Crop Report August 25-31

Warm and relatively dry weather has allowed producers to make good progress on harvest. Twenty-nine per cent of the crop is now combined and an additional 30 per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut. The five-year (2010-2014) average for this time of year is 14 per cent combined and 26 per cent swathed or ready to straight-cut.

Regionally, producers in the southwest are furthest advanced, having 51 per cent of the crop combined. Producers in the southeast have 45 per cent of the crop combined. Twenty per cent of the crop is combined in the west-central region; 13 per cent in the northwest; 11 per cent in the east-central region; and 10 per cent in the northeast.

Rainfall this past week ranged from nil to 22 mm in some southeastern areas. Provincially, topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as three per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate, 17 per cent short and two per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are rated as one per cent surplus, 67 per cent adequate, 27 per cent short and five per cent very short.

Pasture conditions across the province are rated as four per cent excellent, 43 per cent good, 36 per cent fair, 14 per cent poor and three per cent very poor. At this time, crop reporters are indicating that 11 per cent of the forage crops did not get cut or baled, mainly due to lack of growth.

The Ministry of Agriculture has a Forage, Feed and Custom Service listing for producers to advertise and source feed products. It is available at: www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/FeedForageListing

Localized hail and wind has damaged some crops and there are reports of bleaching, staining or sprouting of cereal and pulse crops in some areas. Crop reporters are indicating that yields and grades are average overall. Some winter cereals are being seeded as time allows.

Farmers are busy with harvest operations.

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)

Eleven per cent of the crop is now combined in the region, up from three per cent last week. The five-year (2010-2014) average for this time of year is eight per cent combined. Rain showers and high humidity are delaying combining in many areas, although swathing is in full swing.

Rainfall ranged from trace amounts to 19 mm in the Esterhazy area. At 376 mm, the Meacham area holds the regional record for the greatest amount of rainfall since April 1. Cropland topsoil moisture conditions are rated as eight per cent surplus, 89 per cent adequate, two per cent short and one per cent very short, while hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are rated as four per cent surplus, 88 per cent adequate, seven per cent short and one per cent very short.

Pasture conditions are rated as five per cent excellent, 66 per cent good, 27 per cent fair and two per cent poor. At this time, it is estimated that four per cent of forage crops did not get cut or baled, mainly due to lack of growth.

Wind has blown swaths around and lodged some crops. Harvest has been difficult in some fields as many crops have not ripened evenly and there is much secondary plant growth. There are some reports of high levels of green seed in harvested canola and some crops are being aerated. Overall, producers are indicating that yields and grades are average, although there are some reports of higher-than-expected yields.

Farmers are busy swathing, spraying weeds and combining.