The most recent crop report for Saskatchewan is showing that the province is seeing harvest begin for some crops.
With a lack of moisture and hot weather in plenty of areas, some early cereals such as winter wheat and fall rye are ready for harvest with farmers already in the fields.
Crop Extension Specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture Meghan Rosso talks about the conditions that led to that.
"Crops continue to rapidly advance with increased temperatures and lack of moisture experienced throughout much of the province over the past week. Conditions have led to a further decline in yield potential for many crops, although any moisture received would be too late for advanced crops. Producers do indicate that moisture would still be beneficial for later seeded crops to help with grain fill, along with supporting pasture regrowth moving into the fall."
Currently, the province sits at 2 per cent complete, which actually aligns with both the five and ten-year averages.
Rosso lays out the harvest's progress so far by crop.
"In the areas that have started harvest, producers have been working on taking off their winter cereals and pulse crops. Provincially, fall rye is 15 per cent harvested, followed by winter wheat at 12 per cent harvested, 9 per cent of field peas have been harvested, and 8 per cent of lentils have been harvested currently across the province."
Moisture levels also fell this week with only a few areas seeing any moisture.
"Rain was a variable over the past week with many areas receiving little to no rainfall, so we did see some declines in topsoil moisture this week. Provincially, crop on topsoil moisture is rated as 29 per cent adequate, 53 per cent short and 18 percent very short. Hay land topsoil moisture is reported at 27 per cent adequate, 51 per cent short, and 22 per cent very short. As we look to topsoil moisture for pastures, we're sitting at 20 per cent adequate, 50 per cent short and 30 per cent very short."
Crop damage is continuing across the province from a variety of sources.
"The lack of moisture and heat continues to be the main cause of crop damage across the province. Wind, aphids, and grasshoppers also caused crop damage over the past week, with varying degrees of damage reported across the province, and as producers monitor canola as it matures, they are starting to observe claritin, a stem rot emerging in their fields, along with aborted pod development due to the extreme heat encountered during flowering."
Rosso reminds farmers to stick by all safety precautions as the stressful harvest season gets underway for them.