Producers across southeast Saskatchewan took full advantage of warm and dry conditions last week, making significant progress on the 2025 harvest.
According to the latest crop report from the provincial Ministry of Agriculture for the week ending August 25th, harvest is now 14 per cent complete in the region. This marks a substantial leap from the previous week, where progress sat at just four per cent. Farmers were busy combining winter cereals, pulses, and some early spring wheat crops.
The southeast is also second furthest along with the harvest, behind the southwest, which is 23 per cent complete, and ahead of the east and west-central regions, which are at 11 and six per cent, respectively.
Winter cereals are leading the way, with approximately two-thirds of the crop now in the bin. Harvest is 70 per cent complete for fall rye and 65 per cent for winter wheat. On the quality front, the southeast boasts some of the best winter wheat in the province, with 42 per cent grading 1 Canada Western and 51 per cent grading 2 Canada Western.
Pulse crops are also well underway, with 59 per cent of field peas and 53 per cent of lentils combined. Chickpeas are lagging at 16 per cent complete. Harvest is just beginning for spring cereals, with progress sitting at 18 per cent for barley and 15 per cent for both durum and oats. Oilseed crops are not yet ready to be combined.
The dry weather does have a downside, as topsoil moisture levels have slightly decreased. Rain was minimal, with the Saltcoats area receiving 11 mm and the Rocanville and Langenburg areas seeing 10 mm. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 74 per cent adequate, but conditions are drier for hay and pasture land.
Most crop damage reported was minor and caused by hot temperatures and strong winds, with a few isolated reports of hail and wildlife damage. Pasture conditions in the southeast remain stable, with 57 per cent rated as good and 29 per cent as fair.