A dry spell and warm weather across Saskatchewan have fast-tracked crop development, prompting some farmers to start harvest early, according to the latest provincial crop report.
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On Aug. 6, the Ministry of Agriculture reported that harvest progress sits at two per cent provincially for the week of July 28 to Aug. 3, with the majority of early combining taking place in the southwest.
Hot and dry conditions throughout much of the growing season accelerated maturity, particularly for early-seeded crops and winter cereals. Fall rye is leading harvest progress at 21 per cent complete, while winter wheat stands at seven per cent.
While scattered showers brought limited relief to a few regions — with Milden receiving the highest rainfall at 31 millimetres — most of the province saw no precipitation.
Despite the dry streak, topsoil moisture remains rated as adequate across more than half of Saskatchewan’s cropland (56 per cent), hayland (56 per cent) and pastures (45 per cent). However, short to very short moisture levels are beginning to weigh on late-seeded crops that still require rain for proper grain fill.
Minor to moderate crop damage has been reported due to high temperatures, dry soil, wind, grasshoppers and bertha armyworms.
Provincial officials are reminding drivers to exercise caution on public roadways as heavy farm machinery traffic increases and are advising producers to take extra fire safety precautions in dry fields during harvest operations.
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