Yields good, but quality a concern as harvest moves forward
Producers in western Saskatchewan are getting long enough breaks from the rain to keep the harvest on track, but the moisture continues to take a toll on quality.
According to the crop report for the week ending Sept. 5, 14 per cent of the northwest crop is in the bin, ahead of the five-year average of 12 per cent. The west central area is at 25 per cent, while the five-year average for the region is 23 per cent. Both areas have large additional portions swathed or ready to straight-cut.
Daphne Cruise, regional crops specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture, said the early part of the week was good for combining before wet weather returned.
“But definitely if we can get our four, five days at a time, especially with the way this year has been shaping up to be, I think producers will take it,” she said. “Of course we don’t want any rain at harvest time, but the combines will roll when they can. So that’s kind of what’s been happening, and a lot of progress made in swathing of the crop as well.”