Northeastern Saskatchewan

Census Division 14 – Choiceland, Hudson Bay, Kelvington, Melfort, and Nipawin areas
Census Division 15 – Cudworth, Humboldt, Kinistino, Prince Albert, Rosthern and St. Brieux areas

For the Period October 14 to 20, 2025

Many crops were seeded into dry ground this spring which caused uneven emergence and staging early in the season. Despite dry conditions in the spring, the northeast had a few timely rains in the summer months that contributed to decent yields in the region. Plenty of crops were proactively sprayed with fungicide as humid weather was present in early summer. High bertha armyworm activity led many producers in the region to spray their canola crops. Overall reporters are describing this as a decent year for crop production in the region.

Yields for all major crop types grown in the region were higher than the current provincial and regional historical averages. The northeast produced the highest yields for oats and hard red spring wheat in the province while barley, canola and field pea yields were notably higher than much of the province. Cereal crops were good quality as most graded in the 1 Canada Western (CW) and 2 CW categories. Similarly, most oilseed and pulse crops graded in the 1 Canada (CAN) and 2 CAN categories.

Fall cereals are not high acreage crops in the northeast compared to southern regions, but there was a small increase in winter wheat acres seeded this fall. Winter wheat acres increased by approximately seven per cent while fall rye acres are comparable to last year.

Average silage yields in the northeast were lower than the provincial average with a regional yield of five tons per acre for silage crops. Conversely, most hay crops yielded higher than the provincial average. In the northeast, alfalfa yielded 1.63 tons per acre, brome yielded 1.45 tons per acre, tame hay yielded 0.92 tons per acre, baled forage yielded 1.45 tons per acre and greenfeed yielded 3.44 tons per acre. The quality of nearly all hay was rated as good to excellent. For the first cut, quality was rated as 19 per cent excellent, 73 per cent good, five per cent fair and three per cent poor. The second hay cut quality was rated as 54 per cent excellent, 40 per cent good and six per cent fair.

In addition to sufficient hay yields and good quality, pastures in the region are largely in good to fair condition and in better shape than much of the province. Currently, two per cent of pastures are in excellent condition, 66 per cent are good, 25 per cent are fair, three per cent are poor and four per cent are in very poor condition.

Modest rainfall over the past couple of months has led to strong topsoil moisture levels this fall. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as eight per cent surplus, 81 per cent adequate, 10 per cent short and one per cent very short. In hayland areas, topsoil moisture is four per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate, seven per cent short and three per cent very short. Most pastures are in good condition due to sufficient topsoil moisture, which is rated as four per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate, seven per cent short and four per cent very short.

With adequate moisture in much of the region, producers are currently applying anhydrous ammonia and other fertilizer prior to freezing. Additionally, producers have been drying grain, harrowing and spraying weeds since harvest finished. Livestock producers are moving cattle home for the winter and hauling bales.