Harvest has started in Saskatchewan, but a cool and late spring continues to slow crop progress.
Three per cent of the 2008 crop has been combined and a further seven per cent has been swathed or is ready to be straight combined, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly crop report. ??
The five-year (2003-2007) average is 10 per cent combined and 16 per cent swathed or ready to straight combine at this time of year. Reporters continue to indicate that crops are one to two weeks behind in development.
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Harvest operations are most advanced in the southwest, where nine per cent of the crop has been combined. On a province-wide basis, 18 per cent of winter wheat, 25 per cent of fall rye, 22 per cent of peas and nine per cent of lentils have been combined.
Crop reporters estimate that 96 per cent of the pea crop harvested to date will fall into the top two grades, compared to the 10-year average of 83 per cent. For lentils, the estimate is 89 per cent falling into the top two grades, compared to the 10-year average of 74 per cent.
Insects and lodging were the main sources of crop damage during the past week.
Rainfall in many areas meant that topsoil moisture conditions improved. 73 per cent of the crop land is reported to have adequate topsoil moisture, compared with 62 per cent last week. For hay and pasture land, 63 per cent is reported to have adequate topsoil moisture, up from 54 per cent last week.
