September 10, 2008

Saskatchewan harvest delayed by bad weather

Harvest operations in Saskatchewan were delayed during the past week due to cool, wet weather conditions, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly crop report for the period ended September 7.

Provincially, only 22 percent of Saskatchewan crops have been harvested, compared to 20 percent the previous week and last year at this time when 56 percent of the crops had been put in the bins. The harvest pace was also behind the five-year average of 49 percent, the report said.

Farmers in southwest Saskatchewan had 36 percent of their crops off the fields, followed by southeast Saskatchewan at 30 percent. Harvest operations were furthest behind in the northwest section of the province, where only 10 percent of the combining was completed.

According to the report, current yield estimates continue to suggest above average provincial production. However, the cool, wet weather is beginning to takes its toll on crop quality. Staining, bleaching, sprouting and lodging were all cited as problems by crop reporters.

It is estimated that of the 19 percent of barley that had been harvested throughout the province, 49 percent will grade malt quality. That is well above the ten-year average of 32 percent grading malt barley.