Crop Report for the Period September 14 to 20, 2010

Eighteen per cent of the 2010 crop has been combined, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report.  An additional 41 per cent is swathed or ready to straight-combine.

The five-year provincial average (2005 to 2009) for harvest progress at this time of year is 65 per cent combined.  Last week’s significant rainfall in most areas of the province continues to delay harvest progress.

Southeastern Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 1, 2, and 3ASE)

Freezing temperatures were reported between -2C and -5C for several hours on Sept. 18.  Below zero temperatures were also recorded on Sept. 17.  Rain was reported on four days out of seven for most of the region, leaving little opportunity for good harvest progress.  All areas reported rain for the week ranging from three to 32 millimetres (mm).  Showers were scattered throughout the week leaving little opportunity to combine.  The Carnduff area recorded three mm; the Manor area, 14 mm; the Grenfell area, 30 mm; the Moosomin area, 20 mm; the Weyburn, area 9 mm; the Pangman area, 32 mm; the Moose Jaw area, 28 mm; the Vibank area, 16 mm; the Radville area, four 4 mm; and the Ceylon area, 11 mm.  Rainfall recorded since April 1 in the region ranges from 329 mm to 745 mm.

Producers were able to make some combine progress on peas, canola, mustard, and in most cereals.  It was slow going in the fields and most of the crops were taken off tough.  The region has 26 per cent of the crop combined and an additional 40 per cent swathed or ready to straight combine.  Last year at this time, the region had 59 per cent combined.

Crop district (CD) 1A has 32 per cent combined; CD 1B, 17 per cent; CD 2A, 32 per cent; CD 2B, 19 per cent; and CD 3ASE has 29 per cent combined.

Grades for lentils are reported as seven per cent 1 CAN; 27 per cent 2 CAN; 45 per cent 3 CAN; and 21 per cent Sample.  Grades for field peas are reported as 17 per cent 1 CAN; 50 per cent 2 CAN; 17 per cent 3 CAN; and 16 per cent Sample.  Due to very little durum harvested, many crop reporters are indicating they won't know the grade until they can get into the field.

The widespread frost is causing the majority of crop damage.  Many producers are still assessing the extent of the damage as crop maturity varied from one field to the next.  Due to the rain, sprouting, bleaching and staining in swathed/dessicated and ripening crops are causing damage.  With all the rain, farmers are concerned with crop quality and bushel-weight issues.  Geese and cranes are causing crop damage as well.

Farmers are waiting to get back into the fields to continue with harvest.  The crops that were combined are being put into aeration as they were harvested on the tough side.  Wet fields are a concern for the harvesting equipment.  A couple days of good drying conditions are needed before combines are back in the field.  Aeration, dryers and grain carts are in high demand.  Farmers are hauling bales, fixing fence, swathing greenfeed and frost damaged crops, and assessing frost damage.

Southwestern Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 3ASW, 3AN, 3B and 4) 

Crop reporters indicated temperatures of -3C to -10C were recorded on Sept. 17 and 18 for several hours.  Scattered rain throughout the area all week resulted in crop reporters recording three to 37 mm.  The Limerick area recorded 15 mm; the Fife Lake area three mm; the Chaplin area, 23 mm; the Central Butte area, 13 mm; the Cadillac area, 37 mm; the Shaunavon area, 18 mm; the Tyner area, eight mm, the Webb area, 19 mm, the Consul area, 13 mm; the Gull Lake area, 10 mm; and the Leader area seven mm. Rain recorded in the region since April 1 ranges from 329 mm to 642 mm.

Very little harvest progress was made in the region.  Just over 25 per cent of the crop has been combined and an additional 27 per cent has been swathed or is ready to straight cut. Last year at this time, 82 per cent of the crop had been combined. Crop districts 3ASW and 3BN have 26 per cent combined; CD 3AN, 24 per cent; CD 3BS, 30 per cent; CD 4A, 19 per cent; and CD 4B, 28 per cent.

Crop reporters are indicating the following grades for lentils harvested: 20 per cent 1 CAN; 43 per cent 2 CAN; 28 per cent 3 CAN; and nine per cent Sample. Pea grades are indicated as 27 per cent 1 CAN; 54 per cent 2 CAN; 15 per cent 3 CAN; and four per cent Sample. Due to very little durum harvested, many crop reporters are indicating they won't know the grade until they can get into the field.

Frost caused the majority of crop damage this past week.  Heavy rains have caused flooding, lodging, bleaching, sprouting and staining of crops. Wind is also causing crops to lodge. Sawfly has caused crops to fall over, as the rain has prevented farmers from swathing or straight cutting wheat.

Farmers are busy assessing crop damage from the frost, swathing green feed and frost-damaged crops, hauling bales and waiting to get back into the fields to continue with harvest. There is great hope for good October weather.  The rain on desiccated/swathed pulses and cereals has farmers worried about crop quality.  A few days of good drying weather is needed.  Crops that have been taken off in the past week were tough.  Field access is an issue as roads are very soft.  Grain trucks are being loaded on high ground or on the roads. Crop lifters, aeration and dryers are in high demand.

East-Central Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 5 and 6a)

Crop reporters indicated temperatures of -1C to -5C were recorded on Sept. 17 and 18 for several hours.  There was significant rain again this week for the region. All crop reporters recorded rain for the past week, amounts ranging from five to 29 mm. Most areas reported above 15 mm for the week.  Since April 1, rainfall recorded in the region ranges from 346 mm to 856 mm.  The Goodeve area received 8 mm, the Kelliher area 24 mm, the Neudorf area 17 mm, the Kamsack area 5 mm, the Rama area 23 mm, the Chamberlain area 25 mm, the Craik area 16 mm, and the Humboldt area 9 mm.

Most of the field progress was made with swathing of canola and oats this past week.  Some combine progress was made in field peas, lentils and canola. The region has nine per cent of the 2010 crop in the bin.  An additional 48 per cent is swathed or is ready to straight cut.  Last year at this time, 39 per cent of the crop had been combined.  Crop district 5A has 10 per cent combined; CD 5B, six per cent; and CD 6A, 23 per cent.  The combines that were in the fields moved slowly and crops were combined tough.  The four-wheel-drive tractor was not far away.  

Crop reporters are indicating the following grades for harvested lentils: one per cent CAN 1; 29 per cent CAN 2l 48 per cent CAN 3; and 22 per cent Sample. Pea grades: three per cent CAN 1; 42 per cent CAN 2; 32 per cent CAN 3; and 23 per cent Sample. Due to very little durum harvested, many crop reporters are indicating they won't know the grade until they can get into the field.

The rain and frost are causing crop damage.  Lodging, sprouting, bleaching and staining of crops is reported due to excess moisture. Farmers are still trying to assess frost damage on immature crops. Some of the late-seeded crops affected by the frost have been swathed. Geese and cranes are causing crop damage as well.

Crops that have been desiccated or had pre-harvest applications are taking a long time to dry down in the cool and damp weather. The last two weeks of rain have many wondering if they will be able to access fields at all this fall.  Grain trucks and carts are being loaded on the roads. Sunny and dry weather is needed.  Many producers are hoping for a few weeks of decent harvesting weather in October.  

West-Central Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 6B and 7)

Crop reporters indicated temperatures of -2C to -6C were recorded on Sept. 17 and 18 for several hours.  All areas recorded rain ranging from five to 27 mm, with most areas reporting above 15 mm. The Hanley area recorded 10 mm; Sonningdale area, 19 mm; Herschel area, five mm; Rosetown area, 16 mm; Major area, 26 mm; Macklin area, 16 mm; and Scott area 13 mm. Since April 1, rainfall recorded in the region ranges from 365 mm to 618 mm.

Swathing of canola and combining of peas and mustard were the main harvest activities when the weather allowed farmers into the field. Harvest progress remains about the same as last week with just over seven per cent of the crop combined. An additional 38 per cent is swathed or is ready to straight cut. Last year at this time, 40 per cent of the crop had been combined. Crop district 6B has 10 per cent combined; CD 7A, just over five per cent; and CD 7B, 10 per cent.

Grades of peas harvested are reported as follows: 12 per cent 1 CAN; 55 per cent 2 CAN; 26 per cent 3 CAN; and seven per cent Sample. Very few acres of durum and lentils have been harvested, therefore crop reporters said they won't know the grade until farmers can get into the fields.

The majority of crop damage is due to frost and rain. Excess moisture is causing disease, mold, flooding, lodging, sprouting and bleaching. Wind is also causing lodging. The moisture received in the past few weeks has reduced crop quality. Producers are still trying to assess the frost damage, although late-seeded crops that were still quite green have been swathed because of frost damage. Indications of frost damage seem to be appearing on crops in the last couple of days. Field operations are quite slow because of the rain and the soggy land that cannot support heavy equipment.

Farmers are anxiously waiting to get back into the fields. Cattle producers are busy hauling bales. Fields are quite soft and water in the fields is causing harvest issues. Geese and cranes are starting to visit crops and cause damage. Many are indicating crops are ready to be harvested, but the rain has put a halt on harvest activity. Crop reporters are indicating at least thee weeks of sunny and drying weather are needed to get the majority of the crop off.

Northeastern Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 8 and 9AE)

Crop reporters indicated temperatures of -1C to -4C were recorded on Sept. 17 and 18 for several hours. All areas reported another week of rain, although most of the moisture fell on Sunday and Monday, which allowed some combines and swathers into the fields, furthering harvest progress for the region.  Rainfall recorded ranged from one mm to 22 mm. The Tisdale area recorded 15 mm; Arborfield area, 30 mm; Melfort area, one mm; Kinistino area 19 mm; Garrick area 22 mm; and Prince Albert area 11 mm. Since April 1, rainfall recorded in the region ranges from 400 mm to 675 mm.

Some farmers indicated they were able to get in a few days of combining, although it was slow going and most crops were tough. Farmers in the region have 17 per cent of the 2010 crop combined. Most of the progress was made in peas, canola and wheat. Fifty-three per cent is swathed or ready to straight combine. Last year at this time, 32 per cent of the crop had been combined.

Grades of peas harvested are reported as follows: 17 per cent 1 CAN; 45 per cent 2 CAN; 35 per cent 3 CAN; and three per cent Sample. 

Crop damage is due to rain and frost. Excess moisture is causing flooding, disease, lodging, sprouting and bleaching. Wind is also causing lodging. Frost damage is still being assessed. When the weather allows, some of the late-seeded crops are being swathed due to frost damage.

Farmers are busy swathing and combining when the weather allows, although combines are moving slowly and grain is being combined on the tough side. Crop reporters are indicating some cereals are being combined around 18 per cent moisture and canola 10 to 13 per cent moisture. Some farmers are swathing wheat and running the combine right behind the swather. Bales are being hauled with caution on wet and soggy fields. Fields are very wet in areas and equipment is getting stuck.  

Northwestern Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 9AW and 9B)

Crop reporters indicated temperatures of -2C to -6C were recorded on Sept. 17 and 18 for several hours. All areas reported varying amounts of rain for the week, ranging from eight to 42 mm. Most areas reported above 15 mm with the majority of the rain falling on Sunday and Monday. The Radisson area recorded 15 mm; the Hafford area 27 mm; the Spiritwood area 31 mm; the Turtleford area eight mm; the Neilburg area, 14 mm; and the Barthel area. 10 mm. Since April 1, rainfall recorded in the region ranges from 326 mm to 659 mm.

Some harvest progress was made this past week in between the rains. Most of the progress was made in field peas and canola. The region has 11 per cent of the 2010 crop combined. An additional 57 per cent is swathed or ready to straight cut. Last year at this time, 29 per cent of the crop was off the field. Crop district 9AW has 13 per cent of the crop combined and CD 9B has nine per cent of the crop combined.

Grades of peas harvested are reported as follows: 32 per cent 1 CAN; 49 per cent 2 CAN; 11 per cent 3 CAN; and eight per cent Sample. 

Rain and frost are causing the majority of crop damage. Excess rain has caused flooding, lodging, sprouting and bleaching of crops. Wind is also causing lodging. Farmers are still trying to assess frost damage on crops. Some of the late seeded crops are being swathed due to frost damage.  Greenfeed oats are being cut as well due to frost damage.

Warm and sunny weather is needed.  Farmers are busy harvesting when the weather allows, fixing fence and hauling bales. Ergot in wheat has been reported. Harvesting equipment is getting stuck and navigation around the fields is difficult.  Crops combined this past week were tough for the most part.  There were some reports of peas taken off dry.