Saskatchewan farmers have a lot to be thankful for this year, as most are wrapping up harvest operations.
According to the latest crop report, 96 per cent of the crop is now combined. This is up from 89 per cent last week. The five-year (2015-2019) average for this time of year is just 76 per cent.
Harvest is most advanced in the southwest region where combining is virtually complete with 99 per cent of the crop in the bin. The southeast and west-central regions both have 98 per cent combined, followed by the northeast region at 93 per cent, the east-central region at 92 per cent, and the northwest at 91 per cent.
Ninety-nine per cent of chickpeas and barley, 97 per cent of spring wheat, 95 per cent of oats, 92 per cent of canola, 86 per cent of flax, and 81 per cent of soybeans have been combined.
Estimated average crop yields at this time are 46 bushels per acre for hard red spring wheat, 38 bushels per acre for durum, 66 bushels per acre for barley, 36 bushels per acre for canola, 39 bushels per acre for field peas, and 1,487 pounds per acre for lentils. The yields are around average and are relatively similar to estimates reported in early September.
Spring wheat grades are estimated as 64 per cent 1 CW, 29 per cent 2 CW, six per cent 3 CW, and one per cent CW feed.
There was very little rainfall received throughout the province this week. As a result, most areas continue to deal with a shortage of topsoil moisture.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 31 per cent adequate, 41 per cent short, and 28 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 22 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short, and 42 per cent very short.
A complete, printable version of the crop report is available online.
