For the Period September 16 to 22, 2014

Warm and relatively dry weather allowed harvest to significantly advance this past week, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly Crop Report. Forty-three per cent of the crop is now in the bin and 37 per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut. The five-year average (2009-2013) for this time of year is 58 per cent combined and 25 per cent swathed or ready to straight-cut.

The southwestern region is the most advanced, where 54 per cent of the crop is now combined. Forty-seven per cent is combined in the northwestern region; 46 per cent in the west-central region; 45 per cent in the northeastern region; 41 per cent in the southeastern region; and 28 per cent in the east-central region.  

While overall yields are reported to be about average, they vary from region to region depending on field moisture and disease received throughout the year. Average hard red spring wheat yields are reported as 39 bushels per acre, durum 37 bushels per acre, barley 58 bushels per acre, canola 32 bushels per acre and field peas 32 bushels per acre.

Quality remains a concern for many producers as moisture, disease and frost have damaged crops. Strong winds and waterfowl also caused some damage this week.

Rainfall this week ranged from nil to 18 mm. Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 14 per cent surplus, 82 per cent adequate and four per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as seven per cent surplus, 87 per cent adequate and six per cent short.

Pasture conditions across the province are rated as 20 per cent excellent, 64 per cent good, 14 per cent fair and two per cent poor.  Ninety-six per cent of livestock producers have indicated that they have adequate supplies of water for their livestock.

Farmers are busy with harvest operations, aerating tough grain and hauling bales.

Southeastern Saskatchewan (Crop District 1 - Carnduff, Estevan, Redvers, Moosomin and Kipling areas; Crop District 2 - Weyburn, Milestone, Moose Jaw, Regina and Qu'Appelle areas; Crop District 3ASE - Radville and Lake Alma areas)

Harvest is progressing nicely in the southeast thanks to warm weather. Forty-one per cent of the crop is now harvested while 32 per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut. The five-year (2009-2013) average for this time of year is 64 per cent combined. Harvest progress ranges from 61 per cent combined in Crop District 2A to 24 per cent in 1B. Heavy morning and evening dews have delayed producers in some areas.

Rainfall ranged from small amounts to 15 mm in the Moose Jaw area. Since April 1, the Moosomin area has received 895 mm of rain, the greatest amount for both the region and the province. Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 29 per cent surplus, 70 per cent adequate and one per cent short. Hay land and pasture moisture is rated as 16 per cent surplus, 82 per cent adequate and two per cent short. Many fields are very wet and equipment is getting stuck multiple times a day.

Crop yields vary across the region but overall are reported to be about average. Excess moisture and disease have damaged many crops and quality remains a concern. High fusarium levels are common in cereal crops, as are sprouting and bleaching in cereals and pulses. There are many reports that frost damage is now evident in some late seeded crops such as canola. Strong winds blew swaths around and have shelled out some standing crops. There are also reports of waterfowl such as geese and cranes damaging crops.  

Pasture conditions are rated as 35 per cent excellent, 57 per cent good, seven per cent fair and one per cent poor.  One hundred per cent of livestock producers have indicated that they have adequate supplies of water for their livestock.

Farmers are busy harvesting as weather permits, hauling bales and cleaning corrals.

Southwestern Saskatchewan (Crop District 3ASW - Coronach, Assiniboia and Ogema areas; Crop District 3AN - Gravelbourg, Mossbank, Mortlach and Central Butte areas; Crop District 3B - Kyle, Swift Current , Shaunavon and Ponteix areas; Crop District 4 - Consul, Maple Creek and Leader areas)

Great strides were made this past week as 54 per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 31 per cent last week. An additional 24 per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut. The five-year (2009-2013) average for this time of year is 72 per cent combined. Harvest progress ranges from 62 per cent in Crop District 3AN to 46 per cent in 4B. Producers have been delayed by heavy dews in both the morning and the evening. Crop reporters have indicated that harvest will be wrapped up for some producers in the next week if the warm and dry weather continues. 

The Big Beaver area recorded the greatest amount of rainfall for the week (17 mm) while the Cadillac area has received the greatest amount of rainfall since April 1 (591 mm). Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 13 per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate and two per cent short. Hay land and pasture moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 97 per cent adequate and two per cent short.

Quality remains a concern in many pulse and cereal crops due to moisture and higher than normal disease levels. Sprouting and bleaching is also common in many of the pulse and cereal crops. There are many reports that frost damage is now evident in some late seeded crops such as canola and wheat. Crop yields are average overall but greatly vary across the region.  

Pasture conditions are rated as 25 per cent excellent, 62 per cent good, 11 per cent fair and two per cent poor.  Ninety-eight per cent of livestock producers have indicated that they have adequate supplies of water for their livestock.

Farmers are busy harvesting, hauling bales and bringing cattle home.

East-Central Saskatchewan (Crop District 5 - Melville, Yorkton, Cupar, Kamsack, Foam Lake, Preeceville and Kelvington areas; Crop District 6A - Lumsden, Craik, Watrous and Clavet areas)

Good progress was made this past week as the east-central region now has 28 per cent of the crop combined, up from 11 per cent last week. Forty-four per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut. The five-year (2009-2013) average for this time of year is 52 per cent combined. Harvest progress ranges from 36 per cent in Crop District 6A to 22 per cent in 5A. Although harvest is well underway in the region, several more weeks of warm and dry weather is needed for most producers to finish. Heavy dews and slow dry down is delaying many producers.

Rainfall this past week ranged from trace amounts to 10 mm in the Jedburgh area. Since April 1, the Foam Lake area has received the greatest amount of rainfall for the region at 730 mm. Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 21 per cent surplus, 77 per cent adequate and two per cent short. Hay land and pasture moisture is rated as 18 per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate and four per cent short. Many fields remain wet and equipment is getting stuck multiple times a day.  

Many crops are coming off tough and are being aerated in the bin. Quality is a concern across the region as many areas are reporting high levels of sprouting, bleaching, fusarium and frost damage. Geese have damaged swaths while strong winds have blown canola swaths around. Reported yields are about average, although some crops are yielding well below expectations.    

Pasture conditions are rated as 21 per cent excellent, 62 per cent good, 16 per cent fair and one per cent poor.  Ninety-nine per cent of livestock producers have indicated that they have adequate supplies of water for their livestock.

Farmers are busy harvesting as weather allows, hauling bales and moving cattle.

West-Central Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 6B - Hanley, Outlook, Loreburn, Saskatoon and Arelee areas; Crop District 7A - Rosetown, Kindersley, Eston, Major; CD 7B - Kerrobert, Macklin, Wilkie and Biggar areas)

Harvest progress nearly doubled from last week in the region. Forty-six per cent of the crop is now in the bin, up from 24 per cent last week. An additional 37 per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut. The five-year (2009-2013) average for this time of year is 55 per cent. Harvest progress ranges from 47 per cent in Crop District 6B to 46 per cent in 7B. Although harvest is advancing quickly, periodic showers and heavy dews are delaying time in the field.

Rain this week ranged from trace amounts to 18 mm in the Smiley area. Since April 1, the Sonningdale area has received 435 mm of rain, the greatest for the region. Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as two per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate and 13 per cent short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 80 per cent adequate and 19 per cent short.

Although crop yields are about average overall, they vary greatly in the region depending on moisture received throughout the year. There are many reports of frost damage that is now evident in some later seeded crops and high levels of fusarium in cereals. Many pulse and cereal crops have sprouted or bleached due to the weather. There are also reports of canola heating in bins and many producers are aerating tough grain.

Pasture conditions are rated as seven per cent excellent, 70 per cent good, 19 per cent fair and four per cent poor.  Ninety-nine per cent of livestock producers have indicated that they have adequate supplies of water for their livestock.

Farmers are busy harvesting, hauling bales and aerating tough grain.

Northeastern Saskatchewan (Crop District 8 - Hudson Bay, Tisdale, Melfort, Carrot River, Humboldt, Kinistino, Cudworth and Aberdeen areas; Crop District 9AE - Prince Albert, Choiceland and Paddockwood areas)

Good progress was made again this week as 45 per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 27 per cent last week. An additional 49 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. The five-year (2009-2013) average for this time of year is 49 per cent. Harvest progress ranges from 50 per cent in Crop District 8A to 40 per cent in 8B. Warm and dry weather has allowed producers to combine throughout the day, although many crops are coming off tough and are being aerated.

The Arborfield area reported 2 mm this past week while the Humboldt area has reported 464 mm of rainfall since April 1, the greatest for the region. Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as two per cent surplus and 98 per cent adequate. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 92 per cent adequate and seven per cent short.

Reported yields have been average overall and quality remains a concern in much of the region. Sprouting and bleaching is common in the region, as is fusarium damage. Swaths are slow to dry down and there are reports of higher than expected green seed in some canola crops. Geese and other waterfowl have also caused some damage this week.

Pasture conditions are rated as seven per cent excellent, 72 per cent good and 21 per cent fair. Ninety-four per cent of livestock producers have indicated that they have adequate supplies of water for their livestock.

Farmers are busy harvesting, moving cattle and hauling bales.

Northwestern Saskatchewan (Crop District 9AW - Shellbrook, North Battleford, Big River and Hafford areas; Crop District 9B - Meadow Lake, Turtleford, Pierceland, Maidstone and Lloydminster areas)

Warm and dry weather has allowed for harvest progress to more than double in the northwestern region. Forty-seven per cent of the crop is now in the bin, up from 19 per cent last week. An additional 45 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. The five-year (2009-2013) average for this time of year is 43 per cent combined. Harvest progress ranges from 49 per cent combined in Crop District 9B to 46 per cent in 9AW.

The Neilburg area received the greatest amount of rain this past week (4 mm) while the North Battleford area has received 519 mm since April 1. Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as four per cent surplus, 88 per cent adequate and eight per cent short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate and 13 per cent short.

Quality remains a concern in much of the region as many pulse and cereal crops have sprouted and bleached. There are also higher than normal levels of fusarium in some wheat crops. Strong winds blew canola swaths around and shelled out some standing crops. Overall crop yields are about average but vary in the region depending on moisture received during the growing season.

Pasture conditions are rated as two per cent excellent, 71 per cent good, 21 per cent fair and six per cent poor. One hundred per cent of livestock producers have indicated that they have adequate supplies of water for their livestock.  

Farmers are busy harvesting, moving cattle and aerating tough grain.