Farmers making gains, but still struggling with mother nature
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Faced with snow, rain, and more snow, producers across Saskatchewan have not had any sympathy from Mother Nature as they work to get the crop off.
Seventy-eight per cent of the crop is now in the bin according to this week’s crop report. This compares to 73 per cent for last week but is well behind the five-year average of 84 per cent for this time of year. The combination of wet and cool weather has slowed progress in the fields. Harvest has essentially stalled in the northwest, due to a heavy snowfall and producers in the northeast are 64 per cent complete. This represented a big jump from 45 per cent the previous week. Many crops are coming off tough or damp and are being placed in dryers.
Topsoil moisture conditions continue to improve with the recent rain and snow. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 66 per cent adequate, 24 per cent short and six per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 60 per cent adequate, 29 per cent short and nine per cent very short.
There may be a positive way to look at the precipitation. Most livestock producers have reported adequate supplies of hay, straw, greenfeed and feed grain heading into winter. However, producers in southern and central regions are reporting that some areas will have inadequate feed and that shortages are likely.
