The finish line is within sight for producers across Saskatchewan, as the province reports over 90 per cent of this year’s harvest has now been completed. In its update for Oct. 6 to Oct. 12, the province reported 93 per cent of crops are off the field. Rain and snow over the Thanksgiving long weekend have slowed efforts to get fall field work completed and the remaining crops in the bin. The southwest and west-central regions are the most ahead at 98 and 97 per cent complete followed by the east central and northwest regions at 91 per cent. The northeast and southeast lag behind at 89 per cent completion. The highest precipitation was reported in the Coalfields area at 28 millimetres (mm), followed by Mount Pleasant and Enniskillen with 24 mm and Indian Head with 22 mm. In terms of topsoil moisture, the vast majority of cropland, hayland and pasture land is reported as adequate at 88, 87 and 81 per cent respectively. All winter cereals have been completed, while mustard leads the oilseeds at 98 per cent, followed by canola (89 per cent), soybeans (53 per cent), and flax (73 per cent). Triticale remains the only spring cereal fully harvested, with the rest of the varieties ranging between 97 per cent and 88 per cent complete. Pulse crops such as lentils, field peas and chickpeas remain at 99 and 98 per cent. Crop yields have not changed drastically since the previous crop report, remaining at or above historical averages for most crop types. Cereal yield estimates are: Pulse crop yield estimates are: Oilseed crop yield estimates are: Minor crop damages have been reported in the form of wind, frost and waterfowl – while flooding and wildlife were identified in various reports. However, the province says damage remains limited and is not considered “significant.” The full report can be found here.
