Harvest has all but wrapped up for producers in the province as 99 per cent of the crop is now combined, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture for the week ending October 23. There are still some crops such as flax, soybean and sunflower left to be combined.
A year ago, harvest progress was stalled across the province due to frequent moisture and saturated fields and only 82 per cent of the crop was in the bin. Some producers could not resume combining until the ground froze or until the next spring.
As of October 23, the 2017 harvest has been completed for winter wheat, fall rye, spring wheat, durum, canaryseed, mustard, lentils, peas and chickpeas. Soybeans, oats, barley and canola are 99 per cent in the bin, and flax is 97 per cent completed.
Harvest weather was favourable for much of the fall, allowing producers to pull off well above-average crop quality. Although field conditions remained dry for most of the province, producers had fewer rain delays than in previous years and were able to take most crops off in relatively good condition. There were also limited reports of diseases such as fusarium head blight impacting crop production this year. The majority of crops are being reported as falling within the top two quality grades.
Crop yields vary greatly throughout the province, depending on the seeding date and the amount of moisture received throughout the season. Overall provincial yields are on par with the 10-year average, although some areas in the north are reporting higher than normal yields thanks to timely moisture. Yields in most southern and some central areas of the province were significantly impacted by the extended period of hot and dry conditions this summer. Average provincial yields at this time are reported as 43 bushels per acre for hard red spring wheat, 34 bushels per acre for canola, 18 bushels per acre for soybeans, 63 bushels per acre for barley, 746 lbs per acre for mustard and 1,369 lbs per acre for lentils.
Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions remain a concern for much of the province. Very little moisture has been received in the last number of weeks and strong winds have further dried fields. The fire risk remains very high in southwestern areas and there have been many reports of grass and stubble fires in recent weeks. Significant moisture will be needed heading into winter to replenish what has been lost throughout the growing season.
The majority of producers have indicated that the subsoil is very dry and that seeding conditions next spring will be impacted if moisture is not received. Heading into winter, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as 40 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and 23 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 32 per cent adequate, 35 per cent short and 33 per cent very short.
Average hay yields on dry land are reported as 1.1 t per acre of alfalfa and alfalfa/brome, 0.9 t per acre of other tame hay, 1.0 t per acre of wild hay and 1.6 t per acre of greenfeed. On irrigated land, the estimated average hay yields are 3.0 t per acre of alfalfa and other tame hay, 2.0 t per acre of alfalfa/brome and 3.5 t per acre of greenfeed. Hay quality going into winter is rated as 11 per cent excellent, 78 per cent good and 11 per cent fair.
At this time, most livestock producers have indicated that they will have adequate supplies of hay, straw, greenfeed and feed grain heading into winter. However, producers in southern regions are reporting that many areas will have inadequate winter feed supplies and that shortages will be likely. The loss of feed supplies due to recent fires in the southwest has increased concern for producers in those areas.
With the drier than normal field conditions this fall, the number of acres seeded to winter cereals is below average in most areas. Rain was received in much of the province at the end of September, allowing for winter cereal crops to germinate and establish. Due to the recent warm and dry weather, producers have been able to complete fall work such as putting down fertilizer, fixing fences, moving cattle, working fields, hauling bales and grain, picking rocks and cleaning up fields. Many producers, particularly in eastern regions, have been able to reclaim acres lost to flooding in previous years.
In southwestern Saskatchewan, harvest operations are complete, although there are a few fields of flax and sunflower left to be combined. The lack of moisture and hot temperatures negatively impacted crop production in the region. Crop yields vary greatly from area to area, depending on the seeding date and how much moisture was received throughout the growing season. Crops such as canola, mustard, soybeans, field peas and canary seed were the most impacted and yields are well below normal for the region. Harvest is reported as completed in the south region of the Kyle, Swift Current, Shaunavon and Ponteix crop district and 99 per cent completed in the north of this area. The Coronach, Assiniboia and Ogema crop district has completed harvesting. In the Gravelbourg, Mossbank, Mortlach and Central Butte crop district, harvest is 99 per cent completed.
Estimated yields for crops in the southwest are: 33 bushels per acre for winter wheat, 27 bushels per acre for fall rye, 33 bushels per acre for Hard Red Spring Wheat, 33 bushels per acre for other wheat, 33 bushels per acre for durum, 51 bushels per acre for oats, 43 bushels per acre for barley, 873 lbs. per acre of canaryseed, 17 bushels per acre for flax, 25 bushels per acre for canola, 633 lbs. per acre of mustard, 13 lbs. per acre of soybean, 25 bushels per acre of peas, 1,238 lbs. per acre of lentils, and 1,136 lbs. per acre of chickpeas.
Crop quality is the best it has been in a number of years, mainly due to lack of fall moisture and limited issues with diseases such as fusarium head blight and root rot. Most crops are falling within the top two grades. Little to no rain was reported last week, allowing producers to complete fall work and get ready for winter. The Moose Jaw area has reported the most precipitation (236 mm) in the region since April 1.
Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions remain a concern for much of the region. With little moisture received in the last number of weeks coupled with frequent strong winds, topsoil moisture has greatly worsened in the region. The fire risk remains high in much of the region and grass and stubble fires continue to be reported. Subsoil moisture conditions are also very dry and fields will need significant amounts of moisture before next spring. Seeding conditions will be impacted if moisture is not received in the coming weeks.
Heading into winter, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as 17 per cent adequate, 49 per cent short and 34 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as nine per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and 54 per cent very short.
Average hay yields on dry land are reported as: 0.8 t per acre of alfalfa, alfalfa/brome and wild hay; 0.7 t per acre of other tame hay and 1.3 t per acre of greenfeed. On irrigated land, reported hay yields are 1.3 t per acre of alfalfa/brome.
At this time, most livestock producers in the region have indicated that they will have adequate supplies of hay, straw, greenfeed and feed grain heading into winter. However, many producers in more southern and western areas of the region have indicated that feed shortages are imminent. Concerns are increasing for producers in the regions as recent fires have destroyed feed supplies as well as grazing land.
The number of acres seeded to winter cereals is well below average in most areas. Although rain was finally received in late September, many producers did not seed winter cereals as fields were still too dry and there were concerns of crops germinating and establishing properly prior to winter. Farmers are busy working fields, putting machinery away, hauling bales and grain, putting down fertilizer and fixing fences.
