Saskatchewan Harvest Finally Passes Halfway Mark

Some work got done this past week, but the Saskatchewan harvest remains mired in the muck.

 

The latest weekly crop report on Thursday pegged the overall provincial harvest at 55% complete as of Monday, up 8 points on the week but behind the average of 82% for this time of year. An additional 29% of the crop was swathed or ready to straight cut as of Monday. Most areas of the province received some precipitation last week, ranging from 20 mm in the Moosomin area to 16 mm in the Elfros and Bethune areas.

 

Amid the badly delayed harvest, there continues to be many reports of crops sprouting, bleaching and staining and downgrading is expected at the elevator. Much of the crop harvested so far is tough or damp and is being put into grain dryers and aeration bins, the report said, adding warm, dry and windy days are needed soon so that producers can return to the field.

 

Only 14% of the provincial spring wheat crop is expected to grade 1CW, while 32% and 27% is likely to grade 2CW and 3CW, respectively.

 

Harvest is most advanced in the southwest region, where 71% of the crop was combined as of Monday. The northeast region had 61% combined, the west-central region 58% and the southeastern region 55%. The northwest region had 42% combined and the east-central region 39%.

 

An estimated 76% of the barley crop, 59% of the durum, 58% of the mustard, 52% of the spring wheat, and 50% of the canary seed and oats were in the bin as of Monday. The canola crop was 40% combined, along with 39% of the chickpeas, 28% of the soybeans and 9% of the flax. An additional 48% of the canola and 19 per cent of the mustard is swathed or ready to straight-cut.

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