Crop Report

For the Period October 13 to 19, 2020 - Final Crop Report

Saskatchewan Agriculture has a group of 186 volunteer crop reporters from across the province. Thank you for your valued dedication to the crop report. In 2020, there are five crop reporters reaching their 25-year milestone; three reaching 30 years; two reaching 35 years; three reaching 40 years; and two reaching 45 years.

Congratulations!!

Harvest is virtually complete in the province, with more than 99 per cent of the crop in the bin in all regions. The five-year (2015-2019) average for harvest progress is 88 per cent for this time of year. Farmers continue to do post-harvest field work such as harrowing, applying fertilizer, 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 for some producers.

Favourable harvest weather throughout the fall allowed for above-average crop quality this year. Producers had few rain delays throughout harvest which allowed them to combine most of the crop in good condition. The majority of crops are reported to be within the top two quality grades.

Crop yields varied throughout the province, depending mainly on the amount of moisture received throughout the season. Overall provincial yields are average with some areas reporting higher than average yields. Extreme lack of moisture in some areas and heat stress during the summer impacted some yields, as well as hail and some drowned out low spots in parts of the northern regions. Average yields are estimated as 46 bushels per acre for hard red spring wheat, 39 bushel per acre for durum, 86 bushel per acre for oats, 67 bushel per acre for barley, 37 bushel per acre for canola, 39 bushel per acre for peas and 1,475 pounds per acre for lentil.

Moisture conditions remain a concern, as much of the province received minimal or below average rainfall this year along with hot temperatures and drying winds throughout the growing season. Parts of the southern and central regions have reported short or very short topsoil moisture conditions for most of the year. Significant precipitation is needed this fall and over winter to replenish moisture levels in the soil and dugouts. Heading into winter, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as 25 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 33 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 19 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and 44 per cent very short.

Average hay yields on dry land are reported as 1.2 tons per acre (alfalfa), 1.1 tons per acre (alfalfa/brome and wild hay), 1.0 tons per acre (other tame hay) and 1.9 tons per acre (greenfeed). On irrigated land, the estimated average hay yields are 2.8 tons per acre (alfalfa), 2.3 tons per acre (alfalfa/brome), 2.0 tons per acre (wild hay) and 4.2 tons per acre (greenfeed). Most of the hay going into winter is rated as fair to good in quality.

Most livestock producers indicate they will have adequate supplies of hay, straw, greenfeed and feed grain heading into winter. However, producers in drier areas in the southern and central regions have reported many areas will have inadequate winter feed supplies and shortages are likely. Due to the dry conditions this year, dugout, slough and well levels have been low and there are also concerns with livestock water supplies.

With drier than normal field conditions this fall, the number of acres seeded to winter cereals is below normal in most areas. With harvest wrapping up nicely in most regions, there was adequate time for seeding but farmers had concerns of improper germination and establishment prior to winter due to the dry conditions. For a few weeks now, farmers were able to complete fall work such as fixing fences, moving cattle, hauling grain and bales, picking rock, applying fertilizer, spraying weeds and working fields. Farmers continue to do this work into fall, but have slowed down due to more recent cold temperatures and snowfall.

This is the final crop report of the 2020 growing season.

Maps and Tables

• Crop District Map
• Regional Harvest Progress
• 2020 Crop Grades
• Weekly Rainfall Map
• Final Rainfall Report
• Cumulative Rainfall Map
• Cumulative Rainfall Map with Normals
• Cropland Topsoil Moisture Conditions Map
• Hay and Pasture Topsoil Conditions Map
• Minimum Temperature Map
• Maximum Temperature Map
• Final Crop Report October 6 to 12, 2020 - Complete

Farmzone.com – Short-term and long-term weather forecasts including P.O.P and precip accumulation; almanac data including sunrise/sunset times; and daily planning forecasts including drying index, growing degree days and crop heat units.