Saskatchewan producers managed to make good harvest progress this past week, despite several heavy storms resulting in total crop loss for some producers.
Thursday’s weekly crop report estimated the provincewide harvest at 25% complete as of Monday, up 10 points from a week earlier and ahead of the five-year average of 21%. Last year, the harvest was one-third done.
The 2024 harvest is the most advanced in the Southwest Region, where 44% of the crop was off as of Monday, followed by the Southeast at 28% complete, the East-Central at 25%, and the West-Central at 15%. The Northeast and Northwest regions were bringing up the rear at 12% and 7% done, respectively.
The fall rye and winter wheat crops were 84% and 74% harvested as of Monday, with lentils and peas at 72% and 68%. The mustard crop was 43% harvested followed by durum at 37%, barley at 31%, chickpeas at 24%, oats at 19%, and soybeans at 14%. The spring wheat and canola crops were 13% and 8% in the bin, with canary seed at 5% complete and flax at 2% done.
Crop yields vary across the province with some producers experiencing higher than expected yields while others are once again seeing less than average in the areas hit hardest by the heat and dry conditions, the report said.
Due to the heavy thunderstorms experienced over the past week, topsoil moisture has improved for some regions while others are still experiencing extremely dry conditions, the report said. “These areas will need substantial rainfall and snow coverage to ensure a good start to the 2025 growing season,” it added.
The storms brought high winds and hail, which was as big as golf balls in some areas, battering crops.
The Glenavon area reported 94 mm of rain this past week, and the Creelman area reported 76 mm. The central and northern regions received rain as well, ranging from 20 to 30 mm over the week.
Cropland topsoil moisture was rated1% surplus, 39% adequate, 36% short, and 24% very
Short as of Monday, a modest improvement from 35% adequate, 41% short and 24% very short the previous week.
Crop damage over the past week was mainly due to strong winds, heavy rain and severe hail resulting in lodged or completely lost crops. Strong winds also blew swaths around resulting in loss of yield, making harvest more difficult.
Southeast:
Producers in the southeast were making good progress in their fields before large storms completely halted some harvest operations. These storms caused delays as well as damage by blowing around swaths, lodging crops and flooding and hailing out crops. Due to these setbacks producers have only taken off 28 per cent of the crop in the region, up from 21 per cent last week and ahead of the five-year average of 22 per cent. Some producers have noted their crops are not yet ready for harvest and are hoping they dry down quickly to avoid any issues as we enter September.
Producers have made significant progress in their fall cereals; winter wheat is now 79 per cent and fall rye is 86 per cent in the bin for the year. Field peas and lentils are also nearing completion, with 85 per cent of field peas and 73 per cent of lentils harvested for the year. Producers are focusing on spring seeded cereals; 40 per cent of durum, 36 per cent of oats, 33 per cent of barley and 16 per cent of spring wheat are harvested in the region. Mustard leads the oilseed progress, with 53 per cent of the crop in the bin. Eleven per cent of canola has been harvested so far.
There were several heavy downpours in the region over the past week resulting in crop damage and delays. The Glenavon area received 94 mm, the Creelman area 76 mm, the Radville area 55 mm and the Rouleau area 34 mm over the course of the week. The heavy rain has flooded low lying areas and caused issues for producers with swathed crops.
Soil moisture in the region has improved due to the rain. Six per cent of crop land is rated to have surplus moisture, 70 per cent adequate moisture, 19 per cent is short and five per cent is very short.
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