Despite the recent rainfall delays that many producers experienced, harvest continued to progress.
According to the provincial crop report for the week of August 24 to 30, 36 per cent of the crop is now in the bin, which is well over the five-year (2016-2020) average of 22 per cent. An additional 30 per cent of the crop is now swathed or ready to straight-cut.
The southwest region continues to have the most progress in the province with 47 per cent of the crop now combined. The southeast region has 42 per cent combined, the west-central 36 per cent, the east-central 25 per cent, the northeast 34 per cent and the northwest 21 per cent.
Ninety-nine per cent of the winter wheat, 83 per cent of the fall rye, 85 per cent of the lentils, 84 per cent of the field peas, 57 per cent of the mustard, 40 per cent of the durum, 11 per cent of the chickpeas, 36 per cent of the spring wheat and 11 per cent of the canola has now been combined. An additional 19 per cent of the canola and 16 per cent of the mustard is swathed or ready to straight-cut.
Many parts of the province experienced scattered rain showers from August 24 to 30, varying from trace amounts up to 77 mm in the Limerick area. The Macklin area received 51 mm, the Conquest area 40 mm, the Roblin area 35 mm, the Goodeve area 30 mm and the Rama area 28 mm.
Recent rains have helped green up pastures which might allow cattle producers to continue pasture grazing and save their winter feed stocks.
Topsoil moisture conditions continue to improve in most areas due to cooler temperatures and recent rains. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 40 per cent adequate, 34 per cent short and 25 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 28 per cent adequate, 43 per cent short and 29 per cent very short.
Most crop damage was due to heavy rain, hail, strong winds, insects and the long-lasting effects of the drought. The rain has caused downgrading of many crops still standing in fields; the biggest issues reported are bleaching, staining, sprouting, low kernel weights and fungal growth.
Reported yields are far lower than average for many parts of the province with some areas reporting some fields that have yielded almost nothing.
Producers are busy hauling bales and water as well as combining and swathing. As of Sept. 1, the AgriRecovery program, is now referred to as the 2021 Canada-Saskatchewan Drought Response Initiative.
With harvest well underway producers are reminded to exercise caution while working out in the field.