The provincial harvest was virtually complete at 99 per cent, said Saskatchewan’s weekly crop report released on Oct. 30. This year’s crops were harvested later than usual due to rainfall throughout the growing season and uneven crop staging. Cool July temperatures slowed development, but crop staging evened out and prevented harvest delays. Pests like bertha armyworm, cabbage seedpod weevil and Richardsons ground squirrel also posed challenges in some regions.

All crop types in Saskatchewan yielded higher than their 10-year averages. Winter wheat crops yielded 44.1 bushels per acre and fall rye yielded 52.6 bu./ac. For spring cereal crops, oats had the biggest yield at 94.4 bu./ac., followed by barley at 70. Hard spring wheat was 51.5 bu./ac. and other spring wheat was 55.5. Durum yielded 39.4 bu./ac. and triticale yielded 25.3. Canary seed saw 1,354 pounds per acre, while field peas were at 40.8 bu./ac, lentils at 1,785.5 lbs./ac. and chickpeas yielded 1,716.2 lbs./ac. Oilseed crops were the last to come off, yielding 42.4 bu./ac. for canola, 39.6 for soybeans, 26.6 for flax and 880.1 lbs./ac. for mustard.

As of Oct. 20, mustard was 99 per cent combined, followed by 98 per cent for canola, 94 per cent for flax, 91 per cent for chickpeas and 87 per cent for soybeans.

Related: Large wheat supply pressures prices

Most crops graded in the top two quality categories, but some downgrading was reported due to dry conditions, pest activity and late-season rain. Canola quality was higher than the 10-year average as crops graded 86 per cent 1 Canada, 13 per cent 2 CAN and one per cent 3 CAN. For pulses, field peas graded 41 per cent 1 CAN, 52 per cent 2 CAN and seven per cent 3 CAN, while lentils graded 22 per cent 1 CAN, 59 per cent 2 CAN, 17 per cent 3 CAN and two per cent Sample.

Spring wheat was rated as 63 per cent 1 Canada Western, 29 per cent 2 CW, six per cent 3 CW and two per cent CW Feed, while barley was rated as 27 per cent malt, 60 per cent 1 CW and 13 per cent 2 CW and Sample.

Average silage yields in the province this year were 5.82 tons per acre, which is lower than the 6.37 tons/ac. reported last year. Provincially, dryland hay yields were 1.39 tons/ac. for alfalfa, 1.32 for brome hay, 1.19 for tame hay, 1.33 for baled forage and 2.14 for greenfeed. The first cut hay crop was rated as 11 per cent excellent, 63 per cent good, 22 per cent fair and four per cent poor. Producers who were able to do a second hay cut reported that 24 per cent was excellent, 47 per cent was good, 19 per cent was fair and 10 per cent was poor quality.

Cropland topsoil moisture was rated at four per cent surplus, 55 per cent adequate, 33 per cent short and eight per cent very short. For hayland areas, topsoil moisture was three per cent surplus, 51 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 10 per cent very short. For pastures, topsoil moisture was two per cent surplus, 38 per cent adequate, 45 per cent short and 15 per cent very short. Significant rainfall and snow are needed in the coming months to replenish soil moisture levels for next spring, especially in western regions.

Most pastures reflect the soil moisture ratings quite closely. Provincially, three per cent of pastures were in excellent condition, 29 per cent were good, 37 per cent were fair, 21 per cent were poor and 10 per cent were in very poor condition.

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The provincial harvest was 98 per cent complete as of Oct. 13, said the Saskatchewan government’s weekly crop report released on Oct. 16. The harvest might have been completed if rain and snow hadn’t fallen in some regions last weekend. The Strasbourg area in the south-central part of the province received the most precipitation at 52 millimetres.

All spring and winter cereal crops were combined, while canola was 98 per cent harvested and the mustard harvest was 95 per cent complete. Canary seed was 92 per cent finished, followed by chickpeas at 88 per cent, flax at 87 per cent and soybeans at 83 per cent.

Topsoil moisture for cropland was rated at seven per cent surplus, 53 per cent adequate, 30 per cent short and 10 per cent very short. For hayland areas, it was five per cent surplus, 49 per cent adequate, 33 per cent short and 13 per cent very short. For pastures, topsoil moisture was three per cent surplus, 36 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 19 per cent very short.

The supply of hay was nine per cent surplus, 82 per cent adequate and nine per cent short. Greenfeed was six per cent surplus, 89 per cent adequate and five per cent short. Silage was six per cent surplus, 92 per cent adequate and two per cent short. Straw was 14 per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate and eight per cent short. Feed grain was 11 per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate and four per cent short.

Wind, frost and snowfall caused minor amounts of damage to the crops remaining in the field, as well as wildlife and migratory birds feeding on crops and grain bags. Producers were spraying for weeds, applying fertilizer, harrowing fields and servicing equipment as the harvest nears its completion. Livestock producers were moving cattle home for winter, as well as hauling bales and marketing livestock.

The province will release its final crop report on Oct. 30.

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At 93 per cent complete, the harvest progress was up nine points from the previous week and ahead of the 10-year average of 87 per cent done. However, the pace was behind the year-ago level of 97 per cent done and the five-year average of 98 per cent complete.

The harvest was most advanced in the west-central region at 96 per cent complete.

Nearly all winter cereal and pulse crops were harvested, with chickpeas the only pulse crop with notable unharvested acres at 70 per cent done. The harvest was 98 per cent complete for spring wheat and barley, while 96 per cent of the durum and oat crops were off. Mustard was 91 per cent done, canola at 89 per cent soybeans at 79 per cent and 60 per cent of the flax crops were harvested.

Yields varied across the province due to conditions over the growing season, although average yields remained above historical averages for most crop types. Provincially, hard red spring wheat yielded 51 bushels per acre, durum 41 bu./ac., oats 92 bu./ac., barley 71 bu./ac., field peas 42 bu./ac., lentils 1,922 pounds per acre and chickpeas 1,817 lbs/ac. Oilseed crops were still being combined, but canola was currently yielding 42 bu./ac. on average, mustard 1,192 lbs/ac. and flax 26 bu./ac.

Crop quality varied throughout the province largely due to variable rainfall levels, dry conditions and pest activity during the growing season. Provincially, 65 per cent of hard red spring wheat was 1 Canada Western (CW), 27 per cent was 2 CW, six per cent was 3 CW and only two per cent graded as feed.

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The good progress was made largely due to a lack of rain across much of the province. At 13 millimetres, the Meadow Lake area received the greatest amount during the week.

The southwest was furthest along at 87 per cent done, with the west-central and northwest at 86 per cent, the southeast at 84 per cent, the northeast at 83 per cent and the east-central at 80 per cent.

Harvesting progress by crop

The estimates by crop were reported to be:

• Pulses: field peas 99 per cent finished, lentils 98 per cent, chickpeas 56 per cent.

• Spring cereals: barley 94 per cent completed, wheat 92 per cent, durum 91 per cent, oats 87 per cent, canaryseed 61 per cent.

• Oilseeds: mustard 79 per cent done, canola 71 per cent, flax 45 per cent, soybeans 42 per cent.

• Winter wheat and fall rye were previously finished and triticale has wrapped up.

Moisture conditions

With the lack of rain, moisture conditions fell across Saskatchewan:

• Cropland topsoil: one per cent surplus, 49 per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and 12 per cent very short.

• Hayland topsoil: one per cent surplus, 43 per cent adequate, 40 per cent short, and 16 per cent very short.

• Pasture topsoil: one per cent surplus, 34 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short and 26 per cent very short.

As well, three per cent of livestock producers said there are severe/widespread water shortages, 31 per cent reported moderate shortages, 16 per cent cited they’re anticipating shortages and 50 per cent said they didn’t have any shortages.

Damages, fires

The report noted crop damages were caused by high winds, with some swaths blown away. Further damages were the result of wildlife and waterfowl.

Following a number of combine fires, the ag department stressed the need for farmers to blow off their combines and take precautions near powerlines.

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The province’s harvest was 68 per cent complete, Saskatchewan’s weekly crop report said on Sept. 25. This was compared to the five-year average of 83 per cent and the 10-year average of 72 per cent.

Harvest progress in the southwest led all regions at 80 per cent complete, followed by the southeast at 70 per cent, the northwest at 69 per cent, the west-central region at 65 per cent, the northeast at 61 per cent and the east-central region at 59 per cent.

While Saskatchewan’s winter wheat and fall rye harvest was finished, field peas were at 99 per cent completion and lentils were 96 per cent combined. Barley was at 86 per cent, durum at 78 per cent, spring wheat at 73 per cent and oats at 70 per cent. However, due to rains and high humidity, some yet-to-be-harvested cereal crops showed low quality and sprouting.

The mustard harvest was 62 per cent complete, followed by canola at 42 per cent, soybeans at 23 per cent and flax at 18 per cent.

The most rain fell in the Rhein area east of Yorkton at 44 millimetres during the week. Meanwhile, Carnduff and Blaine Lake saw 20 mm and the Calder area received 18 mm.

Cropland topsoil moisture was at two per cent surplus, 59 per cent adequate, 32 per cent short and seven per cent very short. Hayland topsoil conditions were three per cent surplus, 51 per cent adequate, 29 per cent short and 17 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil conditions were two per cent surplus, 40 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 22 per cent very short.

As for pastures, one per cent were in excellent condition, 31 per cent in good condition, 39 per cent in fair condition, 20 per cent in poor condition and nine per cent in very poor condition.

Most of the crop damage reported was caused by wind and dry conditions. There were also some reports of low-lying areas being lost to water accumulation. Waterfowl damage was more present this week as geese, cranes and other waterfowl moved across the province.

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The harvest advanced 12 points, at 53 per cent complete, which compares with the five-year average of 73 per cent done. The southwest was the most advanced, at 66 per cent complete, while the northeast lagged at 42 per cent done.

Winter wheat and fall rye harvest was complete. Only four per cent of the peas and nine per cent of the lentils provincewide were left to harvest. For cereals, barley was 72 per cent harvested, spring wheat 56 per cent, oats 52 percent and canary seed 20 per cent.

An estimated 41 per cent of the Saskatchewan mustard crop was harvested, with canola at 21 per cent done, soybeans at 13 per cent and flax at six per cent.

Yields and quality varied depending on rainfall over the growing season.

While precipitation caused harvest delays in some cases, the rains also helped improve depleted topsoil moisture conditions. Topsoil moisture conditions for cropland were rated as six per cent surplus, 66 per cent adequate, 22 per cent short and six per cent very short. For hayland, topsoil moisture was six per cent surplus, 58 per cent adequate, 25 per cent short and 11 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture was three per cent surplus, 54 per cent adequate, 29 per cent short and 14 per cent very short.

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The southwest led the way at 39 per cent harvest, followed by the southeast at 33 per cent. Further back are the east-central at 16 per cent, the northeast at 13 per cent, the northwest at 12 per cent and the west-central at 10 per cent.

Cereals, oilseeds, pulses

Among the cereals, winter wheat was 85 per cent harvest and fall rye was at 79 per cent. Triticale was next at 34 per cent combined, then barley at 31 per cent, durum at 29 per cent, spring with at 14 per cent, oats at 12 per cent with canaryseed at five per cent.

Soybeans led the oilseeds at 11 per cent combined, followed by mustard at 10 per cent and canola at four per cent.

The pulses saw field peas at 73 per cent done, lentils at 59 per cent and chickpeas at 13 per cent.

Topsoil moisture levels

The Piapot area in southwest Saskatchewan topped the province with the most rain at 25 millimetres.

The ag department said cropland topsoil moisture was at two per cent surplus, 67 per cent adequate, 29 per cent short and two per cent very short.

Hayland topsoil moisture registered at two per cent surplus, 55 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and seven per cent very short.

As for pasture topsoil moisture, levels were three per cent surplus, 51 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and nine per cent very short.

The main causes of crop damage during the week were strong winds and dry conditions, with a high risk of fire. Minor damages were caused by grasshoppers and bertha armyworms.

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The report said farmers in the southwest continued to lead combining at 23 per cent done while those in the northeast lag at two per cent.

Winter wheat at 70 per cent harvest and fall rye at 66 per cent remained well ahead of the spring crops. Those were led by field peas at 45 per cent combined, followed by 42 per cent of triticale and 35 per cent of the lentils. Next were barley at 17 per cent off the field and then durum at 13 per cent.

The remainder of Saskatchewan’s crops were in single digits with oats and chickpeas at eight per cent combined. Spring wheat came in at three per cent complete with canola and canaryseed at one per cent.

Following the rains, cropland topsoil moisture levels rated three per cent surplus, 77 per cent adequate, 18 per short and two per cent very short.

For hayland, the topsoil moisture was three per cent surplus, 66 per cent adequate, 27 per cent short and four per cent very short.

The topsoil on pastures were three per cent surplus, 60 per cent adequate, 31 per cent short and six per cent very short.

Saskatchewan Ag said Bertha armyworms caused minor damage to canola, with more as a result of grasshoppers and other wildlife. Strong winds and hail led to damages in the areas they struck, then hot temperatures and a lack of rain in other areas led to crop stress in dry areas.

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The province’s weekly crop report said only three per cent of the harvest was complete, behind the five- and 10-year averages. The southwest region led the way with eight per cent, followed by the southeast at four per cent and the east-central region at two per cent. The west-central, northeast and northwest regions were at one per cent each. Higher temperatures are in the forecast this week which would accelerate crop maturity.

Yorkton received the most rainfall in the province at 95 millimetres. Other areas with heavy rainfall were Swan Plain with 78 mm and Calder with 76 mm.

Despite the conditions, the winter wheat crop reached 46 per cent combined, while fall rye was at 44 per cent and triticale was at 34 per cent. Field peas were 17 per cent combined while lentils were at 12 per cent. Barley was eight per cent harvested, durum was at five per cent, oats were at two per cent and spring wheat and canola were at one per cent each.

Provincial cropland topsoil moisture was rated at 80 per cent adequate, 10 per cent short, two per cent very short and eight per cent surplus. Hayland topsoil moisture reported 73 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short, three per cent very short and five per cent surplus. Topsoil moisture for pastures was 67 per cent adequate, 24 per cent short, three per cent very short and nine per cent surplus.

Across Saskatchewan, 67 per cent of crop reporters said there were no water shortages for livestock producers, either currently or upcoming. In addition, 17 per cent reported moderate shortages, 14 per cent reported shortages to occur within one to two months, and two per cent said there were severe shortages. There were no concerns with water quality.

North and central parts of the province saw crop damage by bertha armyworms. Grasshoppers, crop lodging due to wind damage and hail damage were also reported in some areas. Localized flooding also occurred in the southern part of the province due to heavy rainfall.

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The rains dramatically increased topsoil moisture levels during the week. Provincial cropland topsoil moisture was placed at 11 per cent surplus, 75 per cent adequate, 11 per cent short and three per cent very short. For hayland, topsoil moisture was eight per cent surplus, 68 per cent adequate, 16 per cent short and eight per cent very short. Pastures have topsoil moisture levels at six per cent surplus, 67 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and eight per cent very short.

The harvest was just getting underway, with two per cent of crops off the fields. That compares with six per cent at the same point a year ago. The provincial five- and 10-year averages are also six per cent.

The combination of rainfall and slow crop development last week prevented more crops from being harvested, but it is still early in the harvest season.

Winter cereals led harvest progress, with 16 per cent of winter wheat and 14 per cent of fall rye harvested. Producers also made progress in pulse crops, with three per cent of lentil and pea crops off. The first acres of spring cereal and oilseed crops were harvested last week. Two per cent of barley and one per cent of spring wheat and canola were combined.

Most producers were either done or finishing their last haying and silaging efforts. Dryland alfalfa yields were 1.10 tonnes per acre and greenfeed yields were 2.09 tonnes per acre. For irrigated hay crops, alfalfa yielded 1.95 tonnes per acre while greenfeed yielded 2.95 tonnes per acre. Silage yields for the province this year were estimated to be 5.25 tonnes per acre.

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