Crop Report: Heavy rain stalls harvest across west-central Saskatchewan

Harvest continues to lag well behind normal across west-central Saskatchewan after widespread rainfall brought combines and other field work to a halt.

According to the latest Saskatchewan Crop Report, covering Sept. 1 to 7, harvest in the west-central region reached 25 per cent complete. That compares with the five-year average of 59 per cent and the 10-year average of 51 per cent for this time of year.

The west-central region includes Census Division 12, covering the Biggar, Delisle, Rosetown and Sonningdale areas, and Census Division 13, which includes Cut Knife, Kerrobert, Kindersley, Macklin, Plenty and Wilkie.

Census Division 12 was 27 per cent harvested as of Sept. 7, while Census Division 13 was slightly further behind at 24 per cent.

Rain fell throughout the region during the reporting period, delaying harvest operations and other field work. The largest amount was reported in the RM of Marriott, which received 98 millimetres. The RM of Milton recorded 86 mm, while the RM of Fertile Valley received 74 mm.

The significant rainfall also boosted topsoil moisture levels. Cropland moisture was rated 20 per cent surplus, 77 per cent adequate and three per cent short. Hayland moisture was nine per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate and five per cent short, while pasture moisture was eight per cent surplus, 87 per cent adequate and five per cent short.

Despite the wet conditions, producers continued to make some harvest progress, particularly with pulse crops, durum and spring wheat.

Winter wheat harvest is complete in the region, while 90 per cent of fall rye has been harvested.

Among spring cereals, barley is 52 per cent harvested, followed by oats at 39 per cent, durum at 18 per cent and spring wheat at 13 per cent. Triticale harvest is complete.

Pulse crops remain much further advanced, with 82 per cent of lentils and 80 per cent of field peas now in the bin.

Progress in oilseeds varies considerably. Soybeans are reported at 61 per cent harvested, while canola is at 15 per cent, mustard at 10 per cent and flax at just two per cent.

Heavy rain and wind were responsible for much of the crop damage reported during the week. Producers are expressing concerns about grain quality, including bleaching and lodging.

With harvest already significantly behind its normal pace, producers across west-central Saskatchewan are hoping for an extended stretch of warm, dry weather to get combines back into the fields.