With pop up thundershowers over the last week, harvest is on hold for some locales in east central Saskatchewan. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture’s weekly crop report details that harvest has started in the province, particularly in the southeast and southwest corners.
Areas east of Humboldt received considerable rainfall that will push back harvest start times but benefit late seeded crops. The Kuroki area received the highest rainfall amounts will 55 mm falling in some locales. Farms close to Wadena saw around 48 mm while Kelvington area received approximately 36 mm.
Rose Valley and Middle Lake areas were not far behind with 35 mm recorded.
The provincial harvest is 6 percent complete with the greatest progress in the southwest, sitting at 16 percent finished. The southeast is next with 11 percent in the bin. East central and northeast zone farmers are waiting for the aforementioned rains to dry, but barring more wet weather, the harvest is expected to be under way next week.
Other than the impact of local rainfall, the province has seen generally dry weather, and that means topsoil moisture continues to diminish. Cropland topsoil moisture is currently 29 per cent adequate, 48 per cent short and 23 per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 24 per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and 29 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is 16 per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and 37 per cent very short.
That lack of rainfall has some livestock producers concerned about water availability. Provincially, one per cent of livestock water supplies are severely short, 31 per cent are moderately short, 22 per cent are anticipated to be short in the next couple months and 47 per cent are not expected to be short for the foreseeable future.
The Ag Ministry reminds everyone that harvest is a busy time in Saskatchewan, and everyone is reminded to prioritize safety this fall. The Farm Stress Line is a toll-free number that producers can use to help manage their stress during this busy time, which can be reached at 1-800-667-4442.
Producers should be aware of physical hazards such as fire, powerlines, etc. and take preventative measures to avoid incidents. The public is reminded that there is more heavy equipment traffic on roads during harvest, and to be patient by giving machinery extra time and space.