Producers across the province have been able to make considerable headway with harvest, as seven per cent of crop is now combined and six per cent is ready to straight combine, according to the provincial crop report for the period of August 3 to 9.
The five-year average (2016-2020) for this time of year is one per cent combined and two per cent ready to straight-combine. Scattered showers throughout the province had caused short delays to harvest, but according to the crop report producers are happy to finally receive rain.
Fifty-four per cent of winter wheat, 51 per cent of fall rye, 37 per cent of field peas and 29 per cent of lentils are now in the bin.
Harvest is most advanced in the south and west-central regions, where 12 per cent of crop in the southwest, eight per cent of crop in the southeast and seven per cent of crop in the west-central is combined. Producers in the northern regions have a little more than one per cent of crop combined.
Much of the province received small amounts of rain from August 3 to 9, with parts of the northern, west-central and southeast regions receiving half an inch to an inch. The Lipton area received the most rainfall this week with 37 mm. The Langenburg area received 27 mm, the Rhein area 32 mm and the Indian Head area received 24 mm. More rain would be welcomed to help late seeded crops fill the last of their seed. The biggest benefit of the rain will be to pasture land that has struggled to endure the drought.
The small showers did little to offset the ongoing drought but there was a slight increase in topsoil moisture conditions. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as six per cent adequate, 32 per cent short and 62 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and 67 per cent very short.
According to the crop report, many producers have noted that hay yields are below average this year. Estimated average dryland hay yields for the province are 0.80 tons per acre for alfalfa, 0.70 tons per acre for alfalfa/bromegrass, 0.60 tons per acre for other tame hay, 0.60 tons per acre for wild hay and 1.0 tons per acre for greenfeed. Estimated average irrigated hay yields are 1.3 tons per acre for alfalfa, 1.80 tons per acre for alfalfa/bromegrass and 2.2 tons per acre for greenfeed.
The majority of crop damage was due to wind, drought stress, heat, wildlife, grasshoppers and flea beetles. There have also been isolated reports of hail.
Producers are busy wrapping up haying and baling, getting ready for harvest, desiccating and swathing crops and combining in some areas.
Producers are reminded that in response to the feed shortage this year, Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation is doubling the Low Yield Appraisal threshold values for customers who salvage their cereal or pulse crops as feed, without negatively impacting future individual coverage.
The federal and provincial governments have also increased the 2021 AgriStability interim benefit payment percentage from 50 per cent to 75 per cent for Saskatchewan producers. The interim benefit provides the opportunity for producers who are enrolled in AgriStability to access a portion of their benefit early, to help support losses and cover costs. To apply for an interim benefit, producers can contact their local SCIC office, call the AgriStability Call Centre toll-free at 1-886-270-8450, or email agristability@scic.ca.