean their grain thoroughly before taking it to the elevator to sell.
Producers are busy swathing, desiccating, combining and hauling grain. Livestock producers are prepping for when they remove their cattle from pastures. They are also taking stock of their winter feed supplies and making decisions to acquire more feed or not.
Southeastern Saskatchewan
Crop District 1 – Carnduff, Estevan, Redvers, Moosomin and Kipling areas;
Crop District 2 – Weyburn, Milestone, Moose Jaw, Regina and Qu'Appelle areas;
Crop District 3ASE – Radville, Minton and Lake Alma areas
Producers are slowly combining or swathing crops that are finally ready for harvest, but they will need a consistent hot, dry weather for the remaining crops to mature. The rain this past week further delayed harvest and held crops back from ripening and drying down, many producers note that canola fields are still very green and are worried about an early September frost. Harvest in this region is now at 16 per cent, up from six per cent last week and well behind the five-year (2017-2021) average of 34 per cent. An additional 11 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight cut.
Multiple rainstorms resulted in up to 40 mm in the Regina area. The Weyburn and Bienfait areas received 32 mm, the Moose Jaw area 22 mm and the Glenavon area nine mm.
Topsoil moisture conditions are very good in the region with the recent rains. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate, eight per cent short and three per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as three per cent surplus, 74 per cent adequate, 21 per cent short and two per cent very short.
Crop damage this week was attributed to heavy rains, strong winds, insects and minor hail. The largest issue this past week was crops being lodged from the wind and rain, this will result in a poorer quality of grain and make harvest more difficult. Grasshoppers continue to be a large issue with reports.
Producers are busy desiccating, swathing and combining when the weather permits and where the crop is ready.
Southwestern Saskatchewan
Crop District 3ASW – Coronach, Assiniboia and Ogema areas;
Crop District 3AN – Gravelbourg, Mossbank, Mortlach and Central Butte areas;
Crop District 3B – Kyle, Swift Current, Shaunavon and Ponteix areas;
Crop District 4 – Consul, Maple Creek and Leader areas
Harvest is progressing very quickly across the region with some producers claiming they are no more than 10 days away from finishing their harvest operations. 67 per cent of the crop is in the bin, up from 45 per cent last week and well ahead of the five-year average (2017-2021) of 41 per cent. The region is extremely dry and producers hope they receive a large rainfall once harvest has concluded in order to break the current dry cycle they are in.
There were minor delays due to rain showers this past week, but fields and crop dried quickly. The Mossbank area received 23 mm, the Gull Lake area 12 mm, the Shaunavon area 10 mm and the Swift Current area four mm. Many producers in the region have received less than 200 mm of precipitation since April 1.
Topsoil moisture conditions are extremely dry across the region. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 14 per cent adequate, 35 per cent short and 51 per cent very short.
Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 12 per cent adequate, 34 per cent short and 54 per cent very short.
Most crop damage this past week was due to a season of drought stress and grasshoppers. Producers are trying to harvest as quickly as possible before more damage is caused by the insect. Grasshopper carcasses that have come through the combine are also making grain cleaning a challenge.
Producers are busy moving bales and cattle, swathing, combining and hauling grain.
East-Central Saskatchewan
Crop District 5 – Melville, Yorkton, Cupar, Kamsack, Foam Lake, Preeceville and Kelvington areas;
Crop District 6A – Lumsden, Craik, Watrous and Clavet areas
Harvest was once again delayed in many parts of the region due to heavy rainstorms. Some producers are estimating that they won’t be harvesting for another 10 days. The most harvest progress has been in crop district 6A where growing conditions have been drier. Harvest progress for the region sits at nine per cent, up from four per cent last week but still behind the five-year average of 15 per cent.
Rainfall in the region ranged from trace amounts to 78 mm in the Foam Lake area. The Craven area received 30 mm, the Bulyea area 25 mm and the Calder area 20 mm. While this region has received large amounts of rain this season, there are still many producers in the region who are experiencing extremely dry growing conditions.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 77 per cent adequate, 18 per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent surplus, 74 per cent adequate, 12 per cent short and nine per cent very short.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to strong winds, heavy rains and localized hail. The strong winds and heavy rains have lodged many crops in the region, and this will result in some producers seeing a quality downgrade at the elevator.
Producers are busy hauling bales, combining or swathing where it is drier.
West-Central Saskatchewan
Crop Districts 6B – Hanley, Outlook, Loreburn, Saskatoon and Arelee areas;
Crop District 7A – Rosetown, Kindersley, Eston, Major;
Crop District 7B - Kerrobert, Macklin, Wilkie and Biggar areas
Harvest continues to advance rapidly across the region, with only a few areas seeing minor delays due to rain. 36 per cent of the crop is in the bin, up from 19 per cent last week and well ahead of the five-year average of 22 per cent. Producers are noting there are some large differences in yields across the region, but overall, they are indicating that yields will be below average for all crops.
Very few locations in the region saw rain this past week, which allowed for producers to harvest without stoppage.
The Rosthern area received 19 mm, the Unity and Marengo areas 15 mm and the Eyebrow area 10 mm. This is not enough rain to relieve hay and pasture land from the drought and heat stress they are under, producers have already started removing cattle from pastures and have begun feeding them crop residue or hay.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 32 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and 31 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 28 per cent adequate, 41 per cent short and 31 per cent very short.
Past drought conditions, strong winds and localized light hail were the main causes of crop damage this past week. The strong winds have lodged crops, blown swaths around and shelled out standing crops. The rain has not slowed down the grasshoppers in the region and they still continue to cause issues for producers.
Producers are busy combining, swathing, hauling bales, hauling water and moving cattle.
Northeastern Saskatchewan
Crop District 8 – Hudson Bay, Tisdale, Melfort, Carrot River, Humboldt, Kinistino, Cudworth and Aberdeen areas;
Crop District 9AE – Prince Albert, Choiceland and Paddockwood areas
The first crops to ripen have started to be combined but mostly producers are swathing and finishing up applications of desiccants. Rain over the past week resulted in harvest delays. Four per cent of the crop is in the bin, up from one per cent last week and well behind the five-year average of 12 per cent.
There was some very heavy rain fall over the past week which resulted in lodging of cereal crops. The Lake Lenore area received 92 mm, the Tisdale area 75 mm, the Humboldt area 30 mm, the Kinistino area 22 mm and the Garrick area seven mm. These rains will damage crops, further delay harvest and spraying activities, as well as lead to downgrading of grain.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as six per cent surplus, 80 per cent adequate, 13 per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and two per cent very short.
The majority of crop damage this past week was due to heavy rains and winds.
Northwestern Saskatchewan
Crop District 9AW – Shellbrook, North Battleford, Big River and Hafford areas;
Crop District 9B – Meadow Lake, Turtleford, Pierceland, Maidstone and Lloydminster areas
The beginning of the week was hot and dry which pushed crops closer to being ready for harvest and allowed producers to swath or desiccate. Rain on the weekend resulted in some delays to field activities and crop damage. Currently, harvest progress is at six per cent, up from one per cent last week and just slightly behind the five-year average of seven per cent.
Rainfall this past week ranged from trace amounts to 24 mm in the North Battleford area.
The Glaslyn area received 17 mm, the Lloydminster area 12 mm and the Livelong area seven mm. Rain was welcomed by livestock producers who need pastures to remain healthy so that animals can continue to graze, but grain producers would like a break in the rain for harvest to advance harvesting operations.
Cropland topsoil moisture conditions are rated as one per cent surplus, 65 per cent adequate and 34 per cent short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 50 per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and two per cent very short.
Most crop damage this past week was due to strong winds and some light hail. The recent rain could lead to some grain being downgraded at the elevator. Producers hope that the weather remains warm and dry and that no frost hits before they are well into harvest.
Producers are starting to combine, swath, desiccate and haul bales.
