The end of the 2023 harvest is on the horizon.
The most recent crop report from the provincial Ministry of Agriculture, released Thursday morning, showed that 79 per cent of the harvest has wrapped up in southeast Saskatchewan. This is above the five-year average of 74 per cent and is just behind the rest of the province, which is 82 per cent complete.
Dry conditions over the past week helped the producers in the field, working to get things wrapped up as the nights get cooler and the days get shorter. The minimal rain in the past week, though, has meant topsoil moisture is getting limited. The report shows that 30 per cent of cropland is rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, with 43 per cent rated short and 27 per cent very short. There is 29 per cent of hay and pasture land rated adequate, with 43 per cent short and 28 per cent very short.
Pastures aren’t faring well overall, with just nine per cent reported as being in good condition, and 29 per cent rated fair. Another 40 per cent are rated as poor, and 22 per cent very poor.
As the producers enter the home stretch, those who aren’t quite finished are out combining, with others applying post-harvest herbicides. Other producers are moving bales, feed and water for animals.
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