Harvest ‘virtually complete’ across Saskatchewan: Crop report

Harvest is almost completely wrapped up for 2023 in Saskatchewan.

That’s according to the latest weekly crop report from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. According to the report, harvest is 98 per cent complete across the province, but yields were below the 10-year average.

“In many cases, harvest progressed smoothly with little interruption,” the report noted. “Now that harvest is complete, producers are hoping for rain to replenish soil moisture for next year.”

Moisture was the main factor affecting yields, the ministry said. While some areas had a better-than-expected yield, the southwest and west-central regions were below average due to drought-like conditions.

“Some reported yields were better than expected, but overall, the majority of crop yielded below the 10-year average,” the ministry noted. “Winter wheat and hard-red spring wheat were the only crops above the 10-year averages. The largest impact on yields this year was drought, heat stress, gophers and grasshoppers.”

The average estimated yield for hard-red spring wheat was 43 bushels per acre. Durum was estimated at 24 bushels per acre, oats at 82 bushels per acre, barley at 56 bushels per acre, fall rye at 36 bushels per acre, canola at 33 bushels per acre, field peas at 31 bushels per acre, flax at 18 bushels per acre, and soybeans at 17 bushels per acre.

The average lentil yield was estimated at 1,101 pounds per acre. Canary seed was estimated at 982 pounds per acre, chickpeas at 858 pounds per acre, and mustard at 636 pounds per acre.

“All crops are estimated to be above the 10-year average for quality and to be in the top two categories for all crops,” the ministry added.

While many in Saskatchewan are dreading the first snowfall of the year, the crop report said fall rains and “heavy, wet snow” are needed around the province to improve soil moisture conditions.

For cropland, topsoil moisture was rated at just 31 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and 25 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land was even drier, rated at 27 per cent adequate, 43 per cent short and 29 per cent very short.

The report said concerns around winter feed shortages have largely been taken care of, as “many producers have secured feed from other parts of the province or neighbouring provinces and now have adequate supplies.”

Provincially, alfalfa yields were estimated at 1.22 tons per acre, while brome/alfalfa was estimated to yield 1.19 tons per acre and greenfeed was estimated to yield 1.69 tons per acre. Those numbers go up for irrigated land, the ministry noted, and hay and feed is mainly of good quality. Silage yields were estimated at seven tons per acre.

“While harvest is over for many, fall work is still underway for producers,” the report noted.

“Where there is enough moisture, producers are applying fall fertilizer for next year and harrowing harvested crops. Livestock producers are hauling water for animals to ensure they have a safe water source, hauling feed and bringing cattle home for the winter. Fall calving is occurring on some operations. Producers are planning for next year and hoping soil moisture improves to start next year’s growing season off well.”