EAST CENTRAL — Despite rain delays in some areas, producers now have over one per cent swathed or ready to straight-cut, and less than one per cent of the 2019 crop combined.
That's according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Crop Report, which covers the period from Aug. 6 to Aug. 12.
Northeastern Saskatchewan
Producers in the region expect to be well underway harvest in the coming weeks. As indicated by producers there are reports of some pea crops being desiccated and winter cereal crops that are swathed and ready to straight-cut.
The majority of the region received little rainfall this past week. Rainfall ranged from nil in many parts of the region to six millimetres in the Tisdale area. The Porcupine Plain and Spruce Home areas reported five millimetres, the Melfort area three millimetres, the Arborfield area one millimetres and the Lake Lenore area two millimetres. The Lake Lenore area has received the most precipitation since April 1 (266 millimetres).
Topsoil moisture slightly deteriorated last week from a lack of rainfall, which would be beneficial to pastures and hay land. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate and 12 per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 74 per cent adequate, 23 per cent short and two per cent very short.
Favourable weather has allowed livestock producers to make significant haying progress.
Producers indicated no sources of significant crop damage this past week.
Farmers are busy haying, hauling grain, getting equipment ready for harvest and desiccating crops.
East Central Saskatchewan
Harvest operations are just starting in the region. There are reports of winter cereal crops that are swathed and ready to straight-cut as well as pulse crops being desiccated. General harvest in the region is expected in the coming weeks.
Some areas in the region received rainfall last week that ranged from trace amounts to 72 millimetres in the Lumsden area. The Rocanville area reported 22 millimetres, the Lipton area 32 millimetres, the Ituna area up to 38 millimetres, the Elfros area five millimetres, the Earl Grey area 20 millimetres, the Holdfast area 19 millimetres and the Kenaston area 16 millimetres. The Ituna area has received the most precipitation since April 1 (333 millimetres). The rainfall may cause downgrading and quality issues in the pulse crops. However, the rainfall was beneficial to many pastures and hay land and late-seeded crops in the region.
Cropland topsoil moisture improved with the rainfall. Across the region, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 77 per cent adequate and 21 per cent short and two per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 63 per cent adequate and 35 per cent short and two per cent very short at this time.
The sources of crop damage this week were strong winds and a lack of moisture.
Producers are getting equipment prepared for harvest and hauling grain and bales.
The crop report is provided weekly by the Government of Saskatchewan
