For the Period September 1 to 7, 2015

One year ago Fourteen per cent of the 2014 crop had been combined with an additional 39 per cent swathed or ready to straight cut. Heavy rain was received in some areas, causing crop quality concerns.

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Harvest Progress in SK Per cent Combined All Crops Sept 7/15 40 5 year avg. (2010-2014) 25 Sept 8/14 14 Sept 9/13 30 Sept 3/12 38 Sept 5/11 32 Sept 6/10 13 10 year avg. (2005-2014) 30

Saskatchewan Harvest September 7, 2015 % combined Winter wheat 98 Fall rye* 97 Spring wheat 31 Durum 46 Oats* 22 Barley 40 Canaryseed 15 Flax 7 Canola 25 Mustard 45 Soybeans 18 Lentils 85 Peas 92 Chickpeas 13 *includes  three per cent ‘other'

Forty per cent of the 2015 crop is now in the bin and an additional 33 per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut, according the Saskatchewan Agriculture's Weekly Crop Report. The five-year (2010-2014) average for this time of year is 25 per cent combined.

Regionally, producers in the southwest are furthest advanced, having 61 per cent of the crop combined.  Producers in the southeast have 59 per cent combined.  Thirty-three per cent of the crop is combined in the west-central region; 22 per cent in both the east-central northwestern regions, and 20 per cent in the northeast.

Heavy rain over the weekend has delayed producers in many parts of the province. Warm and dry weather will be needed to help fields dry.  Rainfall ranged from small amounts to over four inches in some southeastern areas.

Provincially, topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 16 per cent surplus, 76 per cent adequate, seven per cent short and one per cent very short.  Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are rated as six per cent surplus, 80 per cent adequate, 12 per cent short and two per cent very short.

Strong winds and heavy rain have lodged some crops and quality is a concern in areas.  Yields vary greatly across the province, but overall are estimated to be close to average. Winter cereals are being seeded as time allows.

The Ministry of Agriculture has a Forage, Feed and Custom Service listing for producers to advertise and source feed products. It is available at www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/FeedForageListing.

Farmers are busy with harvest operations.

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)

Warm and dry weather earlier in the week helped advance harvest in the southeast. Fifty-nine per cent of the crop is now in the bin, up from 45 per cent last week. The five-year (2010-2015) average for this time of year is 32 per cent combined. Some producers have wrapped up harvest, while others will need another couple of weeks.  

Heavy rainfall over the weekend has delayed harvest in much of the region, although producers will likely be back in the field soon. There are reports of flooded fields and roads; strong winds have lodged crops and scattered swaths. Quality is a concern as the rain has bleached many cereal crops and downgrading at the elevator is expected. Harvest remains difficult in some fields that have secondary plant growth and new flushes of weeds. Some fields that normally are straight-cut are now being swathed due to green growth. Winter cereals are being seeded in many areas as time allows. Although yields at this time are average, many crops have yielded higher than first expected.     

Rainfall in the region ranged from small amounts to 88 mm in the Redvers area. At 398 mm, the Tantallon area holds the regional record for the greatest amount of rainfall since April 1. Cropland topsoil moisture is currently rated as 10 per cent surplus, 82 per cent adequate and eight per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate, 10 per cent short and one per cent very short.   

Farmers are busy with harvest operations, hauling bales and waiting for fields to dry.

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)

Harvest continues in the southwest, thanks to relatively warm and dry conditions earlier in the week. Sixty-one per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 51 per cent last week. The five-year (2010-2015) average for this time of year is 41 per cent combined.  Many producers have completed harvest, while others will need another couple of weeks. 

Heavy rainfall over the weekend has lodged crops and strong winds have blown swaths around. Harvest has been delayed in some areas, although many producers expect to be back in the field shortly. Quality is a concern as the rain has bleached many cereal crops and downgrading at the elevator is expected in some areas. Harvest is difficult in many fields due to secondary growth and new flushes of weeds; some producers are swathing crops that would normally be straight-cut. Producers are seeding winter cereals as time and moisture allow. Yields vary greatly across the region, but are average overall.   

Rainfall in the region ranged from small amounts to 54 mm in the Limerick area. At 480 mm, the Mortlach area holds both the regional and provincial records for the greatest amount of rainfall since April 1. Cropland topsoil moisture is currently rated as eight per cent surplus, 72 per cent adequate, 17 per cent short and three per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 68 per cent adequate, 26 per cent short and six per cent very short.   

Farmers are busy with harvest operations, moving cattle and hauling bales.

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)

Thanks to relatively warm and dry weather earlier in the week, 22 per cent of the crop in east-central Saskatchewan is in the bin, up from 11 per cent last week. The five-year (2010-2015) average for this time of year is 18 per cent combined.

Like most of the province, the region received heavy rain that lodged many crops and postponed harvest. Warm and dry weather will be needed to dry up those fields that cannot currently support equipment. Most producers are hoping to be back in the field by the weekend if drying weather is received. Little winter cereal seeding has been done to date, although many producers will likely begin seeding soon if time allows. Downgrading of cereals is expected at the elevator as the rain has bleached, stained and sprouted some crops. Harvest operations remain difficult in some areas as straw is still green and there are new flushes of weeds. Yields vary greatly throughout the region, although many crops are yielding higher than first expected.

Rainfall ranged from small amounts to 65 mm in the Kelvington area. At 401 mm, the Meacham area holds the regional record for the greatest amount of rainfall since April 1. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 29 per cent surplus, 68 per cent adequate, two per cent short and one per cent very short, while hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are rated as 16 per cent surplus, 80 per cent adequate, three per cent short and one per cent very short.

Farmers are busy with harvest operations and waiting for fields to dry.

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 is progressing quickly in the west-central region. Thirty-three per cent of the crop is now in the bin, up from 20 per cent last week. The five-year (2010-2015) average for this time of year is 23 per cent combined.

Despite heavy rain over the weekend, many producers expect to be back in the field by the weekend. The heavy rain has lodged many crops and caused staining, bleaching and sprouting in some cereal crops. There are reports of some swaths being scattered across fields by the strong winds. Water fowl are also causing issues in some areas. Harvest remains difficult in many fields as there are new flushes of weeds and secondary growth. Yields are generally average, although many crops are yielding better than first expected. 

Rainfall this past week ranged from small amounts to 39 mm in the Cando and Landis areas. At 329 mm, the Outlook area holds the regional record for the greatest amount of rainfall since April 1. Cropland topsoil moisture is currently rated as seven per cent surplus, 89 per cent adequate and four per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as three per cent surplus, 92 per cent adequate, four per cent short and one per cent very short.   

Farmers are busy harvesting and hauling bales.

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)

Significant progress was made this past week in the region. Twenty per cent of the crop is now in the bin, up from 10 per cent last week. The five-year (2010-2014) average for this time of year is 13 per cent combined.

Heavy rain over the weekend will keep producers out of the field.  Many fields are saturated and are unable to hold equipment. Many days of ward, dry weather will be needed before producers can get back in the field. Strong winds have blown swaths around while heavy rain has caused lodging, bleaching and sprouting in some crops. Harvest is difficult in some areas as the straw remains green and there are varying crop stages and new weed flushes causing issues. Yields are average overall, although there are some reports that crops are yielding higher than first expected. Quality is a concern and downgrading is expected at the elevator.

Rainfall in the region ranged from 25 mm to 59 mm in the Porcupine Plain area. At 441 mm, the Humboldt area holds the regional record for the greatest amount of rainfall since April 1. Cropland topsoil moisture conditions are rated as 38 per cent surplus and 62 per cent adequate. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 19 per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate and two per cent short.

Farmers are busy with harvest operations and are waiting for fields to dry.

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

Thanks to a warm and dry start to the week, harvest is progressing quickly in the region. Twenty-two per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 13 per cent last week. The five-year (2010-2015) average for this time of year is 11 per cent combined.

Heavy rainfall has delayed further combining, although many producers expect to be back in the field soon. Strong winds caused some damage last week by blowing swaths around and shelling out some standing crops. Harvest continues to be difficult in many fields as there are varying crop stages and new weed flushes emerging. Overall, yields are expected to be average, although there are reports that some fields are yielding better than first expected. Several weeks of frost-free weather is needed in many areas to allow some later-seeded crops to mature.  

Rainfall this past week ranged from 24mm to 65 mm in the Meadow Lake area. At 328 mm, the Barthel area holds the regional record for the greatest amount of rainfall since April 1. Cropland topsoil moisture conditions are rated as six per cent surplus, 92 per cent adequate and two per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as six per cent surplus, 88 per cent adequate and six per cent short.

Farmers are busy with harvest operations and hauling bales.

Saskatchewan Harvest Progress - September 7, 2015

*Other - crop that will not be harvested due to weather, insect or disease damage or will be greenfeed