Harvest operations have already begun in some parts of the province, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly crop report.
As crops continue to mature in the next few weeks, most producers will begin to harvest. Some crops are one-to-two weeks behind in development and this may be of concern depending on weather during harvest.
Scattered rainfall covered parts of the province this week with some storms bringing hail. The moisture has helped later-seeded crops fill and replenish topsoil moisture. Rainfall ranged from trace amounts to 94 mm in the Porcupine Plain area.
Provincially, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as one per cent surplus, 60 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and three per cent very short. Topsoil moisture on hay land and pasture is rated as one per cent surplus, 48 per cent adequate, 41 per cent short and 10 per cent very short.
Across the province, pasture conditions are rated as four per cent excellent, 28 per cent good, 45 per cent fair, 19 per cent poor and four per cent very poor. Additional rainfall would be beneficial for the pastures as they mature before harvest.
The majority of crop damage this week was from strong winds, hail, localized flooding, insects and a lack of moisture. There are reports of ascochyta blight causing significant damage in chickpea crops in the southern regions.
Producers are haying, hauling bales and getting ready for harvest.
