Winnipeg – Cool and wet weather stalled harvest progress in most of Saskatchewan, according to the provincial crop report released Sep. 20.

Sixty-two per cent of the Saskatchewan crop is in the bin, which is ahead of the five-year average of 53 per cent. Twenty-six per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut.

Harvest is most complete in the southwest corner of the province, where 86 percent of the crop is in the bin. There is 84 per cent combined in the southeast, 57 per cent in the west-central and 55 per cent in the east-central. The northeast region is 29 per cent harvested, while the northwest is at 17 per cent done.

The provincial lentil crop is almost completely combined at 96 percent, while 95 percent of Saskatchewan field peas are harvested. Seventy-eight per cent of durum is in the bin, 44 percent of canola and 25 percent of flax is complete.

Rain fell across most of the province, with the largest amounts being reported in the central and northern regions. The northwest region of the province received snow.

Topsoil moisture conditions improved across the province due to the rain. Cropland topsoil is rated at four percent surplus, 40 percent adequate, 37 percent short and 19 percent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is at 31 percent adequate, 38 percent short and 31 percent very short.

Most crop damage this week was due to lodging and rain causing quality loss.