Farmers in the Northeast running behind schedule

Harvest slowed over the weekend with wet and cool weather in many areas of the province, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report.

Producers are hitting the five-year-average nearly on the head with 84 per cent of crops now in the bin, up 10 per cent from last week, and 12 per cent swathed or ready to straight cut.

Regionally, producers in the southeast are furthest advanced, having 94 per cent of the crop combined, compared to 74 per cent in the northeast.

When it comes to individual crops, 86 per cent of barley, 85 per cent of durum, 84 percent of spring wheat, 81 per cent of canola, 79 per cent of soybeans, 61 per cent of chickpeas, 47 per cent of flax and 45 per cent of canary seed have been combined.

Crop yields are varying region to region but most are within the average range of 37 bushels per acre for spring wheat, 32 bushels per acre for durum, 59 bushels per acre for barley, 34 bushels per acre for canola and 32 bushels per acre for peas.

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Of the hard red spring wheat that has been harvested so far, 27 per cent is expected to fall into the 1CW grade, 41 per cent into 2CW, 23 per cent into 3CW and nine per cent into CW feed.

Here at home

In northeastern Saskatchewan, with Crop District 8, which includes Hudson Bay, Tisdale, Melfort, Carrot River, Humboldt, Kinistino, Cudworth and Aberdeen areas, and Crop District 9, including Prince Albert, Choiceland and Paddockwood, farmers were able to make significant progress before the uncooperative wet weather hit the area.

The amount of crops combined is up 15 per cent from last week. The five-year (2010-2014) average for this time of year is 85 per cent combined, meaning farmers in the area are sitting over 10 per cent behind schedule.

According to the report, producers are looking for many more weeks of warm and dry weather to finish up harvest.

Crop yields in general are considered to be about average but vary throughout the northeast area.

Of the hard red spring wheat that has been harvested so far, 28 per cent is expected to fall into the 1CW grade, 40 per cent into 2CW, 23 per cent into 3CW and nine per cent into CW feed.

Quality remains a concern in some crops due to the wet conditions this fall. Many crops have come off tough and are being placed in aeration as time allows.

Rainfall in the region ranged from trace amounts to 25 mm in the Alvena area. At 484 mm, the Humboldt area holds the regional record for the greatest amount of rainfall since April 1.

Half of the cropland in the area has a surplus of moisture, while the other half is rated as “adequate”. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 27 per cent surplus and 73 per cent adequate. Some fields remain very wet and cannot hold equipment for long periods of time.

Farmers are busy harvesting, working fields and hauling bales.

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