Harvest in Saskatchewan nearing completion

Harvest is edging closer to completion in Saskatchewan.

The weekly crop report from the Ministry of Agriculture says 90 per cent of the crop is in the bin, up from 81 per cent last week and ahead of the five-year average of 82 per cent.

“Some producers have been struggling with heavy fog and dew in the mornings that has delayed their harvest activities until the afternoon, making for short days and less progress,” the report said.

“High humidity in many parts of the southeast, east-central and northeast is making it difficult to combine and has also led to grain coming off at higher amounts of moisture than normal. Producers must dry down the grain in order to store it properly.”

Harvest is virtually done in the southwest and west-central regions, the ministry said, with only flax crops remaining. Producers in the northwest (94 per cent done), northeast (87 per cent), southeast (86 per cent) and east-central (81 per cent) regions are making good progress.

The report said the harvest of lentils and field peas has finished. Ninety-eight per cent of durum, 97 per cent of chickpeas, 93 per cent of spring wheat, 90 per cent of barley, 82 per cent of canola and 66 per cent of flax has been combined in Saskatchewan.

Cropland topsoil moisture in the province is rated as 28 per cent adequate, 41 per cent short and 31 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is considered 22 per cent adequate, 41 per cent short and 37 per cent very short.

The ministry said the lack of moisture during the harvest season has allowed crop quality to remain high. For example, Hard Red Spring Wheat is being reported as 75 per cent 1CW, well above the 10-year average of 39 per cent 1CW.

The final crop report of the season is to be issued Oct. 20.