November 27, 2009

Saskatchewan government says grain, oilseed harvest 99 percent complete

Favourable weather conditions allowed producers in Saskatchewan to move grain and oilseed harvest operations to the 99 percent complete level as of Nov. 24, according to a crop update from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.

The harvest in the southern and west-central regions was mostly complete while the northeastern and northwestern regions of the province have 95 percent and 97 percent of the crop in the bin, respectively, the report said. Some flax, oats and canola were still being harvested in these regions.

The northeast part of the province has 73 percent of the flax combined, while the northwestern and east-central regions have 95 percent and 93 percent of the flax harvested.

An estimated 95 percent of the canola was combined in the two northern regions.

The oat crop was 95 percent harvested in the northeast and 93 percent harvested in the northwest, the report said.

An estimated 25 percent of the sunflower crop has been harvested in the province. Traditionally, sunflowers are the last crop to be harvested, and crops are frequently taken off the field after the snow has fallen, the report said.

Farmers in the province were busy combining, drying grain, baling straw, hauling bales, cleaning corrals and bringing cattle home from the pastures, the report said.