Saskatchewan Harvest Wraps Up.

VANCOUVER - Oct 15/09 - SNS -- This year's pulse crop harvest is virtually complete in Saskatchewan and a large part of the remaining specialty crops were in the bin before last week's wet, cold weather slowed harvest operations, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly Crop Report.

Overall harvest completion advanced just 1% during the past week. This week started with the harvest complete on 77% of the 2009 crop combined; another 13% swathed and 5% ready to straight-combine. Producers need several days of sunny warm weather so they can complete the 2009 harvest.

Looking at individual crops, Saskatchewan Agriculture said 76% of the spring wheat, 87% of the durum, 59% of the oats, 85% of the barley, 30% of the flax, 66% of the canola, 87% of the mustard, 49% of the canary seed and 75% of the chickpeas have been combined. Another 22% of the oats and 33% of the canola are in the swath, and 43% of the flax is ready to straight combine.

Snow, rain, frost and wind were the major causes of crop damage in this week's report. The recent weather conditions have caused bleaching, sprouting, lodging and shattering in some crops, raising concerns over grade loss. There were some reports of wildlife, particularly water fowl, damaging swaths.

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