Saskatchewan’s harvest is 61 per cent complete, with the weekly Crop Report from the Ministry of Agriculture saying producers are keeping a close eye on their stored grain due to concerns around bin heating from higher temperatures due to combining.
Crops
The harvest of winter cereals, triticale, lentils and field peas are almost finished. The spring wheat harvest is at 60 per cent complete, and canary seed is 32 per cent harvested.
Cereal
- Durum at 83 per cent
- Barley at 70 per cent
- Oats at 53 per cent
Oilseed
- Mustard at 84 per cent
- Canola at 28 per cent
- Flax at 22 per cent
Chickpeas are getting closer to the finish line, with 76 per cent harvested.
Crop Yield
“There are an increasing number of producers who are concerned with light bushel weights and small seed size for various crops,” the report noted.
- Pea grades are mainly 2 CAN at 58 per cent, with 39 per cent at 1 CAN;
- lentil grades are mainly 2 CAN at 69 per cent, with 25 per cent at 1 CAN;
- Durum grade quality is reported at 28 per cent 1 CW, 36 per cent 2 CW, and 23 per cent 3 CW;
- Quality for barley is reported at 27 per cent malt, 48 per cent 1 CW, and 25 per cent 2 CW/sample.
Rain
The crop report said most of Saskatchewan received less than 10 millimetres of rain during the week ending on Monday, with some areas receiving none at all.
Lots of rain is needed in most areas to replenish moisture, the report noted.
Wind and migratory birds caused most of the crop damage reported in the last week, according to the ministry. Some grasshoppers are being seen in high numbers, and are causing minor-to-moderate crop damage.
While some are focused on harvesting, others have started harrowing and post-harvest spraying to control weeds, among other fall fieldwork.