By Charlene Tebbutt

Harvest ahead of schedule

Aug 30, 2018 | 5:00 PM

Warm, dry weather over the past week has helped farmers make progress on harvest across Saskatchewan.

The weekly crop report from the province released Thursday noted that producers have made significant progress. The province says 27 per cent of this year’s crop is now in the bin, well ahead of the five-year average of 13 per cent for this time of year.

Harvest is most advanced in the southwest region of the province, the Ministry of Environment said in its report, with 46 per cent done. The southeast area is at 42 per cent completed, with 23 per cent completed in the east central portion of Saskatchewan. Just 10 per cent of the province’s crop is in the bin in the northeast area, and only five per cent in the northwest.

Across the province, 96 per cent of fall rye, 76 per cent of field peas, 78 per cent of winter wheat and 74 per cent of lentils is now in the bin, according to the crop report. Mustard producers are reporting 30 per cent of the crop in the bin, another 36 per cent of barley, 32 per cent of durum, 16 per cent of spring wheat and seven per cent of canola has also been harvested. Another 43 per cent of canola and eight per cent of mustard are either swathed or ready to be straight-cut.

The report said light showers throughout the week helped harvest progress. The highest rainfall was reported in the South, at Ponteix with 29 millimetres. Topsoil moisture conditions remained unchanged, the province said, sitting at 25 per cent adequate, 46 per cent short and 29 per cent very short. Many areas in the South and central regions have not seen significant rainfall in nearly two months and crops are drying down rapidly, the report noted.

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Crops around Saskatchewan have been damaged due to high winds and the lack of moisture. Reports of stubble or grass fires are still coming in, and feed shortages are being reported in drier areas. Producers are keeping busy combining, swathing crops, and hauling bales.

Producers are reminded to keep safety top of mind during the busy harvest season. SaskPower is reporting six cases of farm machinery coming into contact with electrical equipment over the past week, bringing the total number of reported cases to 18 for this month.  

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt