Cool, persistent weather slowed harvest activity across Saskatchewan during the week ending Aug. 10, leaving the province with only 2 per cent of its crop gathered, provincial agriculture officials reported Aug. 13.
Progress well below long‑term average
While the 2 per cent completion rate is an improvement on this time last year — about double the pace of 2025 — it still represents just a third of the province’s five‑year average. Most farming areas have yet to begin significant harvest work.
The report shows the greatest movement in the southwest, where roughly 5 per cent of crops have been taken off fields. The southeast and east‑central regions reported limited progress at 1 per cent each. In the remainder of the province, harvest operations were largely on hold.
Harvest by crop — uneven starts
Crops are being collected at very different rates. Winter wheat and fall rye have seen the most activity, with 15 per cent and 20 per cent completed respectively. Spring cereals and pulses are moving more slowly; triticale leads spring cereals at 34 per cent harvested, while spring wheat and canaryseed were at 1 per cent and barley at 4 per cent.
Durum and several other spring crops remained untouched in most areas. No harvesting had begun for canola, flax, mustard or soybeans, and chickpea harvest had not started.
| Crop | Percent harvested |
|---|---|
| Winter wheat | 15% |
| Fall rye | 20% |
| Triticale | 34% |
| Barley | 4% |
| Oats | 3% |
| Spring wheat | 1% |
| Canaryseed | 1% |
| Field peas | 5% |
| Lentils | 2% |
Hay, silage and moisture concerns
Haying and silage operations were reported with a range of yields depending on moisture and irrigation. Dryland alfalfa averaged about 1.9 tonnes per acre, while greenfield alfalfa yielded roughly 2.8 tonnes per acre. Where irrigation is available, alfalfa yields rose to 3.9 t/ac and greenfield yields to 6.6 t/ac. Silage yields were reported at 7 tonnes per acre.
Despite some pockets of rain, topsoil moisture across the province is trending drier. The report breaks moisture by land use:
- Cropland: 48% adequate, 43% short, 8% very short
- Hayland: 49% adequate, 42% short, 8% very short
- Pastures: 39% adequate, 46% short, 14% very short
What this means for farmers and markets
The slow start to harvest could compress the window for combining as weather finally turns favourable, increasing pressure on equipment and labour when field work does ramp up. For farmers carrying late‑season disease or sprouting risk, delayed harvest can affect quality and market premiums. Buyers and grain companies often watch early harvest samples closely for protein and grade indicators; uneven starts across regions mean market information will roll in gradually.
Producers planning fieldwork should continue to track local weather forecasts and maintain communication with grain buyers and custom harvesters. For those with irrigated acres, the higher yields shown where water is available underline the value of access to moisture this season.
Daily market information and ongoing updates are available through agricultural outlets and market desks that follow prairie grain movement and prices.
As harvest moves from pockets into broader activity, the pace will be shaped by warming trends, precipitation timing and the condition of both fields and machinery across the province.
