(File photo/farmnewsNOW Staff)

By Alice McFarlane

Saskatchewan Crop Report

Harvest winding up for many Saskatchewan farmers

Sep 28, 2023 | 3:06 PM

Many producers have wrapped up harvest in Saskatchewan.

The report from the Ministry of Agriculture for the week of Sept. 19 to 25 indicated 91 per cent of the provincial crop in the bin. That’s well ahead of the five and 10-year averages of 73 per cent.

The southwest and west-central regions completed harvest this week, with 98 and 97 per cent of crops off, respectively. The northwest is 90 per cent complete, followed by the southeast at 89 per cent and the northeast at 88 per cent. The east-central region has made significant progress this past week, with 82 per cent of crops off.

Many crops are entirely harvested provincially with the remaining crops nearing completion. Oats are 93 per cent completed this week, followed by canary seed at 88 per cent. Later maturing crops, or fields seeded later, represent the remaining acres to be harvested, although great progress is being made. Canola is 80 per cent, flax is 63 per cent and soybeans are 64 per cent combined for the year.

While it has been excellent harvest weather for grain and oilseed producers, most areas need rain. Crops Extension Specialist Mackenzie Hladun said soil moisture conditions continue to decline.

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“The most rainfall we did receive was in the Carnduff area at 15 millimetres. However, this also meant that there was a decrease in topsoil moisture across the province accompanying that dry weather,” Hladun said. “What we’re seeing right now is that 20 per cent of cropland has adequate moisture, 45 per cent is short and 35 per cent is very short, while 16 per cent of pastures have adequate moisture, 44 per cent are short and 40 per cent are very short.”

Livestock producers are experiencing moderate water shortages for their animals. Some producers in the southwest and west-central regions are experiencing water supply shortages. There are also concerns about livestock water quality. Producers can bring livestock water samples to a regional office and work with a specialist to determine how to address water quality concerns.

Crop damage this past week is due to grasshoppers and dry conditions, with some reports of wind damaging standing crops.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

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