Released on October 22, 2009
Unfavourable weather conditions during the past few weeks have stalled harvest operations in the province, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's Weekly Crop Report.
Harvest is approximately 77 per cent complete. The five-year average (2004-2008) for this time of year is 94 per cent complete. Last year at this time, Saskatchewan farmers had 97 per cent of the crop in the bin. Farmers are trying to combine tough and damp crops when they can, which is sometimes only an hour or two a day. Fourteen per cent of the crops are in the swath and six per cent are ready to straight-combine.
Seventy-six per cent of the spring wheat, 87 per cent of the durum, 59 per cent of the oats, 85 per cent of the barley, 30 per cent of the flax, 66 per cent of the canola, 87 per cent of the mustard, 50 per cent of the canary seed, 80 per cent of the chickpeas and two per cent of the sunflowers have been combined. All regions of the province still have crop in the field.
Province-wide, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 20 per cent surplus, 63 per cent adequate, 16 per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are rated as eight per cent surplus, 66 per cent adequate, 21 per cent short and five per cent very short.
Snow, rain and wind were the major causes of crop damage last week. The recent weather conditions have caused bleaching, sprouting, lodging and shattering. There are also reports of wildlife damage (caused primarily by geese) in the swaths. Where possible, farmers are trying to control weeds, hauling grain and bales, fixing fences and testing soil.
Producers are doing what they can to get the crop off the field.
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For more information, contact:
Grant McLean
Agriculture
Moose Jaw
Phone: 306-694-3592