August 14, 2009

Harvest operations in Canada's Saskatchewan province started during the week ended Aug. 10, according to the latest government crop report released Thursday (August 13).

About 1 percent of the 2009 crop has been combined, and 7 percent has been swathed or is ready to straight-combine, according to the report from Saskatchewan Agriculture. That was similar to the year-ago level, and compares with the five-year average of 4 percent combined and 8 percent swathed or ready to straight-combine at this time of year.

Most of the province had fairly good growing conditions in the past week, although rain is needed in some areas to help fill the crops, the report said.

Harvest operations were most advanced in the southwestern and southeastern regions of the province. In the southwest, 4 percent of the winter wheat and 2 percent of the fall rye, field peas and lentils had been combined, according to the government. In the southeast, 3 percent of the winter wheat, 4 percent of the fall rye and 2 percent of the lentils have been combined.

Topsoil moisture conditions improved during the week, according to the report. Cropland topsoil moisture was rated as 71 percent adequate, 24 percent short and 4 percent very short, while hay and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are rated as 57 percent adequate, 35 percent short and 8 percent very short.

Grasshoppers, pea aphids and dry conditions caused the majority of crop damage, although lodging of crops occurred in some areas due to heavy rains and high winds.