Limited rainfall this past allowed the Saskatchewan harvest to mostly wrap up for the year.
The weekly crop report Thursday pegged the provincial harvest at 99% complete as of Monday, up a couple of points from a week earlier. Last year at this time, the harvest was basically at the same stage, with 98% of the crop off.
Only a few types of crops remain in the field, including oats, canola, flax, and soybeans. Oats are 99% harvested, and the remainder of that crop should be off in the next week. For oilseed crops, both canola and flax are 98% harvested. Soybeans remain the furthest behind at 90% complete, but the remaining 10% is ready to be combined.
Producers in the southeast, southwest and west-central regions have finished harvest, the report said. Nearly all producers in the northeast region have completed harvest as progress sits at 99%. Finally, harvest is close to wrapping up in the east-central and northwest regions at 98% done.
The province had very limited rainfall last week which allowed producers to get lots of field work done. The Wapella, Choiceland, and North Battleford areas received the most rainfall with 10 mm of precipitation. The dry conditions caused topsoil moisture to decrease slightly. Cropland topsoil moisture was rated 54% adequate, 37% short and 9% very short as of Monday, versus 60% adequate, 36% short and 4% very short a week earlier.
Since almost all crops are off in the province, little crop damage is being reported. Heavy winds continue to damage the few crops remaining in the field by blowing swaths around and shelling grain. Migratory birds and other wildlife continue to feed on the few remaining crops, but damage is minimal.
Southeast:
Only the Wapella area reported rainfall this week and they only received 10 mm. These dry conditions, paired with strong winds caused topsoil moisture levels to decline. Cropland topsoil moisture is now 48 per cent adequate, 45 per cent short and seven per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 45 per cent adequate, 46 per cent short and nine per cent very short. Finally, pasture topsoil moisture is 35 per cent adequate, 54 per cent short and 11 per cent very short.
Strong winds complicated harvest as producers were finishing combining this week. Producers also reported waterfowl and wildlife activity. Overall, crop damage was minimal since the few remaining crop acres were taken off last week.
The mild and dry conditions allowed lots of fieldwork to get done. Producers were busy getting harrowing, spraying and applying fall fertilizer. Producers are hoping to receive more rain soon for anhydrous ammonia applications and to improve soil moisture conditions for next year.
Southwest:
It was another dry week in the southwest and some producers are concerned about the dry conditions. Harvest has been complete for a couple of weeks now and producers are utilizing the mild weather to do other field work.
There was no rainfall reported in the southwest last week, which hurt topsoil moisture conditions.
The southwest currently has the lowest topsoil moisture levels in the province. Cropland levels are currently 27 per cent adequate, 52 per cent short and 21 per cent very short. Another heavy rainfall event in the southwest, much like the one in September, would greatly benefit soil moisture conditions for next spring.
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