Relatively warm, dry conditions this week allowed farmers to make good harvest progress.Â
Some farmers are hoping for warm, dry conditions to favour dry down of crops, though producers near harvest completion are hoping for rain to rejuvenate topsoil and subsoil moisture before winter.
Seventy-seven per cent of the 2020 crop is currently in the bin, according to the Ministry of Agriculture on Sept. 24, which is up from 62 per cent the previous week, and remains well ahead of the five-year (2015-2019) average of 59 per cent for the same time of year. An additional 18 per cent of the crop was swathed or ready to straight-cut. Much of the crop coming off in the central and northern regions is tough and requires aeration or drying.
Harvest was most advanced in the southwest region, where 96 per cent of the crop was combined. The southeast region had 89 per cent combined and the west-central 78 per cent. The east-central region has 69 per cent combined, the northeast 51 per cent and the northwest 43 per cent.
Ninety-nine per cent of lentils, 98 per cent of field peas, 95 per cent of durum, 86 per cent of barley, 77 per cent of chickpeas, 74 per cent of spring wheat, 71 per cent of oats, 61 per cent of canola and 52 per cent of flax was combined. An additional 35 per cent of canola was swathed or ready to straight-cut.
Many areas of the province received rainfall in the latter half of the month, particularly in parts of the western and northern regions. The Tyner area in the southwest region received the highest amount of rain with 99 mm.
Provincial cropland topsoil moisture was rated as 37 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short and 24 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture was rated as 27 per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and 35 per cent very short. These conditions have slightly improved due to recent rain.
The majority of crop damage has been due to wind, frost, waterfowl, wildlife and lack of moisture. Heavy rain in some areas has resulted in lodging of crops. Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation provides compensation for damage caused by wildlife through the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program.Â
Pasture conditions are rated as two per cent excellent, 16 per cent good, 32 per cent fair, 33 per cent poor and 17 per cent very poor. Conditions vary across the province, with the northern regions rating most of the pastures as in fair-to-good condition and the southern regions having more pastures rated as very poor-to-fair condition.
Farmers are busy combining, hauling bales and moving cattle.
