Nine per cent gain in West-Central harvest

Harvest progress this past week increased nine per cent to 63 per cent complete in this region, which is the smallest increase in the province this week. Harvest progress is behind the five-year average of 70 per cent, but ahead of the 60 per cent 10-year average. Many producers in this region experienced rain delays which resulted in slowed progress.

Harvest has finished for fall cereal and field pea crops and lentils are nearly complete at 99 per cent harvested. Well over half of most cereal crops have been harvested, with barley being the closest to being done as 88 per cent of the crop is off. Triticale follows with 75 per cent harvested and spring wheat is a close third at 74 per cent harvest completed. Seventy-one per cent of durum is in the bin, while 67 per cent of oats have been harvested. Canary seed is the only cereal with more than half the crop in the field, as only 43 per cent of canary seed acres have been harvested. Like much of the province, mustard harvest leads all oilseed crops with 59 per cent of the crop off. Harvest progress for canola is at 41 per cent and nine per cent for flax. Most soybeans are still standing as only 15 per cent have been harvested, while no chickpeas have been harvested yet.

West-central Saskatchewan received significant rainfall last week as the highest recorded amount was 48 mm in the Marsden area. The Milden area received 42 mm and Lizard Lake area received 41 mm. Baldwinton and Sonningdale areas both received notable rainfall at 30 mm and 24 mm, respectively.

The abundance of rainfall helped improve topsoil moisture conditions. Cropland topsoil moisture is 38 per cent adequate, 49 per cent short and 13 per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 35 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and 21 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is 33 per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and 20 per cent very short.

Pasture conditions are slightly better in the west-central compared to the provincial average. Twenty-nine per cent of pasture acres are in good condition, 50 per cent are fair, 13 per cent are poor and eight per cent are very poor.

The only notable crop damage in this region was from wind and mild grasshopper activity. Despite causing harvest delays, producers welcomed the rain as conditions have been dry in the west-central region.