EAST CENTRAL — An early snowfall slowed down harvest operations across the province.
According to the Sept. 24 to 30 crop report, 47 per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 39 per cent last week. The five-year (2014-18) average is 75 per cent combined for this time of year.
Northeastern Saskatchewan
Significant harvest progress was made in the region due to relatively dry weather during the start of the week. Fifty per cent of the crop is now combined, which is up from 31 per cent last week but remaining behind the five-year average of 63 per cent for this time last year. An additional 43 per cent of the crop is now swathed or ready to straight-cut. Several weeks of warm and dry weather is needed for fields to dry up and for harvest operations to continue.
The region received rainfall ranging from trace amounts to 21 millimetres in the Lake Lenore area. The Humboldt, Hudson Bay and Tisdale areas received six millimetres of precipitation, Porcupine Plain area 10 millimetres and the Star City and Kinistino areas five millimetres. The Garrick area has received the most precipitation since April 1 (371 millimetres).
Cropland topsoil moisture conditions are rated as nine per cent surplus and 91 per cent adequate. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 11 per cent surplus, 87 per cent adequate and two per cent short. Crop District 8A is reporting that 20 per cent of the crop land and 17 per cent of the hay land and pasture has surplus topsoil moisture at this time.
Much of the crop damage this past week was due to localized hail, strong winds and flooding. Heavy snow towards the end of the week lodged some crops. Wildlife feeding has also caused some damage. Much of the grain is coming off tough and is being placed in dryers and aeration bins.
Producers are busy aerating and drying grain and waiting for the weather to improve so they can continue with harvest operations.
East Central Saskatchewan
Another week of cool and wet weather along with snowfall kept the harvest window to just a few days last week. However, producers in the region were able to get a good amount of crop harvested. Thirty-three per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 20 per cent last week but remaining well behind the five-year average of 66 per cent for this time of year. An additional 45 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. A long stretch of warm and dry weather is needed for harvest operations to continue and for crops to mature and dry down.
Regionally, precipitation ranged from small amounts to up to 45 millimetres in the Bethune area. The Rocanville and Saltcoats and Rose Valley areas received 20 millimetres of rain, the Esterhazy area 36 millimetres, the Ituna and Kenaston areas 26 millimetres, the Rama, Elfros and Allan areas 21 millimetres, the Holdfast area 44 millimetres and the Bulyea area 28 millimetres. The Lipton area has received the most precipitation since April 1 (605 millimetres) for both the region and the province.
Cropland topsoil moisture conditions are rated as 35 per cent surplus, 64 per cent adequate and one per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 19 per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate and three per cent short. Many fields are saturated. Crop District 5A is reporting that 46 per cent of the cropland and 31 per cent of the hay land and pasture currently has surplus topsoil moisture at this time.
Much of the crop damage this past week was due to localized flooding, strong winds and frost. There continues to be reports of downgrading at the elevator due to sprouting and bleaching. Geese and other wildlife have also been feeding on swathed crops. Much of the crop that has come off is tough and is being placed into dryers and aeration bins as time and space permits.
Producers are busy drying grain and hoping for the weather to improve so that harvest can continue.
The crop report is provided weekly by the Government of Saskatchewan.
