Weather helps Saskatchewan farmers begin harvest

Harvest has started in Saskatchewan.

According to the crop report issued Thursday by the provincial Ministry of Agriculture, farmers in some areas have been desiccating their pulse crops.

The recent stretch of warm weather in Saskatchewan has helped crops reach their normal development stage for this time of year.

Many areas didn’t get any rain over the past week, which could pose a problem if that trend continues. The ministry said precipitation would be welcome, with cereals and pulses in the seed-filling stages.

The lack of rain also reduced topsoil moisture across the province. It’s rated as 57 per cent adequate, 33 per cent short and 10 per cent very short in cropland, and one per cent surplus, 44 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 19 per cent very short in hay and pasture land.

The weather also has affected pasture conditions, which are rated as three per cent excellent, 34 per cent good, 39 per cent fair, 17 per cent poor and seven per cent very poor.

Some crops were damaged by the hot, dry conditions as well as the wind. Insects and diseases also were reported.