Crop Report for Period from October 12 To 18, 2010

Thanks to the warm and sunny weather, Saskatchewan producers have nearly all of the 2010 crop in the bin.  Ninety-seven per cent of the 2010 crop has been combined, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's Weekly Crop Report.  This is an increase of 14 per cent over last week.

An additional two per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-combine.  The five-year provincial average (2005 to 2009) for this time of year is 92 per cent combined.  Last year at this time, Saskatchewan farmers had 77 per cent of the crop in the bin, with an additional 20 per cent swathed or ready to straight-combine.

Combining progress across the province as of October 18 was as follows:

• Southwest - 97 per cent;
• Southeast - 96 per cent;
• West-central - 95 per cent;
• East-central - 98 per cent;
• Northwest - 98 per cent; and
• Northeast - 98 per cent.

Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 18 per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate and three per cent short.  Topsoil moisture on hay land and pasture is rated as 12 per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate and 10 per cent short.

Farmers are busy with fall work; finishing harvesting, baling straw, fixing fence, hauling bales and moving grain.

An additional two per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-combine.  The five-year provincial average (2005 to 2009) for this time of year is 92 per cent combined.  Last year at this time, Saskatchewan farmers had 77 per cent of the crop in the bin, with an additional 20 per cent swathed or ready to straight-combine.

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

Producers have 96 per cent of the crop combined. Another three per cent is swathed or ready to straight-combine. With the exception of chickpeas, all crops are reported to be 90 per cent or more harvested. Chickpeas are reported as 41 per cent harvested and the remaining 57 per cent is ready to combine.

Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are reported as 24 per cent surplus, 74 per cent adequate and 2 per cent short. On hay land and pasture, topsoil moisture is rated as 12 per cent surplus 81 per cent adequate and seven per cent short.

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

Producers have 96 per cent of the crop combined; another two per cent is swathed or ready to straight combine, and close to two per cent is still standing. The majority of the crops are over 90 per cent harvested.  The exceptions are canaryseed (84 per cent), flax (63 per cent) and chickpeas (78 per cent).

Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are reported as one per cent surplus, 98 per cent adequate and one per cent short. On hay land and pasture, topsoil moisture is rated as 87 per cent adequate and 13 per cent short. 

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

Producers have 98 per cent of the crop combined; another two per cent is swathed or ready to straight-combine. The majority of the crops are at least 97 per cent harvested.  The exceptions are canaryseed (87 per cent) and flax (89 per cent).

Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are reported as 49 per cent surplus, 50 per cent adequate and one per cent short. On hay land and pasture, topsoil moisture is rated as 38 per cent surplus 59 per cent adequate and three per cent short.

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

Producers have 95 per cent of the crop combined; another four per cent is swathed or ready to straight-combine. The majority of the crops are over 90 per cent harvested. The exceptions are durum (88 per cent), canaryseed (84 per cent) and flax (72 per cent).

Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are reported as seven per cent surplus, 90 per cent adequate and three per cent short. On hay land and pasture, topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus 90 per cent adequate and nine per cent short.

Northeastern Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 8 and 9AE)

Producers have 98 per cent of the crop combined; another one per cent is swathed or ready to straight-combine. The majority of the crops are at least 95 per cent harvested with the exception of flax (85 per cent).

Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are reported as 32 per cent surplus and 68 per cent adequate. On hay land and pasture, topsoil moisture is rated as 26 per cent surplus and 74 per cent adequate.

Northwestern Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 9AW and 9B)

Producers have 98 per cent of the crop combined; another two per cent is swathed or ready to straight-combine. All crops are over 95 per cent harvested.

Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are reported as one per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate and 13 per cent short. On hay land and pasture, topsoil moisture is rated as 80 per cent adequate and 20 per cent short.