Saskatchewan’s harvest sits at 82 per cent complete provincewide, according to the latest provincial crop report, as producers continue to work around humidity and dew that are shortening the number of usable harvesting hours each day.
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The report, covering Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 and released Oct. 8 by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, says many producers finished harvest last week despite the conditions. Progress remains behind the five-year average of 97 per cent complete and the 10-year average of 88 per cent, a gap that has persisted since rainfall stalled harvest earlier this fall.
Regional breakdown for the Lloydminster-area grain belt
Harvest is furthest along in the southwest and west-central regions, both sitting at 92 per cent complete, the ministry says.
The northwest region, which includes much of the grain belt around Lloydminster and the County of Vermilion River, sits at 80 per cent harvested. The southeast is at 77 per cent, while the east-central and northeast regions trail at 74 per cent each.
The pace builds on gains reported in late September, when the province’s harvest picked up despite wet eastern fields following a slower start to the season.
What’s left in the field
All winter cereals and most pulse crops are off, with fall rye and winter wheat both at 100 per cent harvested, according to the report.
Spring cereals made significant progress over the week. Barley and durum sit at 92 per cent harvested, spring wheat at 88 per cent, oats at 77 per cent and canary seed at 68 per cent.
Among oilseeds, mustard is 95 per cent complete, canola 72 per cent, flax 51 per cent and soybeans 27 per cent. Field peas are 99 per cent off and lentils 98 per cent, while chickpeas lag behind at 89 per cent, the only pulse crop not yet substantially harvested.
Yields holding near historical averages
Current crop yields are similar to or slightly better than figures reported last month, with provincial averages at or above historical norms for most crop types, the ministry says.
Estimated yields include 53 bushels per acre for hard red spring wheat, 45 for durum, 94 for oats and 72 for barley. Pulse estimates sit at 37 bushels per acre for field peas, 1,532 pounds per acre for lentils and 1,751 pounds per acre for chickpeas. Canola is estimated at 40 bushels per acre, mustard at 1,039 pounds per acre and flax at 26 bushels per acre.
With most hard red spring wheat now off, crop reporters are grading quality as lower than historical averages due to variable rainfall and wet conditions during the growing season. Average hard red spring wheat grades are 31 per cent 1 Canada Western, 44 per cent 2 CW, 19 per cent 3 CW and 6 per cent CW Feed.
Moisture mostly adequate despite dry week
There was minimal to no rainfall across the province last week, the report says. The North Battleford and Rabbit Lake areas saw the most precipitation at five millimetres, while Hudson Bay, Annaheim, Speers and Maidstone each received three millimetres.
Topsoil moisture remains mostly adequate but is starting to decline in some areas. Cropland moisture is rated 8 per cent surplus, 83 per cent adequate, 8 per cent short and 1 per cent very short. Pasture moisture is tighter, at 79 per cent adequate and 16 per cent short.
Fire risk and road safety reminders
With crop damage reports declining as harvest wraps up, remaining concerns include wind blowing swaths around, wildlife feeding on standing crops and early frost affecting late-season fields, according to the ministry.
As producers move into fall field work including spraying, harrowing, fertilizer application and moving livestock, the ministry is reminding producers to keep fire mitigation equipment on hand, clear debris from combines regularly and take care working near powerlines. Motorists are also asked to use caution around farm machinery on rural roadways through the remainder of harvest season.
A full, printable version of the crop report is available through the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, with weekly updates also posted to the @SKAgriculture account on X.
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