As of September 17, 2012 harvest in Saskatchewan is well ahead of schedule. Seventy-four per cent of the 2012 crop is harvested and a further 20 per cent is swathed or ready to straight combine, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report. The five-year (2007-2011) provincial average for this time of year is 55 per cent combined and 28 per cent swathed or ready to straight combine.

Harvest progress varies across the province. The southwest has 93 per cent combined, the southeast 90 per cent, the east-central region 73 per cent, the west-central region 64 per cent, the northeast 55 per cent and the northwest 45 per cent. Sixty-seven per cent of spring wheat, 85 per cent of durum, 71 per cent of barley, 74 per cent of canola, 85 per cent of mustard, 27 per cent of flax, 92 per cent of lentils and 98 per cent of field peas have been combined.

Provincially, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as three per cent surplus, 50 per cent adequate, 33 per cent short and 14 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 45 per cent adequate, 34 per cent short and 20 per cent very short.

Rainfall this week ranged from trace amounts in the majority of the province to 31 mm in some areas of the northwest. Crop quality is generally good but yields vary from region to region.

Farmers are busy harvesting, hauling bales, seeding winter cereals and controlling weeds.

Follow the 2012 Crop Report on Twitter at @SKGovAg.