(file photo/farmnewsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Looking for some rain

Harvest finished for season in North West region

Oct 20, 2022 | 4:24 PM

Producers in the North West region, including the Battlefords and Meadow Lake area, have wrapped up their harvest for this fall.

Linda Bomok, who farms with her sons in the Richard, Saskatchewan, area, said she had a good season this year, after finishing harvest towards the end of September.

The family grows about 255 acres of soft spring wheat. They saw good yields of 50 bushels per acre for this year’s harvest.

Like many other producers, Bomok is finding the soil conditions on the dry side now. She would like to see a little precipitation on the way to help.

“We’re hoping to get some rain now,” she said.

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The province is reporting it was a strong year for many producers across the region overall.

“Early season moisture allowed crops a good start to growth, and timely rains allowed them to properly fill their pods and heads with seed, resulting in an increased yield potential,” Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture crops extension specialist, Matthew Struthers, said.

He is pleased with the overall crop yields for this year’s harvest for the region.

“Crop yields have greatly improved this year compared to 2021, with all crops estimated to yield above average,” Struthers said. “Of course, yields do vary within the region. Those who did not get the moisture needed throughout the growing season saw more disappointing yields, but still much better than 2021.”

The quality of the crop improved since last year, with most crops rated in the two top grades.

Struthers said there were some instances of a slight downgrading in this year’s harvest from a plant disease called ergot in some cereals, or due to bleached kernels.

“That would have happened when there was a minor rain that did occur in the region, whether that crop was standing or swathed at the time,” Struthers said. “It just kind of leads to some downgrading…It’s not a huge concern. It gets sorted out and never makes it on past the elevator.”

Looking at soil conditions, the local region experienced more of an average amount of rainfall this year. However, parts of the region have become very dry. Cropland topsoil is currently rated as 13 per cent adequate, 32 per cent short, and 55 per cent very short. Hay and pasture-land topsoil moisture is similar, rated as 10 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and 53 per cent very short.

The increased rainfall during the growing season helped improve the hay crop. It also enabled farmers to keep their cattle out grazing on pastures longer, and it put less pressure on them to supplement feed.

Struthers noted reports are showing that farmers seeded less winter wheat and fall rye in August and September this year due to increasingly dry soil conditions. The number of acres seeded has declined by 20 per cent for winter wheat, and 32 per cent for fall rye.

Looking ahead, Struthers said producers could benefit from a good rainfall now, to replenish the soils.

“They were lucky this year the rains they did get,” he said. “But it’s incredible how fast the soils will dry out in the province. Right now, producers for that region would like to see it rain, basically up until the ground freezes. Then, have a good heavy snowfall. Then, hopefully start spring on the right foot.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow