Released on October 16, 2014
Significant harvest progress was made this past week thanks to warm and dry weather, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report. Eighty-nine per cent of the 2014 crop is now combined and eight per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut. This is right in line with the five-year (2009-2013) average of 91 per cent combined and seven per cent swathed or ready to straight-cut.Harvest is furthest advanced in the northwestern region, where 96 per cent of the crop is combined. Ninety-five per cent is combined in the northeastern region; 94 per cent in the southwestern and west-central regions; 83 per cent in the southeastern region; and 79 per cent in the east-central region. Many producers have finished harvest operations while others will need at least another week or more of warm and dry weather.
Ninety-four per cent of lentils, 93 per cent of mustard, 92 per cent of canola, 90 per cent of durum and barley and 88 per cent of spring wheat have been combined.
The majority of the province did not receive any rain this past week, although the Kindersley area reported 12 mm over the weekend. Across the province, topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 11 per cent surplus, 83 per cent adequate, five per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as seven per cent surplus, 82 per cent adequate and 11 per cent short.
Very little crop damage was reported, although high levels of fusarium head blight are being reported in many areas.
Livestock producers are indicating adequate amounts of hay, straw, greenfeed and feed grain for their winter feeding supplies.
Farmers are busy harvesting, hauling bales, moving cattle and completing fall work.
Follow the 2014 Crop Report on Twitter at @SKAgriculture.
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For more information, contact:
Shannon Friesen
Agriculture
Moose Jaw
Phone: 306-694-3592