AgricultureNewsProvincial

The Final Crop Report for the 2021 Growing Season

For the Period September 28th to October 4th, 2021

Harvest is practically complete in the province, with nearly all regions having 99 per cent of the crop in the bin. The five-year (2016-2020) average for harvest progress for this time of year is 79 per cent. Producers continue to do post-harvest work in the fields such as harrowing, weed control and preparing to or bringing livestock home. There have been reports that the dry soil conditions and recent cold temperatures have limited fertilizer and herbicide applications.

Harvest weather was favourable throughout the fall, allowing producers to harvest without major delays from rain or waiting for crops to mature. The season-long drought and extreme temperatures caused crop yields to be much lower than average; however, most crops were reported to be within the top two quality grades. Several small rain storms in early-September meant most of the province experienced regrowth in pastures and fields. This regrowth caused issues with harvest, especially in crops like canola. Producers had to apply herbicides or find other solutions in order to begin harvest.

Crop yields varied throughout the province, depending heavily on the amount of moisture received throughout the season. Overall provincial yields are well below average, even areas that received timely rains reported below average yields. Yields were impacted by the extreme drought, heat stress, wind, hail and grasshoppers. Average yields are estimated as 30 bushel per acre for hard red spring wheat, 19 bushel per acre for durum, 49 bushel per acre for oats, 34 bushel per acre for barley, 21 bushel per acre for canola, 22 bushel per acre for peas and 870 pounds per acre for lentils.

Moisture conditions remain a concern, with much of the province receiving minimal or below average rainfall this year along with hot temperatures and drying winds throughout the growing season. All regions in the province reported that their topsoil moisture was short or very short for most of the season.

Significant precipitation is needed this fall and winter to replenish moisture levels in the soil and dugouts. Heading into winter, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as twelve per cent adequate, 43 per cent short and 45 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as eight per cent adequate, 35 per cent short and 57 per cent very short.

Average hay yields on dry land are reported as 0.79 tons per acre (alfalfa), 0.77 tons per acre (alfalfa/brome and wild hay), 0.55 tons per acre (other tame hay) and 1.13 tons per acre (greenfeed). On irrigated land, the estimated average hay yields are 2.2 tons per acre (alfalfa), 2.1 tons per acre (alfalfa/brome), 1.60 tons per acre (wild hay) and 1.9 tons per acre (greenfeed). Most of the hay going into winter is rated as poor to good in quality.

At this time, most livestock producers indicated they will have inadequate to adequate supplies of hay, straw, greenfeed and feed grain heading into winter. Many areas in the province will have inadequate winter feed supplies and shortages are expected due to a poor first cut of hay and the inability to get a second cut. Due to the dry conditions this year, dugout, slough and well levels have been low and there are concerns about livestock water supplies. Some producers were able to use crop residue and straw from their grain farming neighbours and use it as feed. The late rains allowed for some pastures to briefly green up and extend grazing for one or two more weeks.

With drier than normal field conditions this fall, the number of acres seeded to winter cereals is below normal. In most areas, winter wheat acres are estimated to fall 17 per cent, while fall rye is estimated to fall twelve per cent. With harvest wrapping up in most regions, there was adequate time for seeding but there were concerns with poor germination and establishment of winter cereals prior to winter due to the extremely low topsoil moisture conditions.

Producers were able to complete fall work such as fixing fences, moving cattle, hauling grain and bales, picking rocks, spraying weeds and working fields. Producers will continue to do this work until the temperature drops sharply or a big snowfall occurs.

Even as harvest winds-up in Saskatchewan, we want to remind producers to exercise caution and remain safe in their post-harvest operations.

Saskatchewan Harvest
October 4, 2021
Per cent combined
Winter wheat 100
Fall rye* 100
Spring wheat 100
Durum 100
Oats* 100
Barley* 100
Canaryseed 99
Flax 95
Canola 98
Mustard 100
Soybeans 98
Lentils 100
Peas 100
Chickpeas 100
*includes 10 per cent ‘other’
Harvest Progress
Per cent Combined
All Crops
5-year avg.
(2016-2020)
79
Oct 5/20 96
Oct 7/19 55
Oct 1/18 73
Oct 2/17 89
Oct 3/16 80
10-year avg.
(2011-2020)
83
Provincial Estimated Crop Yields – October 4, 2021
Winter wheat Fall rye HRSW Other wheat* Durum Oat Barley Canary
seed
Southeast 31 26 34 36 33 63 50 1,101
Southwest 13 10 15 13 15 20 23 242
East Central 32 28 37 26 21 47 35 575
West Central 13 13 19 14 16 24 18 698
Northeast 42 N/A 35 n/a N/A 60 47 N/A
Northwest N/A N/A 30 29 N/A 51 36 N/A
Provincial 27 24 30 26 19 49 34 773
10 yr. prov. avg.
(2011-2020)
43 39 41 N/A 38 83 61 1,157
Flax Canola Mustard Soybean Pea Lentil Chickpea
Southeast 20 27 820 28 34 1,246 1,383
Southwest 8 15 383 16 16 815 553
East Central 14 22 464 25 24 897 N/A
West Central 10 14 618 9 16 735 N/A
Northeast 14 24 N/A N/A 27 N/A N/A
Northwest 20 24 N/A N/A 21 618 N/A
Provincial 15 21 431 27 22 870 741
10 yr. prov. avg.
(2011-2020)
23 34 1,024 N/A 36 1,359 1,366
* ‘Other wheat’ includes all wheat classes other than Hard Red Spring Wheat
** Crop yield predictions at this point in time. Please keep in mind these are regional averages, and yields can vary greatly across an area.
*** canaryseed, mustard, lentil and chickpea in lbs/ac. All other crops in bu/ac.
**** there is no 10-year provincial average for soybean and ‘other wheat’ as these categories were first reported in 2014
Harvest by Crop District October 4, 2021
Crop District Per cent
combined
Crop District Per cent
combined
Crop District Per cent
combined
1A 100 4A 100 7A 100
1B 100 4B 100 7B 100
2A 100 5A 98 8A 100
2B 100 5B 99 8B 99
3ASE 100 6A 100 9AE 100
3ASW 99 6B 100 9AW 99
3AN 100  9B 99
3BS 99
3BN 100

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