CROP REPORT: Combining kicks off

Aug 16, 2015 | 12:54 PM

Combining is now underway for farmers in the province.

So far, four per cent of crops are combined and five per cent of crops are swathed or ready to straight-cut combine, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report.

Sixty-two per cent of fall rye, 34 per cent of winter wheat, 19 per cent of field peas and 17 per cent of lentils are now in the bin. About five per cent of canola and mustard are swathed.

According to the report, warn and fairly dry conditions are aiding crops in fast growth.

Thanks to recent rains, 72 per cent of topsoil moisture conditions have been rated as adequate.

Haying continues as the weather allows.

The estimated average dryland hay yields are 0.9 tons per acre for alfalfa, 1.1 tons per acre for alfalfa/brome hay, 1.4 tons per acre for greenfeed, 0.8 tons per acre for other tame hay and the same for wild hay. This year, the yields are all well below average. Alfalfa and alfalfa/brome hay both have a five year average yield of 1.72 tons per acre. The five year average for other tame hay is 1.4 tons per acre and for wild hay it’s 1.26 tons per acre. For green feed, the five year average yield is 2.14 tons per acre.

The estimated average hay yields on irrigated land are around 2.6 tons per acre for alfalfa, the same as the five year average, 2.9 tons per acre for alfalfa/brome hay, compared to a five year average of 2.64, 2.6 tons per acre for other tame hay, with a five year average for 3.1, and 2.8 tons per acre for green feed, compared to the five year average of 3.14.

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