Saskatchewan Harvest Nears Completion at Approximately 2-3% Yield
This week, rapid progress was made in the Saskatchewan fields thanks to warm and dry weather conditions, with nearly two-thirds of the agricultural products harvested. The weekly agricultural report published on Thursday indicated that as of Monday, the overall harvest across the province was 61% complete. This represents an increase from 42% a week earlier and is significantly above the five and ten-year averages of 50% and 46% respectively. However, the harvest is still 7% behind compared to last year. The southwest region is leading in harvest progress, with 85% completed as of Monday. The southeast and west-central regions are at 65% and 54%, respectively. The northwest is 49% complete, while the east-central and northeast regions stand at 46% and 34%.
The harvest of winter cereals, triticale, lentils, and pulses is nearly complete. As of Monday, 83% of these crops had been harvested, with barley at 70%, spring wheat at 60%, oats at 53%, and canary seed at 32%. Chickpeas have reached 76% of the harvest completion. For oilseed crops, mustard is at 84%, canola at 28%, and flax at 22%. Producers have reported that crop yields and quality across the province continue to fluctuate due to scattered rainfall received throughout the growing season. “While some producers report good crop quality, the number of those concerned about light product weights and small seed sizes is rising,” it was noted. Surface soil moisture conditions continue to decline due to hot and dry weather. As of Monday, topsoil moisture was rated as 1% excessive, 33% adequate, 43% short, and 23% very short. Additionally, it was indicated that significant rainfall is needed in many areas to improve pasture conditions.
The main causes of crop damage last week were wind and migratory birds. Increased reports of grasshoppers in certain areas along with light to moderate expected crop damage were noted.
Southeast: Producers in the region made significant harvest progress last week, with the harvest currently at 65% complete, up from 47% the previous week. This is above both the five and ten-year averages of 55%. Producers are also heavily engaged in activities such as straw baling, transporting bales, and harvesting and drying late-planted crops. Some producers have completed their harvest and have begun fall fieldwork, which includes tillage and post-harvest weed control. Limited rainfall was recorded across the region last week, with the Wilcox area reporting the highest at 6 mm and the Southey area receiving 5 mm. Most other areas received less than 3 mm of rainfall, with many places reporting no precipitation at all. Due to insufficient rainfall and rising temperatures, surface soil moisture continues to diminish in the region. Currently, topsoil moisture for agricultural land is rated at 2% excessive, 53% adequate, 37% short, and 8% very short.
Source: Tarım Haberleri
John Peterson graduated with a degree in Agricultural Sciences from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. His specialization is in sustainable crop production and soil health management. John is passionate about integrating modern technology with traditional farming methods to enhance productivity while preserving the environment. He currently works as a consultant, helping farmers adopt sustainable practices.