Crop Report Sept 8-14

One year ago Harvest was progressing slowly due to cool and wet weather. Twenty-three per cent of the 2014 crop had been combined with an additional 43 per cent swathed or ready to straight cut. Frost damaged many crops across the province.

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Harvest Progress in SK Per cent Combined All Crops Sept 14/15 52 5 year avg. (2010-2014) 42 Sept 15/14 23 Sept 16/13 55 Sept 10/12 56 Sept 12/11 60 Sept 13/10 14 10 year avg. (2005-2014) 46

Saskatchewan Harvest September 14, 2015 % combined Winter wheat 99 Fall rye* 98 Spring wheat 46 Durum 64 Oats* 28 Barley** 52 Canaryseed 19 Flax 15 Canola 38 Mustard 60 Soybeans 22 Lentils 93 Peas 97 Chickpeas 14 *includes  three per cent ‘other’ **includes one per cent ‘other’

Harvest is advancing despite delays due to wet field conditions. Warm and dry weather is needed before many producers can return to the field. Fifty-two per cent of the 2015 crop is combined and 30 per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. The five-year (2010-2014) average for this time of year is 42 per cent combined and 33 per cent swathed or ready to straight-cut.

Regionally, producers in the southwest are furthest advanced, having 75 per cent of the crop combined. Producers in the southeast have 73 per cent combined. Forty per cent of the crop is combined in the west-central region; 37 per cent in the east-central region; 30 per cent in the northwest and 29 per cent in the northeast.

Rainfall this past week ranged from trace amounts to more than an inch in some southwestern and northeastern areas. Provincially, topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 11 per cent surplus, 82 per cent adequate, six per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are rated as five per cent surplus, 81 per cent adequate, 12 per cent short and two per cent very short.

Strong winds have blown swaths around and lodged and shelled out some standing crops. Some parts of the province received frost, but damage is minimal in most cases as crops were mature. Of the crops that have been harvested so far, 86 per cent of the field peas, 76 per cent of the lentils and 70 per cent of the durum are estimated to fall within the top two quality grades. However, weather-related quality issues such as bleaching and sprouting remain a concern in many areas. While overall yields are reported to be about average, they vary from region to region.

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

Farmers are busy with harvest operations and hauling bales.

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)

Relatively dry field conditions allowed many producers to re-start harvest . Thirty-seven per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 22 per cent last week. The five-year (2010-2014) average for this time of year is 34 per cent combined.

Rainfall ranged from trace amounts to 10 mm in the Stalwart area. At 401 mm, the Meacham area holds the regional record for the greatest amount of rainfall since April 1. Cropland topsoil moisture conditions are rated as 15 per cent surplus, 82 per cent adequate, two per cent short and one per cent very short, while hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are rated as 10 per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate, four per cent short and one per cent very short.

Crop yields are average overall, and there are reports of crops yielding much higher than first expected. Quality is an issue for many producers as bleaching and sprouting is common in some areas. Twenty-four per cent of the field peas are expected to fall into the 1CAN grade, 60 percent in 2CAN, 14 per cent in 3CAN and two per cent as sample. Eleven per cent of the lentils are expected to grade 1CAN, 65 per cent 2CAN and 24 per cent 3CAN. Eleven per cent of the durum is expected to grade 1CWAD, 40 per cent 2CWAD, 34 per cent 3CWAD and 15 per cent 4 and 5 CWAD. Frost was received in some areas, although damage is minimal in most cases as crops were mature. Strong winds have lodged and shelled out some standing crops.

Farmers are busy harvesting, spraying weeds and waiting for fields to dry up.