Saskatchewan crop report: Hot, dry conditions help harvest

Glacier FarmMedia | MarketsFarm – Dry conditions allowed Saskatchewan farmers to make good harvest progress during the week ended Sept. 9, according to the province’s weekly crop report.

Saskatchewan’s harvest was more than halfway finished at 61 per cent complete, although not as much as the 68 per cent complete from one year ago. The figure was higher than the 42 per cent reported last week, the five-year average of 50 per cent and the 10-year average of 46 per cent. The southwest region was the nearest to completion at 85 per cent while the northeast region’s harvest was only at 34 per cent.

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The province’s fall rye and field pea crops were 98 per cent harvested, followed by winter wheat and lentils at 97 per cent, as well as triticale at 96 per cent. Saskatchewan’s mustard harvest was at 84 per cent, while durum wheat was at 83 per cent, chickpeas were at 76 per cent, barley was at 73 per cent, spring wheat was at 60 per cent and oats were at 53 per cent. The canary seed harvest was 32 per cent complete, followed by canola at 28 per cent, flax at 22 per cent and soybeans at 16 per cent.

The Meadow Lake area only received 16 millimetres of rain during the week, but it was the most anywhere in Saskatchewan.

Cropland topsoil moisture was in decline, rated at one per cent surplus, 33 per cent adequate, 43 per cent short and 23 per cent very short. Hayland was rated at one per cent surplus, 26 per cent adequate, 43 per cent short and 30 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture was rated at 17 per cent adequate, 43 per cent short and 40 per cent very short.

Wind and migratory birds were the prime culprits for crop damage, while grasshoppers were being reported in higher numbers.

Hot and dry temperatures raise the risks of bin heating, as well as combine and equipment fires.