Seventy-four per cent of the crop has been combined, up from 56 per cent last week and well ahead of the five-year (2016-2020) average of 50 per cent for this time of year.
An additional 17 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. Warm and dry weather is desired to continue drying down crops and allow harvest to continue without delay.
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
A week without scattered rain showers in the region has allowed for good harvest progress to be made in the region. Sixty-three per cent of the crop has been combined, up from 38 per cent last week and ahead of the five-year (2016-2020) average for this time of year of 40 per cent. An additional 26 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut.
Recent cool, damp temperatures from the previous week is causing some of the crop to come off tough and needing to be placed into aeration bins or dried.
Minimal rainfall was received in much of the east-central region. The highest amount of rain received this past week was six mm in the Foam Lake area. The Elfros area received five mm and the Wynyard, Kuroki and Kelvington areas received one mm.
Warm, dry conditions are desired to aid with harvest progress, but many are hoping for high amounts of precipitation after harvest to replenish topsoil and subsoil moisture. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 49 per cent adequate, 34 per cent short and 17 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 38 per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and 22 per cent very short.
Durum grades in the region are currently being estimated as 25 per cent 1 CW, 40 per cent 2 CW, 14 per cent 3 CW and 21 per cent 4 and 5 CW. Pea grades are estimated as 48 per cent 1 CAN, 46 per cent 2 CAN and six per cent 3 CAN. Lentil grades are estimated to be 35 per cent 1 CAN, 53 per cent 2 CAN and 12 per cent 3 CAN.
The majority of crop damage past week was due to wind and drought. Wind has caused swaths to blow around and for crops to shell out. There was one report of a light ground frost; due to the progress of harvest and how mature crops are in the region it is unlikely this frost caused very much damage at all.
Producers are busy combining, swathing, baling and hauling bales.
Provincially, harvest is most advanced in the southwest region, where 85 per cent of the crop is in the bin. The southeast has 81 per cent combined, the west-central 79 per cent, the east-central 63 per cent, the northeast 69 per cent and the northwest 57 per cent.
Ninety-nine per cent of lentils, 98 per cent of field peas, 86 per cent of mustard, 82 per cent of barley, 89 per cent of durum, 83 per cent of spring wheat, 54 per cent of canola and 25 per cent of flax has now been combined. An additional 34 per cent of canola is swathed or ready to straight-cut.
Durum grades are being estimated as 27 per cent 1 CW, 34 per cent 2 CW, 28 per cent 3 CW and eleven per cent 4 and 5 CW. Pea grades are estimated as 25 per cent 1 CAN, 62 per cent 2 CAN, 12 per cent 3 CAN and one per cent Sample grade. Lentil grades are estimated to be 20 per cent 1 CAN, 62 per cent 2 CAN, 15 per cent 3 CAN and three per cent Sample grade.
Most of the province received very little to no rainfall this week. The Shaunavon and Gull Lake areas received the highest amount of rain with 15 mm. Topsoil moisture conditions in the province continue to deteriorate due to strong winds and minimal rainfall. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 36 per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and 26 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 21 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and 35 per cent very short.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to hail, wind and dry conditions. Frost was recorded in one RM in the northwest region; damage will vary depending on the temperature and duration of the frost as well as the stage of the crop. At this point in the season, the damage will likely be minimal as most crops are matured enough to withstand a minimal frost. Wind has continued to blow swaths and shell out crops. There were also reports of damage caused by wildlife and waterfowl.
Producers are busy combining, swathing, hauling bales and moving cattle. Post-harvest activities are well underway where harvest has finished up and producers hope the weather holds out so that fall herbicide and fertilizer applications can be carried out without issue.
With harvest underway in Saskatchewan, we want to remind producers to exercise caution and remain safe.
As of September 1, the AgriRecovery program, now referred to as the 2021 Canada-Saskatchewan Drought Response Initiative, is accepting producer applications. The initiative will consist of two payments totaling up to $200/head for cattle, with adjustments based on animal unit equivalents for other livestock. The initial payment will provide producers with $100 per breeding female equivalent in inventory as of August 1, 2021. Secondary payments of up to $100 per breeding female in inventory as of December 31, 2021, will be made to producers who have incurred additional costs to retain the animals. Producers with questions can call the initiative's dedicated toll-free number at 1-844-723-1211 or directly by email.
We would like to also remind producers that the Farm Stress Line is available for support if you need it. It is a confidential service, available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, toll-free at 1-800-667-4442. Calls are answered by Mobile Crisis Services Regina, a non-profit, community-based agency and there is no call display.
