Harvest continues to quickly advance thanks to warm and dry weather in most areas of the province.
Crops are rapidly drying down and the majority of producers are now in the field. Twenty-eight per cent of the provincial crop is in the bin, up from 15 per cent last week and well ahead of the five-year (2015-2019) average of 22 per cent for this time of year. An additional 27 per cent of the crop is now swathed or ready to straight-cut.
One year ago eleven per cent of the 2019 crop had been combined and 16 per cent was swathed or ready to straight-cut. Rain and cool weather continued to delay harvest progress and many crops had damage due to bleaching and sprouting.
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 progress has more than doubled in the east-central region thanks to relatively warm and dry weather. Twenty per cent of the crop is now combined, up from nine per cent last week and well ahead of the five-year (2015-2019) average of 11 per cent for this time of year. Although the warm weather has allowed for rapid dry down of the crop, many areas will need more time for crops to mature.
Most of the crop is coming off dry but some producers are placing tough grain into aeration bins and dryers as needed. Yields reported so far are about average with some areas reporting lower than expected yields due to the hot and dry conditions. Crop quality remains good overall.
Rainfall in the region ranged from trace amounts to 28 mm in the Yorkton area. The Langenburg area reported 17 mm of rain, the Calder area 23 mm,the Ituna area two mm, the Rhein area six mm, the Elfros area four mm, the Allan area 11 mm, the Kelvington area 12 mm, the Kenaston area 18 mm and the Holdfast area three mm. The Langenburg area has received the most precipitation in the region since April 1 with 293 mm.
Topsoil moisture conditions have deteriorated in the region with the recent warm and windy weather. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as30 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 28 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 16 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 42 per cent very short. Crop District 6A is reporting that 43 per cent of the cropland and 72 per cent of the hay and pasture land is very short topsoil moisture at this time.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to strong winds, dry conditions and localized hail. The strong winds have blown swaths around and have lodged or shelled out some crops. There are some reports of light frost but damage is minimal at this time.
Farmers are busy combining, swathing, hauling bales and cattle.
Provincially
The southwest region continues to have made the most progress in the province, with 50 per cent of the crop combined. The southeast region has 39 per cent combined, the west-central 25 per cent, the east-central 20 per cent, the northeast 10 per cent and the northwest three per cent.
Ninety-nine per cent of fall rye, 96 per cent of winter wheat, 81 per cent of lentils, 73 per cent of field peas, 53 per cent of mustard, 37 per cent of durum, 28 per cent of chickpeas, 19 per cent of spring wheat and 11 per cent of canola has now been combined. An additional 40 per cent of canola and 23 per cent of mustard is swathed or ready to straight-cut.
The majority of the province did not receive significant rainfall last week, although some areas reported close to 25 mm. The Hudson Bay area reported the highest amount of rain this past week with 37 mm.
Topsoil moisture conditions continue to deteriorate in most areas due to high temperatures, strong winds and lack of moisture. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 32 per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and 19 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 21 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and 34 per cent very short.
Most crop damage this past week was due to diseases such as ergot, lack of moisture and strong winds blowing swaths around. There were some reports of light frost but damage appears to be minimal. Many producers have reported field and combine fires due to the dry conditions. Reported yields so far are about average with some areas indicating that yields will be less than anticipated due to the hot and dry conditions over the past few weeks.
Farmers are busy combining, swathing, desiccating and hauling bales.
With harvest underway, we want to remind producers to exercise caution and remain safe this season.
A complete, printable version of the Crop Report is available online at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/crop-report.
Follow the 2020 Crop Report on Twitter at @SKAgriculture.
