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Dry weather across much of Saskatchewan last week gave farmers a chance to make strong progress on harvest, but the province still lags behind seasonal averages. According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report, 23 per cent of this year’s crop has been combined, up from 11 per cent the week before. Despite the jump, harvest remains behind the five-year average of 40 per cent and the 10-year average of 34 per cent.
The southern half of the province continues to lead the way, with 39 per cent of the southwest crop and 33 per cent of the southeast crop already in the bin. Progress slows moving north, where the east-central region—which includes Humboldt—is sitting at 16 per cent, the northeast at 13 per cent, and the northwest at 12 per cent. The west-central region trails furthest behind with just 10 per cent complete.
For producers in the Humboldt area, harvest has only really taken off in the last week.
“The Humboldt area and the east-central in general have been one of the last places in the province to really get going with harvest,” said Crop Extension Specialist Tyce Masich. “Harvest in the Humboldt area is about 16 per cent complete and, of course, that’s behind the five- and 10-year averages.”
Masich explained that delayed maturity is one of the key factors in the later-than-usual start.
“With the growing season we had, we had a lot of moisture that caused delayed maturity and there are a few other factors that contributed to this. Producers really started to get harvesting, I would say, a week ago it really got into full swing. Right now, they’re mainly working on harvesting their pea and lentil crops and also starting with their spring cereals.”
Producers are feeling the pinch of being behind schedule, with shorter days and cooler weather approaching.
“If I had to put a number on it, I’d say we’re probably a week to 10 days behind where we typically are,” Masich noted. “Producers are noticing they’re really in crunch time right now to get the crops off because there’s still a lot of harvest to do.”
In the northeast, which borders the Humboldt region, barley and oats are leading the way for spring cereal harvest, with 36 per cent and 12 per cent removed, respectively. Most oilseed crops have yet to mature, and canola harvest is still likely a week to 10 days away for much of the province.
Moisture conditions remain generally favourable, though they slipped slightly last week. Cropland topsoil is rated at 81 per cent adequate, while hayland is 71 per cent adequate and pasture is 70 per cent adequate.
There have been scattered reports of wildlife feeding on swathed crops across Saskatchewan, but Masich said damage so far has been minor.
“It’s pretty typical that we do see some damage from that, but again, it’s only been a few reports—nothing widespread or too damaging at this point by any means.”
While progress is being made, the Humboldt area, like most of central and northern Saskatchewan, will need several more good stretches of weather to catch up with southern regions.