With the harvest now past the halfway mark, Saskatchewan yield estimates are mostly higher compared to those contained in the Statistics Canada crop production report released late last month.
The regular weekly Saskatchewan crop report Thursday pegged the average barley yield in the province at 53 bu/acre easily topping the StatsCan forecast 44.4 bu. The province’s lentil yield projection of 1,058 lb/acres also beat the federal agency’s 919 lbs, while the dry pea yield estimate came in at 30 bu/bu, nearly 4 bu above StatsCan. Mustard, at 599 lbs/acre, was slightly above StatsCan’s 573 lbs, and the provincial chickpea estimate of 1,071 lbs/acre topped StatsCan as well at 997 lbs.
On the other hand, the crop report pegged the average 2023 canola yield in the province at 31 bu/acre, slightly below the 32.7 bu forecast contained in the StatsCan report. At 23 bu/acre, the province’s average durum yield estimate also came in below the StatsCan projection of 26.5 bu/acre, but spring wheat, at 42 bu, was above the StatsCan forecast of just 35.1 bu/acre.
The StatsCan crop production report, released Aug. 29, was based on satellite imagery and reflected crop conditions as of the end of July. A second more current crop production report will be released by StatsCan Sep. 14.
Today’s report noted diverse growing conditions across the province this year, with varying yields for all crop types. Drought conditions in the southwest have led to yields well below the provincial averages, while moisture received in the northeast has led to above average yields, it said. (See regional yield estimates below)
The overall Saskatchewan harvest was pegged at 51% complete as of Monday, up from 33% a week earlier and ahead of the five- and 10-year averages of 34% and 33%.
The southwest continues to lead harvest progress at 81% complete, including an estimated 3% of all crops being used as a feed source. Harvest in the west central region is also rapidly advancing, with 60% of the crop in the bin as of Sunday. The southeast is close to the halfway point at 49% complete. The northwest made significant progress this past week and is now 21% complete.
Harvesting of fall cereals is now completed, with lentils 91% and peas 92% complete. Significant progress is also being made in all spring cereals, with durum leading at 73% harvested, followed by barley at 68%, spring wheat at 50% and oats at 36%. Mustard continues to lead the progress in oilseeds, with 68% of the crop off, followed by canola at 23%, flax at 14% and soybeans at 31%. Canaryseed and chickpeas are near the halfway mark, with 45% and 51% harvested, respectively.
Pockets of moisture moved across the province this past week, with the Kelliher area receiving the most rain at 44 mm. Regionally, the southeast received the most moisture, with the Corning area reporting 41 mm of rainfall. Cropland topsoil moisture remained relatively unchanged compared to a week earlier, with 36% having adequate moisture, 39% short and 25% very short as of Monday.
Grasshoppers remained the primary concern for producers last week. Gophers also remain an issue and waterfowl have returned to the northern fields. Producers in those regions that received rain are concerned with sooty moulds resulting in downgrading of standing crops, the report added.
Southeast:
The southeast is on the cusp of crossing the harvest halfway point this week, with 49 per cent of the crop combined so far, just ahead of the five-year average of 48 per cent. Moisture in the area paused combines for a few days; however, producers made great progress when conditions were favourable.
While producers have just a few acres of winter cereals left, spring cereals continue to be the main focus of many harvest operations. All spring cereals are over halfway harvested, with barley leading at 74 per cent complete for the year. Lentils and field peas are also close to being done, with less than 10 per cent of the crop still in the field. Chickpeas are 48 per cent in the bin for the year. Mustard continues to lead the oilseeds with 36 per cent harvested, ahead of canola at 23 per cent and flax at 14 per cent.
Yield estimates are now being reported for the year. Spring rains and growing season moisture benefited the region. Hard Red Spring Wheat yields are estimated at 41 bu./ac., while canola is estimated at 33 bu./ac. Lentils are estimated to yield 1681 lbs./ac., and chickpeas are estimated to yield 1,605 lbs./ac.
The southeast received the most rain overall this past week, with all cropping districts in the region receiving rain. The Corning area received the most in the region, with 41 mm being reported. Cropland moisture is 36 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 28 per cent very short.
Southwest:
Another warm and dry week allowed harvest to progress markedly in the southwest. The region is now 81 per cent completed harvest, ahead of the five-year average of 64 per cent. While some crops are still standing, a few operations were able to finish their last fields.
With winter cereals harvest completed and all spring cereals being 80 per cent or more harvested, producers are focusing on their oilseeds. Flax is 20 per cent harvested, while canola is 72 per cent harvested and mustard is 78 per cent in the bin. Lentils and peas are over 90 per cent harvested, and chickpeas are 54 per cent harvested for the year.
Regional yields for the southwest are well below those of the provincial averages due to dry conditions. Hard Red Spring Wheat is anticipated to yield 20 bu./ac., durum 17 bu./ac. and barley 25 bu./ac. Canola yields are estimated at 14 bu./ac., while mustard is 469 lbs./ac. Lentils are anticipated to be 714 lbs./ac. and chickpeas 981 lbs./ac.
Little moisture was received in the southwest this week, with Limerick reporting the most received with 17 mm. Topsoil moisture remains limited; 11 per cent of cropland moisture is adequate, 46 per cent is short and 43 per cent is very short.
East-Central:
Moisture continues to dampen harvest in the east-central region. Despite more moisture this past week, producers were able to make great progress and are now 34 per cent complete harvest, this is ahead of the five-year average of 27 per cent.
Producers have finished their winter cereal, pea and lentil harvest operations and are now focusing on their spring cereals. Sixty-one per cent of barley, 41 per cent of durum, 38 per cent of spring wheat and 18 per cent of oats have been harvested this year. The region is just beginning their oilseed harvest with 16 per cent of soybeans, 11 per cent of canola, five per cent of flax and one per cent of mustard harvested.
For yield estimates in the region, Hard Red Spring Wheat is anticipated to yield 40 bu./ac., oats 79 bu./ac. and barley 59 bu./ac. Canola is estimated to yield 34 bu/ac and mustard is estimated at 917 lbs./ac. Lentils are estimated to yield 1,396 lbs./ac. and chickpeas 700 lbs./ac.
The Kelliher region received the most moisture this week, with 44 mm of rain being reported. The topsoil moisture is slowly improving in the area, with 55 per cent of cropland being adequate, 35 per cent being rated as short and 10 per cent very short.
West-Central:
The west central region continues to push through this year’s harvest and it is now 60 per cent completed. This is ahead of the five-year average of 41 per cent.
With winter cereals, peas and lentils harvested for the year, producers are focusing on completing their spring cereals before moving their focus to oilseeds. Durum harvest is at 71 per cent, barley is 69 per cent, spring wheat is 63 per cent and oats are 61 per cent in the bin for the year. Mustard is 61 per cent harvested for the year, ahead of canola at 31 per cent and flax 15 per cent complete.
With over half the crop off for the year, yields can be estimated. Hard Red Spring Wheat is estimated to yield 49 bu./ac., durum to yield 28 bu./ac. and canola 25 bu./ac. Barley is estimated to yield 45 bu./ac. and triticale 10 bu./ac. Mustard is estimated to yield 919 lbs./ac. and lentils 1,341 lbs./ac.
The Rosetown area received 30 mm of rain this past week, the most for the region. Topsoil moisture remains limited. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 15 per cent adequate, 49 per cent is short and 36 per cent is very short.
Northeast:
Producers in the northeast have made great progress this week, with 32 per cent of the crop harvested for the year. This is ahead of the five-year average of 21 per cent.
With winter cereals harvested for the year, producers have entered their spring cereal fields. Sixty-eight per cent of barley, 40 per cent of spring wheat and 34 per cent of oats have been harvested. Oilseeds remain the least harvested this week, with 10 per cent of canola harvested for the year.
Hard Red Spring Wheat is anticipated to yield 47 bu./ac., oats 97 bu./ac. and barley 66 bu./ac. Canola is anticipated to yield 36 bu./ac., while mustard is estimated to yield 2,000 lbs./ac. Lentils are estimated to yield 1,000 lbs./ac. and field peas are estimated to be at 40 bu./ac.
The region received some moisture this week, with the Humboldt area receiving 36 mm of rain. Topsoil moisture in the region is no longer a limiting factor. One per cent of cropland has adequate topsoil moisture, 79 per cent is adequate, 18 per cent is short and two per cent is very short.
Northwest:
Producers in the northwest made great harvest progress this week, and the region is now 21 per cent completed harvest for the year. This is ahead of the five-year average of 17 per cent.
Winter cereals are in the bin for the year, while peas and lentils only have a few acres left. Producers in the area are primarily focusing on getting their spring cereals off for the year. The region has 39 per cent of barley, 26 per cent of spring wheat and nine per cent of oats harvested for the year. Five per cent of canola and eight per cent of flax are in the bin for the year.
Producers’ yield estimates are demonstrating what timely showers can do for a crop. Hard Red Spring Wheat is estimated to yield 48 bu./ac., oats 91 bu./ac. and barley 66 bu./ac. Canola is estimated to yield 40 bu./ac. Lentils in the region are estimated to yield 1,140 lbs./ac. and field peas are estimated to yield 38 bu./ac.
Pockets of moisture moved through the region this week. The Speers area received the most with 31 mm of rain reported. Topsoil moisture remains generally adequate in the region. Forty-seven per cent of cropland has adequate topsoil moisture, 46 per cent is short and seven per cent is very short.
