Sask. harvest progress slowed due to rain, thunderstorms

WATCH: Harvest in Saskatchewan is a bit behind schedule due to recent thunderstorms and humid mornings, according to the provincial crop report.

Harvest in Saskatchewan hit a bit of a roadblock in the past week – with a scourge of showers and thunderstorms passing through the province.

From Aug. 12 to Aug. 18, humid mornings made for short days of harvest and poor weather for desiccation. Increased temperatures are needed to speed up crop maturity, according to the province.

The Yorkton area recorded the most rainfall during the week – with 95 millimetres (mm). The Swan Plain and Calder areas reported 78 mm and 76 mm, respectively.

Harvest progress lags behind the province’s five- and 10-year averages – standing at just three per cent as of the 18th.

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Saskatchewan’s southwest continues to lead in getting crops off the field, as farmers in that region report eight per cent completion.

The southeast comes in second at four per cent, while the east-central region is only two per cent complete. The west-central, northeast, and northwest parts of the province are all currently at one per cent completion.

Winter wheat and fall rye and stand at 46 and 44 per cent complete, while 34 per cent of triticale is in the bin.

Field peas and lentils lead the progress bar for spring-seeded crops with 12 per cent and 17 per cent completion, respectively.

For cereal crops, barley leads at eight per cent, followed by durum (five per cent), oats (two per cent), and spring wheat (one per cent).

The steady rainfall did wonders for top-soil moisture in most areas. Cropland moisture is described as 80 per cent adequate, while hay land reports 73 per cent adequate. Pasture topsoil is still the lowest, with 67 per cent adequate.

Crop damages for the week were mainly due to bertha armyworms. Spraying occurred in the central and north regions of the province. Grasshoppers are beginning to be noted across the province as well.

Crop lodging due to wind damage, hail and localized flooding in the south was also reported.

The full report can be read here.