East-Central Saskatchewan

Census Division 9 – Calder, Canora, Pelly, Preeceville, Sheho and Yorkton areas
Census Division 10 – Foam Lake, Kelliher, Leroy, Raymore and Wadena areas
Census Division 11 – Davidson, Colonsay, Langham, Lanigan, Nokomis, Outlook and Saskatoon areas

For the Period October 14 to 20, 2025

Producers were able to start seeding earlier this year compared to previous years. There was adequate topsoil moisture in much of the region during seeding and throughout the growing season which benefited crop emergence and yield potential. Cool temperatures during the growing season led to slow crop development and uneven staging making pesticide application timing difficult. Producers faced high bertha armyworm and cabbage seedpod weevil activity in canola crops which resulted in many fields being sprayed for these pests. Overall, producers in this region were satisfied with crop yields.

Nearly all crops have been harvested except for a few oilseed crops. For these crops, canola is 99 per cent harvested, flax is 96 per cent harvested and soybeans are only 60 per cent harvested. It’s worth noting that soybeans are a low acreage crop in this region and only a small number of acres are unharvested. The yields for most crop types in the region were higher than the provincial average. Only oats, spring wheat, lentils and chickpeas yielded slightly lower than the rest of the province. In terms of crop quality, most pulse and oilseed crops graded as 1 Canada (CAN) and 2 CAN while quality for cereal crops varied. Most hard red spring wheat and fall rye graded at 1 Canada Wester (CW) and 2 CW, but notable percentages of durum, winter wheat and oats graded as 3 CW. Reporters mentioned that rainfall and frost during harvest lowered quality in certain crops.

There weren’t many changes to seeded acres of winter cereal crops this year. Winter wheat acres are comparable to last year and seeded acres of fall rye only fell by four per cent.

Silage yields in the region averaged 5.27 tons per acre, which is slightly lower than the provincial average. Average hay yields in the region were slightly higher than the provincial average as alfalfa yielded 1.59 tons per acre, brome hay yielded 1.81 tons per acre, tame hay yielded 1.66 tones per acre, baled forage yielded 1.93 tons per acre and greenfeed yielded 2.18 tons per acre. Additionally, most hay in the region was good quality. For the first cut, six per cent was excellent, 80 per cent was good and 14 per cent was fair quality. Producers that completed a second cut reported that 18 per cent of it was excellent, 64 per cent was good and 18 per cent was fair.

Pastures have been in good to fair condition throughout the growing season due to adequate moisture. Currently, two per cent of pastures are rated as excellent, 52 per cent are good, 33 per cent are fair and 13 per cent are in poor condition.

Precipitation in the form of rain and snow in the past few weeks have improved soil moisture conditions prior to winter. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is 11 per cent surplus, 69 per cent adequate and 20 per cent short. Topsoil moisture in hayland areas is 14 per cent surplus, 62 per cent adequate, 22 per cent short and two per cent very short. In pastures, topsoil moisture is 12 per cent surplus, 61 per cent adequate, 25 per cent short and two per cent very short.

Since finishing harvest, producers have been spraying weeds, harrowing and marketing livestock. With sufficient soil moisture, producers have also been applying anhydrous ammonia fertilizer this fall.