WEATHER LIMITED HARVEST OPERATIONS

Released on October 12, 1999

Cool, damp weather slowed harvest progress during the past week, according to

Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food's weekly crop report.



Combining progress now stands at 88 per cent. This compares to 99 per cent

complete at this time last year and the five-year (1994-98) average of 95 per

cent. Harvest is further advanced than 1996 when only 78 per cent of the crop

had been harvested by this time.



Combining of all crops, with the exception of oats, flax, sunflowers, and

canary seed, is at least 85 per cent. All crop districts, with the exception

of the southeast corner, are at least 70 per cent complete. Harvest completion

ranges from 100 per cent complete in the southwest, to two-thirds complete in

the southeast. Yield estimates continue to point to an above-average crop in

1999.



Frost, cloud and showers made for a tough harvest week for many areas. Much of

the grain that was combined was taken off damp and will need to be dried. Fall

work is continuing around harvest operations, including fertilizer and chemical

application, rock picking, tillage, baling, hauling bales and cattle work.

Many areas, except southeastern and east central regions, require rain before

much fall work can be done.



Eighty-nine per cent of the spring wheat crop has been harvested and 52 per

cent of that is expected to grade No. 1 Canada Western (CW). This is slightly

below the 10-year (1989-98) average of 54 per cent. Twenty-six per cent is

expected to grade 2 CW, 14 per cent 3 CW and eight per cent Canada Feed.



Frost continued to be reported as the main cause of crop damage. Wind, damp

weather and waterfowl account for much of the rest of the reported damage.



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For more information, contact:



Terry Karwandy

Agriculture Economist

Statistics Branch

Agriculture and Food

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-5956