Saskatchewan farmers are gearing up for an above-average harvest this fall, as a week of warm, dry weather was followed by cool, windy and rainy weather from Saturday evening through to Tuesday. In the first pre-harvest estimate of this year's crops, Saskatchewan Agriculture predicts farmers will harvest 26.9 million tonnes of grain, oilseeds and specialty crops, which is 14 per cent above the 10-year average for production. The Canadian Wheat Board is estimating that western Canada will produce 38 million tonnes of wheat, durum and barley, the highest level in the last five years. The greatest concern at this point is for the delayed development of crops; in the southeast area, including Crop District 2A around the Weyburn region, crops remain as much as two to three weeks behind in development to where they should be at this time in August.

Crop reporters rate three-quarters of spring cereals as behind, and similarly 78 per cent of oilseeds and 66 per cent of fall cereals. The warm weather has helped crops do some catching up, and the recent rain should improve topsoil moisture conditions.

Fall cereal crops are beginning to ripen, canola and peas are podding, and many cereals have headed out, although in some areas cereals are just starting to head.

Crop conditions remain very good to excellent for most area crops, with all crops maintaining or improving their condition this past two weeks, with the exception of spring wheat, sunflowers, peas and chickpeas.

Damages to crops were reported from insects, particularly grasshoppers, flea beetles and saw flies, while in district 2A there was wind and hail damage reported to some crops, including lodging. Haying operations are continuing, with Sask. Ag estimating about 78 per cent baled or silaged in the southeast area and 12 per cent lying in swath; this is up from 62 per cent the previous week. Also, some very preliminary harvesting has begun in fall rye, canola, mustard and lentils, with one-half of one per cent swathed or ready for straight-combining. One year ago at this time, four per cent of the 2003 crop had been combined with nine per cent swathed, and 96 per cent of the hay crop baled.