Saskatchewan’s weekly crop report was released Thursday morning.  Saskatchewan Agriculture Crops Extension Specialist Matt Struthers says warm weather has continued to help crops mature throughout the province.  He says this has allowed considerable headway with harvest, with seven percent of the crop combined and another six percent ready to straight combine.

“That’s way ahead of our five year average of one per cent combined, and two per cent to straight combine.  Producers are able to get out there and are combining quite quickly, with no rain they are just able to do it without delay.  Over the last couple of days there were some light showers that delayed guys for maybe one or two days, but now they’re right back at it.”

Struthers says the most advanced regions are the south west with 12 per cent combined, eight percent in the south east and seven percent in the west central region.  Struthers says 54 percent of winter wheat and 51 percent of fall rye are already off, and 37 percent of field peas and 29 per cent of lentils are in the bin. He adds canola and wheat will be the next crops being combined.

With the small rain showers this week, Struthers says top-soil moisture has increased a small amount to six percent adequate, 32 percent short and 62 per cent very short. While hay and pasture land is rated as five percent adequate, 28 per cent short and 67 percent very short.

Here’s the rest of the Saskatchewan Crop Report from the Ministry of Agriculture, including the region by region breakdown:

Harvest is most advanced in the south and west-central regions, where 12 per cent of the crop in the southwest, eight per cent of the crop in the southeast and seven per cent of the crop in the west-central is combined. Producers in the northern regions have a little more than one per cent of the crop combined.

Much of the province received small amounts of rain this week, with parts of the northern, west-central and southeast regions receiving half an inch to an inch. The Lipton area received the most rainfall this week with 37 mm. The Langenburg area received 27 mm, the Rhein area 32 mm and the Indian Head area received 24 mm. More rain would be welcomed to help late seeded crops fill the last of their seed. The biggest benefit of the rain will be to pasture land that has struggled to endure the drought.

Many producers have noted that hay yields are below average this year. Estimated average dryland hay yields for the province are 0.80 tons per acre for alfalfa, 0.70 tons per acre for alfalfa/bromegrass, 0.60 tons per acre for other tame hay, 0.60 tons per acre for wild hay and 1.0 tons per acre for greenfeed. Estimated average irrigated hay yields are 1.3 tons per acre for alfalfa, 1.80 tons per acre for alfalfa/bromegrass and 2.2 tons per acre for greenfeed.

The majority of crop damage this week was due to wind, drought stress, heat, wildlife, grasshoppers and flea beetles. There have also been isolated reports of hail.

Producers are busy wrapping up haying and baling, getting ready for harvest, desiccating and swathing crops and combining in some areas.

On Aug. 10, Agriculture Minister David Marit announced $119 million in provincial support under AgriRecovery, with the federal government requested to provide its full 60 per cent cost-share to increase the total program value to $297 million. The program will provide a per head payment to help maintain female breeding stock. The province is currently working with the federal government to finalize the details of the program which will be administered by Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation; this information, including how to apply, will be shared as soon as possible.

South East

Harvest is well underway in the region, with some producers starting to combine and many more desiccating. Currently, eight per cent of the crop is combined and seven per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut. The five-year average (2016-2020) for this time of year is two per cent of the crop combined and three per cent of the crop swathed or ready to straight-cut.

Thirty-eight per cent of the fall rye, 48 per cent of the winter wheat, 63 per cent of the field peas, 15 per cent of the barley and 35 per cent of the lentils are now in the bin.

There were scattered rain showers throughout the region this week, ranging from a couple millimeters to over an inch in some areas. The area south of Odessa received the most rain in the region this week with 27 mm. The Alida area received 14 mm, the Kisbey area 18 mm and the Moosomin, Tantallon and Avonlea areas received 15 mm.

Moisture conditions slightly improved due to showers across the region throughout the previous week. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 17 per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and 36 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as ten per cent adequate, 45 per cent short and 45 per cent very short.

The majority of crop damage this week was due to wind, dry conditions and localized reports of hail. There were also reports of grasshoppers damaging crops.

Haying and baling is wrapping up in the region and yields are lower than normal. Dry conditions have limited pasture growth in the region as well. Producers are busy hauling bales, desiccating crops and starting to combine in some areas.

South West

12 per cent of the crop has been combined and another eight per cent is ready to be straight-cut in the region. The five-year average (2016-2020) for this time of year is three per cent of the crop combined and four per cent of the crop swathed or ready to straight-cut.

Fifty-one per cent of the fall rye, 50 per cent of the field peas, eleven per cent of the barley and 27 per cent of the lentils are now combined.

Rainfall was received in the southern half of the region this week, ranging from nil to 15 mm in the Rockglen and Big Beaver areas. The Limerick and Admiral areas received 12 mm and the Mossbank area received mm.

The scattered rain showers across the region did little to improve the topsoil moisture conditions in the region. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and 68 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent adequate, 15 per cent short and 83 per cent very short.

Hay yields for the region are lower than normal due to the dry conditions and hot temperatures. Pastures are almost bare and many producers have started to move cattle off with the hope the grass will recover if it rains.

The majority of crop damage this week was due to heat, drought stress, wind and grasshoppers.

Producers are busy harvesting crops for grain or cutting crops for greenfeed. While some are combining others are still desiccating and will be harvesting soon.

East-Central

Crops continue to rapidly dry down in the region, with some farmers beginning harvest operations. Four per cent of the crop has been combined at this time and six per cent has been swathed or is ready to straight-cut. Producers have reported that the heat and dry conditions have resulted in some crops ripening prematurely and not filling properly resulting in lower yields than normal.

Seventy-five per cent of the fall rye, 38 per cent of the winter wheat, 34 per cent of the field peas and 32 per cent of the lentils are now in the bin.

There were scattered rainfall in the east-central region this week resulting in some areas receiving over an inch. The area around Lipton received the highest amount of rain in the region this week with 36 mm. The Langenburg area received 27 mm, the Yorkton area 10 mm and the Ituna area six mm.

Topsoil moisture conditions have slightly improved in the region due to recent rainfall. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as six per cent adequate, 30 per cent short and 64 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as three per cent adequate, 27 per cent short and 70 per cent very short.

The majority of crop damage this week was due to wind, drought stress, grasshoppers and flea beetles feeding on green crops.

Haying is wrapping up in the region and yields are coming off lower than normal. The hot, dry weather conditions have also limited pasture growth in the region.

Producers are busy wrapping up haying and baling, getting equipment ready for harvest and starting to desiccate pulse crops.

West-Central

Harvest operations are progressing nicely in the region with seven per cent of the crop combined and ten per cent swathed or is ready to straight-cut. Many producers are still desiccating their crops and they will be ready to combine shortly. Several poor yielding fields in the region have been cut for greenfeed instead of being harvested for grain.

Fifty per cent of the fall rye, 94 per cent of the winter wheat, 22 per cent of the field peas and 30 per cent of the lentils have been combined.

Very small amounts of rain were received throughout most of the west-central region this week. The Central Butte and Luseland areas received the most rain in the region with five mm. This region has received the least amount of rain since April 1, 2021.

There was a slight improvement in topsoil moisture conditions in the. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent adequate, 16 per cent short and 83 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent adequate, 12 per cent short and 86 per cent very short. Some rain and cooler conditions would be welcome to support crops during the grain filling stages.

The majority of crop damage this week was due to heat, wind and dry conditions. There were also reports of localized hail. Pastures are suffering due to hot, dry conditions and some are becoming incapable of supporting cattle, forcing producers to either move them or haul bales.

Producers are busy desiccating crops and getting ready for harvest or working with Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation to determine which fields are written off and which are harvestable.

Northeast

Crops are rapidly advancing in the region again this week. The warm temperatures have helped crops progress and some crops are starting to turn colour earlier than usual. Producers have started to swath and combine winter cereals in the region. Swathing and desiccating of other crops is expected to start within the next week.

Small amounts of rain were received throughout most of the northeast region. The Hudson Bay area received the highest amount of rainfall in the region this week with 25 mm. The Arborfield area received 14 mm, the Nipiwin area 21mm and the Lake Lenore area eight mm.

Topsoil moisture conditions have slightly improved in the area, with more land being rated as adequate. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and 56 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as eight per cent adequate, 27 per cent short and 65 per cent very short. Crop District 8B is reporting that 89 per cent of the cropland and 100 per cent of the hay and pasture land is very short for topsoil moisture at this time.

There were some reports of crop damage this past week caused by winds, drought stress and lygus bug in canola which is being sprayed.

Producers are busy wrapping up haying and baling, hauling bales and getting ready for harvest.

Northwest

Crop development has continued to progress in the region this week. Producers are busy prepping for harvest and will likely be out combining within the next week or two. Although the region received more rainfall than others, the crops in the north west have struggled all season long under poor growing conditions brought on by dry conditions.

Most of the northwest region received rain this week, with many areas receiving half of an inch. The areas around Hafford, North Battleford, Spiritwood and Glaslyn received the highest amount of rain in the region with 14 mm. The Barthel area received 12 mm and the Meadow Lake area received 10 mm.

Moisture conditions remained relatively stable in the region this week. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as three per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 55 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as three per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and 57 per cent very short.

The majority of crop damage this week was due to wind, heat and localized reports of hail. There was also damage caused by bertha armyworms and grasshoppers in the region but it is likely too late to spray to control these pests.

Farmers are busy finishing haying and baling, hauling grain and getting bins and equipment ready for harvest.