The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture released its final crop report of the year, summing up the final week from October 15 to 21.
As of now, producers across Saskatchewan have finished up the harvest with 100 per cent of the crop in the bin.
Early into the season in May and June, many areas received above-average rainfall which could have led to a later harvest. However, hot and dry conditions caused crops to rapidly mature which caused harvest to take place earlier than expected.
Harvest began in the southwest and southeast regions in early August, with those areas able to get all of their crops off and have a good amount of fieldwork done before freeze-up.
Most crops saw a good start to the year thanks to the above average moisture, though the hot and dry conditions over the summer did cause a loss in yield potential.
Overall, yields in Saskatchewan were above the 10-year average for most crops, but regional yields vary based on rainfall received during critical parts of the growing season. The only crops that yielded lower than the 10-year average were durum, oats, canola and mustard.
- Winter wheat averaged 46 bushels per acre,
- fall rye averaged 52 bushels per acre,
- hard red spring wheat averaged 46 bushels per acre,
- other spring wheat varieties averaged 52 bushels per acre,
- durum averaged 33 bushels per acre,
- barley averaged 63 bushels per acre,
- oats averaged 79 bushels per acre,
- canary seed averaged 1,340 pounds per acre,
- Flax averaged 23 bushels per acre,
- Mustard crops averaged 837 bushels per acre,
- canola yields averaged 33 bushels per acre,
- field pea yields averaged 36 bushels per acre,
- soybeans averaged 30 bushels per acre,
- lentils averaged 1,306 pounds per acre, and
- chickpeas averaged 1,319 pounds per acre.
Most of the high-acreage crops in Saskatchewan ended up with a grade in the top two categories, indicating good overall crop quality.
- Canola graded at 89 per cent 1 CAN and nine per cent 2 CAN.
- Hard red spring wheat graded at Sixty per cent 1 CW category while another 31 per cent graded in the 2 CW category.
- Lentil and field pea grades are very similar as 43 per cent of field peas and 40 per cent of lentils fall in the 1 CAN grade, with 50 per cent of lentil and field pea crops are rated as 2 CAN.
The average silage yield did drop this year down to 6.37 tons per acre, which is lower than the seven tons per acre reported last year. The east-central and southern regions experienced above-average yields while average yields in west-central and northern regions were below the provincial average.
Hay yields increased this year, with alfalfa averaging 1.78 tons per acre, brome hay averaging 1.79 tons per acre, and green feed averaging 2.25 tons per acre. Under irrigation, yields for alfalfa were 3.36 tons per acre, 3.25 tons per acre for brome hay, and 3.57 tons per acre for green feed.
Current topsoil moisture conditions are in a decent place heading into the winter.
Provincial cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 49 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and seven per cent very short. For provincial hayland, topsoil moisture is 42 per cent adequate, 45 per cent short and 13 per cent very short.
Pasture topsoil moisture around the province is 37 per cent adequate, 45 per cent short and 18 per cent very short.