Released on September 30, 1996
Wet weather has limited harvest operations this past week, according toSaskatchewan Agriculture and Food's weekly crop report.
Only an additional one per cent of the 1996 crop was harvested during
the past week, bringing the harvest to 53 per cent complete, up from 52
per cent the previous week. This is below the five-year (1991-95)
average of 73 per cent.
Combining of spring wheat is 50 per cent complete, durum 57 per cent
complete, oats 42 per cent complete, barley 61 per cent complete, and
spring rye 94 per cent complete. Harvest progress reported for
oilseeds indicates that six per cent of flax and 57 per cent of canola
have been combined. Specialty crop harvest progress shows 71 per cent
of mustard, 80 per cent of lentils and peas, and 14 per cent of the
canary seed are in the bin.
The past week's wet, cool weather continued into the weekend when many
areas received some snow flurries. Weather-related crop damage,
including wind, frost and rain, was reported in most areas of the
province.
With only an additional one per cent of the spring wheat harvested this
past week, the quality estimates for harvested grain have changed very
little. Of the spring wheat that has been harvested, 78 per cent is
expected to grade No. 1 Canada Western (CW), 16 per cent 2 CW, five per
cent 3 CW and one per cent Canada Feed. These estimates are expected
to decline once harvest resumes as unharvested crops will have suffered
some quality damage because of the weather.
Killing frosts were reported in many areas of the grainbelt during the
past week. Damage estimates are not available, but the last-seeded,
immature crops will suffer the most damage. Ducks and geese are a
problem in the southeast, the west central and the northwest regions.
Farmers have begun fall field operations, including tillage, chemical
application and deep-banding.
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For more information, contact:
Terry Karwandy
Agricultural Economist
Statistics Branch
Agriculture and Food
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-5956