September 11, 2009

Just over 18 percent of Saskatchewan's grain and oilseed crops were harvested as of Sept. 7, according to a crop update from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.

An additional 19 percent of the various crops have been swathed, with another 6 percent to be straight combined, said the update, released Thursday (September 10).

Last year at this time, an estimated 22 percent of the crop was in the bin. The five-year average is 33 percent harvested.

Warm, dry weather conditions allowed producers to make good harvest progress, the report said. An estimated 65 percent of the lentils, 68 percent of the peas, 75 percent of the winter wheat, 77 percent of the fall rye and 30 percent of the mustard crops have been combined.

The report said 47 percent of the canola is swathed, with 5 percent combined.

The harvest progress was farthest ahead in the southwest region of the province, with 43 percent of the crops on average in the bin. Harvest operations in the northern regions were estimated at about 5 percent done.

Cropland topsoil moisture was rated as 1 percent surplus, 70 percent adequate, 22 percent short and 7 percent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions were reported as 58 percent adequate, 31 percent short and 11 percent very short.

Grasshoppers, wind, sawflies and dry conditions caused the majority of crop damage during the reporting period, the report said. Grasshoppers were feeding on canola and mustard pods in some areas.

Farmers were swathing more of their crops this year to deal with variable maturity and sawfly damage.

A sunny, dry and frost-free weather forecast is needed for the next few weeks to move the crop from the fields to the bins, the report said.