By Alice McFarlane

Wet conditions slow Saskatchewan harvest

Aug 21, 2025 | 2:30 PM

The fields were quiet last week as scattered rainfall, thunderstorms, and humid mornings delayed harvest operations in Saskatchewan.

The crop report for the week of Aug. 12 to 18 had progress as just three per cent complete, which is behind our five and 10-year averages.

Crops Extension Specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture Tyce Masich said farmersneed warmer temperatures so they can get more work done.

“Definitely, harvest is a little behind than in previous years, but still lots of time for a producer to get the crop off, especially if we get the warm and dry conditions that are forecast out over the next week,” he said.

The southwest region leads at eight per cent complete, followed by the southeast at four per cent, the east-central at two per cent, and the west-central, northeast, and northwest parts of the province each at one per cent complete.

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The Yorkton area recorded the most rain at 95 millimetres this past week, followed by the Swan Plain area at 78 mm, and the Calder area had 76 mm.

Topsoil moisture levels are looking good with crop land moisture at eight per cent surplus, 80 per cent adequate, 10 per cent short, and two per cent very short. Hay land moisture is rated at five per cent surplus, 73 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short, and three per cent very short. Pastureland moisture is six per cent surplus, 67 per cent adequate, 24 per cent short, and three per cent very short.

Farmers are working with their winter wheat which is the crop most harvested at 46 per cent, then triticale at 34 per cent. For pulse crops, 17 per cent of field peas and 12 per cent of lentils have been combined. For cereals, barley is eight per cent harvested, durum at five per cent, oats at two per cent, and spring wheat at one per cent. Canola is the only oilseed crop to be harvested at one per cent combined.

As far as crop damage, Masich said it was anything from bugs to environmental issues.

“Bertha armyworms are still causing damage to quite a few canola crops, so producers are continuing to spray for those. There continues to be pockets of grasshoppers which are causing damage to mainly just spring cereal crops across the province,” he said. “But again, damage isn’t quite widespread. Then the rain paired with some strong winds has been causing some crops to lodge, which might make harvest a bit tricky in some of those areas.”

Harvest is a busy time of the year. Farmers and the public are reminded to take extra precautions. For producers, it’s ensuring equipment doesn’t hit power lines and having fire extinguishers or water trucks ready in case of a fire. For the public, it’s giving room on the road for large equipment and being patient.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com