A stretch of warm and relatively dry weather allowed most producers to return to the field and resume harvest activities last week.

Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report shows 39% of the Provincial crop is now in the bin, that’s up from 23% last week but still well behind the five-year average of 62% for this time of year.

Crops Extension Specialist Shannon Friesen says most of our delays actually come from the fact that either the crop itself is not mature enough, or it hasn’t been able to dry down due to all the showers we have been having.

“Grain dryers and aeration have been going constant in some areas for several weeks now and of course we do expect that to continue throughout the fall and likely into the winter.”

At this point 94% of the fall rye has been combined, 93% of the winter wheat, 89% of the field peas, 88% of the lentils, 59% of the barley, 48% of the durum, 36% of the mustard, 31% of the spring wheat and 17% of the canola is now in the bin. An additional 61% of the canola and 19% of the mustard is swathed or ready to straight-cut. 

“The recent rains are causing sprouting, bleaching and staining to show up in the crop, which is resulting in downgrading of the crop at the elevator.” 

Harvest in the southwest is now at about 58% complete. The west-central region has 46% complete, the southeast is at 40%. The northeast region at 31% combined, the northwest at 23% and the east-central region at 22 per cent.

She notes with more rain, snow and frost in the forecast for this weekend, the weather will continue to delay and no doubt downgrade the harvest.