Four per cent of 2023 crop in the bin in Saskatchewan

Harvest is off to a relatively good start in Saskatchewan.

According to the crop report from the Ministry of Agriculture, harvest was four per cent done as of Monday. The five- and 10-year averages for this time of year are two per cent.

Farmers in the southwest were furthest ahead, at 11 per cent. Producers in the northeast were less than one per cent done.

The report said the fall rye harvest was the most advanced, with 43 per cent of the crop in the bin, while winter wheat was 15 per cent harvested.

Field peas were the most harvested of all spring-seeded crops, at 22 per cent. Lentils were at 17 per cent, while harvest was just beginning for canola, flax, mustard and soybeans.

Haying and silage operations were nearing completion, the report said.

“Many producers are expressing concerns about feed supply this coming winter and are looking at using grain crops as feed,” the report said. “Water quality is also a concern this year given the dry conditions. Water quality testing for livestock is available to producers through their local regional offices.”

With warm temperatures and trace amounts of rain, soil moisture levels in Saskatchewan fell during the week. Across the province, 12 per cent of cropland had adequate moisture, 45 per cent was short and 43 per cent was very short. In hay and pasture land, 10 per cent had adequate topsoil moisture levels, 43 per cent was short, and 48 per cent was very short.

The report said crop damage that was reported during the week was mostly due to drought and heat stress, as well as grasshoppers and flea beetles.