Saskatchewan Harvest Leaps Forward
VANCOUVER - Oct 14/10 - SNS -- Saskatchewan's harvest leapt forward during the past week, with pea and lentil harvests now in their final stages, according to the latest crop progress report from the provincial agriculture department.
Recent warm and sunny weather allowed farmers in the province to harvest 23% of all crops, pushing the overall harvest to 83% complete, according to Saskatchewan Agricultures Weekly Crop Report, with another 13% swathed or ready to straight-combine. This is the closest the harvest has been to average. Normally, it is 89% complete for all crops by the midle of October.
Combining progress across the province as of October 11 was as follows: Southwest 86%; Southeast 87%; West-central 76%; East-central 85%; Northeast 81%; and Northwest 79%.
Wet field conditions are still creating challenges for producers. With good weather over the past few weeks, producers are working to finish harvesting as quickly as they can.
Saskatchewan Harvest Progress to October 11, 2010
(per cent of crop in the bin)
2008 2009 2010 5-Yr Average 3-Yr Average
Mustard 99.0 87.0 91.0 96.2 95.0
Sunflower 19.0 0.0 3.0 20.2 10.3
Lentils 99.0 99.0 90.0 98.8 99.0
Field Peas 100.0 99.0 98.0 99.2 99.3
Chickpeas 80.0 75.0 37.0 88.8 82.7
Canaryseed 88.0 45.0 48.0 80.6 77.0
Flaxseed 81.0 30.0 51.0 73.4 66.0
Canola 96.0 66.0 84.0 89.6 85.3
Spring Wheat 97.0 76.0 81.0 90.8 89.3
Durum 98.0 87.0 75.0 96.0 94.7
Oats 95.0 59.0 75.0 86.4 82.0
Barley 98.0 85.0 83.0 93.8 93.0
Rye 99.0 94.0 98.0 98.2 97.3
SOURCE: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Southeastern Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 1, 2, and 3ASE)
Warm, sunny and windy weather allowed for good harvest progress. Only trace amounts of rain fell in a few areas in the region during the week.
Producers were able to make an additional 25% in harvest progress and, as of this week, have 87% of the crop combined. Another 10% is swathed or ready to straight-combine.
Crop District (CD) 1A has 93% combined; CD 2A, 84%; CD 1B, 87%; CD 2B, 82%; and CD 3ASE has 92% combined.
Crop reporters are indicating crop yields are quite variable across the region. The regional average crop yields are as follows: winter wheat 43 bushels per acre (bu/ac), spring wheat 32 bu/ac, durum 33 bu/ac, oats 59 bu/ac, barley 50 bu/ac, fall rye 35 bu/ac, flax 19 bu/ac, canola 29 bu/ac, mustard 900 lb./ac, lentils 1,100 lb./ac, peas 31 bu/ac, canaryseed 1,100 lb./ac and chickpeas 1,200 lb/ac.
The warm and windy weather is drying fields, although caution is still needed as there are still many wet areas. Grain trucks are being left at the edge of the field or on the road to avoid getting stuck. Heavy dew in the mornings delayed combining until the early afternoon. Some farmers have finished harvest for the most part and are going back to combine the wet areas as they dry up. Most of the crops harvested this week were put into storage dry. Farmers are making the most of the nice fall weather to harvest, bale straw, haul bales, clean corals and control weeds.
Southwestern Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 3ASW, 3AN, 3B and 4)
Some areas in the region received enough rain to shut combines down for a day or two. Most of the region recorded little or no rain for the week. The following are just a few of the areas that recorded rain: Rockglen and Shaunavon 3 mm, Cadillac 4 mm, Consul and Gull Lake 8 mm, Maple Creek 9 mm and Richmound 5 mm.
Producers made good harvest progress. Another 20% was combined over last week, and the region now has 86% of the 2010 crop combined. An additional 10% is swathed or ready to straight-combine. Crop District 3ASW has 85% of the crop combined; CD 3AN, 82%; CD 3BS, 90%; CD 3BN, 85%; CD 4A, 83%; and CD 4B, 93%.
Crop reporters are indicating crop yields are quite variable across the region. The regional average crop yields are as follows: winter wheat 40 bu/ac, spring wheat 31 bu/ac, durum 32 bu/ac, oats 57 bu/ac, barley 52 bu/ac, fall rye 38 bu/ac, flax 21 bu/ac, canola 27 bu/ac, mustard 1,000 lb./ac, lentils 1,300 lb./ac, peas 28 bu/ac, canaryseed 1,200 lb./ac and chickpeas 1,100 lb./ac.
With the warm and sunny weather, there is steady harvest action in the fields. Crop reporters are indicating yields and crop grades are quite variable. The wet weather and frost in September have downgraded many crops. One more week of good weather is needed to get most of the crop in the bin. Most farmers were able to get back onto their combines in the early afternoon and harvest until crops became tough about dusk.
Producers are finding that the frost has affected quality more than originally thought.
Some producers have indicated some wet areas will not be combined until freeze-up.
Producers are taking full advantage of the nice weather to get fall work done. Fields are busy with the activities of harvest, bale hauling, controlling weeds and bringing cows home from the pastures.
East-Central Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 5 and 6a)
The week was warm, sunny and windy with only trace amounts of rain falling in a few areas in the region. The Foam Lake area recorded 2 mm and the Churchbridge and Kenaston areas recorded 1 mm for the week.
Producers were able to make another 24% in harvest progress this week, and the region has now completed 85% of the 2010 harvest. An additional 14% is swathed or ready to straight-combine. Crop District 5A has 82% combined; CD 5B, 88%; and CD 6A has 85% combined.
Crop reporters are indicating crop yields are quite variable across the region. The regional average crop yields are as follows: winter wheat 38 bu/ac, spring wheat 28 bu/ac, durum 35 bu/ac, oats 58 bu/ac, barley 44 bu/ac, fall rye 27 bu/ac, flax 20 bu/ac, canola 23 bu/ac, mustard 900 lb./ac, lentils 1,100 lb./ac, peas 27 bu/ac, canaryseed 800 lb./ac and chickpeas 900 lb./ac.
Producers are happy to have a good stretch of harvest weather. Fields are still quite wet, but the warm and windy weather is drying things up somewhat. Crops combined during the past week were put into the bin dry. Crop reporters have indicated that lowlying areas in the fields are being left for now due to wet conditions. Once freeze-up happens, these areas might be able to support equipment. Field access is still difficult as roads are very soft. Some fields are still not able to support equipment at this time.
Some farmers have finished harvest due to low seeded acres. Winter wheat is emerging. Crop reporters are indicating the wet weather and frost have downgraded crops. Crop grades are quite variable. Some farmers have indicated that straw will be in short supply. A couple weeks of good weather is needed to dry the ground sufficiently so harvest can be completed. Farmers are busy harvesting, hauling bales, baling straw, controlling weeds, tilling fields to cover ruts, and applying fall fertilizer.
West-Central Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 6B and 7)
While some areas of the region recorded small amounts of rain for the week, most areas received little or no rain. The Outlook and Biggar areas received 2 mm and the Denzil area 3 mm.
Another 29% of the crop is in the bin, bringing the regions total to 76% combined. An additional 17% is swathed or ready to straight-cut. Crop District 6B has 86% combined; CD 7A, 59%; and CD 7B, 87%.
Crop reporters are indicating crop yields are quite variable across the region. The regional average crop yields are as follows: winter wheat 42 bu/ac, spring wheat 34 bu/ac, durum 33 bu/ac, oats 65 bu/ac, barley 53 bu/ac, fall rye 39 bu/ac, flax 23 bu/ac, canola 31 bu/ac, mustard 1,200 lb./ac, lentils 1,000 lb./ac, peas 34 bu/ac and canaryseed 1,000 lb./ac.
Harvest is in full swing. A couple weeks of the warm weather is needed to get the majority of the crop in the bin. Combining days are short as there is dew until late morning, and combines are shut down by dusk. Some producers are still waiting for the crop to mature and dry down. Combines are getting stuck, but fields are drying up.
Some of the low-lying areas will not be combined until freeze-up. Farmers are hauling bales and servicing equipment in the morning while waiting for the crop to dry down.
Producers are taking full advantage of the nice weather to harvest, control weeds, test soil, haul bales and bring cattle home from the pastures.
Northeastern Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 8 and 9AE)
The week was warm and sunny for the most part. A few areas recorded rain. The Tisdale and Alvena areas reported 3 and 2 mm, respectively. Other areas received trace amounts or no rain.
The region has 81% of the crop combined, a significant increase over last weeks 63%. An additional 18% is swathed or ready to straight-combine. Crop District 8A has 77% of the crop combined; CD 8B, 90%; and CD 9AE, 65%.
Crop reporters are indicating crop yields are quite variable across the region. The regional average crop yields are as follows: winter wheat 38 bu/ac, spring wheat 31 bu/ac, oats 73 bu/ac, barley 49 bu/ac, fall rye 37 bu/ac, flax 17 bu/ac, canola 25 bu/ac and peas 23 bu/ac.
Sunny and warm weather allowed for great harvest progress. Crops are slow to dry down. Wet field conditions are making harvest difficult and combines need to go slowly.
There have been some reports of fusarium in wheat. There are reports that some lateseeded oats and canola crops are not ready to harvest. Others reporters are indicating the ground will have to freeze before the field can support harvesting equipment.
Aeration fans and grain dryers are in use. Farmers are hoping for a couple more weeks of decent harvesting weather. Farmers are busy with harvest, applying fall fertilizer, controlling weeds and hauling bales.
Northwestern Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 9AW and 9B)
For the most part, sunny and warm weather allowed harvest to proceed. A few spotty showers shut down some combines for a while. The Speers, Debden and Meadow Lake areas recorded 1 mm of rain, the Neilburg and Rapid View areas reported 3 mm and the Turtleford area recorded 4 mm.
The northwest has 79% of the 2010 crop combined. Good weather allowed producers to get an additional 22% combined last week. A further 16% is swathed or ready to straight-combine. Crop District 9AW has 73% of the crop combined and CD 9B has 82% of the crop combined.
Crop reporters are indicating crop yields are quite variable across the region. The regional average crop yields are as follows: spring wheat 40 bu/ac, durum 40 bu/ac, oats 78 bu/ac, barley 63 bu/ac, fall rye 32 bu/ac, flax 19 bu/ac, canola 35 bu/ac and peas 37 bu/ac.
Most crops are going into the bin dry. Combines are getting stuck and grain trucks and cart drivers have to be careful where they travel in the field. Although quality is not the best, most producers seem to be happy with their yields. Some of the low-lying acres will have to wait until the ground freezes before the combines are able to harvest them.
Warm and sunny weather is needed for a couple more weeks to finish the 2010 harvest.
Farmers are busy with harvest, controlling weeds, hauling bales, applying fall fertilizer and bringing cattle home from the pastures.
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