Warm temperatures have continued to rapidly develop and ripen crops, with some reports of premature ripening.
Four per cent of the crop has been combined, according to the August 11 to 17 crop report, which is up from one per cent last week and slightly behind the five-year average (2015-2019) of five per cent for this time of year. Six per cent of the crop has been swathed or is ready to straight-cut, behind the five-year average (2015-2019) of eight per cent.
Sixty-two per cent of fall rye, 37 per cent of winter wheat, 22 per cent of field peas, 19 per cent of lentils and six per cent of barley has been combined. An additional three per cent of canola has been swathed or is ready to straight-cut.
Eleven per cent of the crop in the southwest region has been combined, five per cent in the southeast, two per cent in the central regions and less than one per cent in the northern regions. Some farmers in the northern regions have started to desiccate and swath earlier seeded crops and many more plan to in the next few weeks.
Most of the province received trace amounts of rainfall from August 11 to 17. Areas near Glenavon received the highest amount with 77 mm. Some rain was reported in parts of the eastern crop districts of the east-central and southeast regions.
Most of the rest of the province received anywhere from zero up to 13 mm of rain. Rain is not needed in near-mature or ready-to-harvest crops, but some later-seeded crops and pastures would benefit from more moisture.
Moisture conditions declined throughout most of the province except for areas in the southeast and east-central regions that received rain. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 44 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short and 17 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 33 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 25 per cent very short.
Crop damage remain the same with the majority caused by wind, heat, lack of moisture, wildlife and insects such as grasshoppers. There have been some reports of flea beetle damage in canola, as well as localized hail damage.
Farmers are busy getting equipment and bins ready for harvest, swathing and desiccating crops, and combining. With harvest underway in Saskatchewan, producers need to exercise caution and remain safe.
A complete, printable version of the Crop Report is available online at www.saskatchewan.ca/crop-report.