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By Angela Brown

AHEAD OF FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE

Harvest close to half done in North West region

Sep 17, 2022 | 5:03 PM

Nearing the middle of September, producers in the North West region, including the Battlefords and Meadow Lake area, are reporting they have close to half their crop harvested now.

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture crops extension specialist, Matthew Struthers, said the area is sitting at 47 per cent in the bin.

“That’s up from 28 per cent last week, and actually it’s well ahead of their five-year average of 27 per cent,” he said. “They started a little bit slow there, just due to the weather they were having. But now that it’s dried out and the crops have dried down they have made quick work of it.”

While there were a few challenges in parts, farmers are making the best of it. The expert said some of the grain is coming off a bit damp or tough, due to excess moisture. But producers are putting it in their dryers and aeration bins so they are able to store it properly.

Crop grades are looking good overall in the region. Yields are also strong where fields had sufficient rains in the growing period this year.

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“There are some areas of that region that did get missed out on that rain,” Struthers said. “So their yields are looking a little bit lower. But certainly those who did get the rain have had a much more improved season than last year.”

Looking at harvest so far, plenty of the cereals will have been taken off by now, and a lot of the canola is likely to start being combined as soon as the crop gets dried down.

“Hopefully, everything keeps going well, and the weather holds out so producers don’t have to be delayed or run into any problems with moisture, frost or anything like that,” Struthers said.

Overall, the local region is doing well and is about in the middle of the pack when compared to other regions across the province, as far as harvest progress goes.

Struthers said producers in the North West region saw a bit more rain in the northern areas in particular, which has been good for yields and pasture conditions.

“Hopefully, once harvest is wrapped up for many producers in the North West and also across the province, they get a good drink of water going into the fall here, and into the winter. So we can start off spring on the right foot,” he added.

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW