Southwestern Saskatchewan

Census Division 3 – Assiniboia, Gravelbourg, Mankota, Ponteix and Rockglen areas
Census Division 4 – Cadillac, Consul, Eastend, Maple Creek and Val Marie areas
Census Division 7 – Beechy, Central Butte, Craik, Herbert, Hodgeville and Moose Jaw areas
Census Division 8 – Cabri, Elrose, Fox Valley, Leader, Swift Current and Tompkins areas

For the Period October 14 to 20, 2025

Producers in the southwest experienced a difficult year as dry conditions persisted throughout much of the growing season. There was high rainfall in July, but this moisture was too late to significantly benefit yield potential aside from helping crops produce seed. Generally, early seeded crops were too far ahead to get much benefit from the rainfall and fared worse than later-seeded crops as a result. Additionally, late-season rainfall caused crop regrowth and promoted weed emergence which made harvest timing difficult. Many producers ended up swathing or desiccating crops to compensate for the uneven crop staging.

All crops have been harvested in the region except for a few oilseed and chickpea crops. Currently, 98 per cent of mustard, 96 per cent of canola, 90 per cent of flax and 88 per cent of chickpea crops have been harvested. Yields for all crop types grown in the southwest yielded lower than the provincial average. On a positive note, crops like durum, spring wheat, flax and pulses yielded slightly higher compared to last year. Additionally, this year’s canola yielded nearly 12 bushels per acre higher than last year, which producers were happy to see. Quality varied between crop types this year. Most winter and spring cereal crops graded in the 2 Canada Western (CW) and 3 CW categories, while most pulses were graded as 2 Canada (CAN) and 3 CAN. Crop quality declined due to dry conditions causing light kernels, regrowth leading to green seeds, and late rainfall bleaching. Oilseed crops fared better, with most grading in the 1 CAN or 2 CAN categories.

There wasn’t much change in seeded acreage of fall cereal crops this year. Seeded acres of winter wheat decreased by two per cent and fall rye is largely unchanged from last year.

Unfortunately, widespread dry conditions in the spring resulted in the region having the lowest hay and silage yields in the province. The average silage yield for the region was 4.88 tons per acre. For hay crops, alfalfa yielded 0.69 tons per acre, brome yielded 0.70 tons per acre, tame hay yielded 0.92 tons per acre, baled forage yielded 0.92 tons per acre and greenfeed yielded 1.43 tons per acre. Fortunately, most hay crops were good to fair quality. For the first cut, eight per cent was excellent quality, 49 per cent was good, 40 was fair and three per cent was poor. Some producers did get a second cut and quality was rated as 18 per cent excellent, 53 per cent good, 16 per cent fair and 13 per cent poor.

Pastures benefited greatly from summer rainfall, but dry conditions in the past two months have reduced pasture quality. Currently, 23 per cent of pastures are in good condition, 48 per cent are fair, 20 per cent are poor and nine per cent are in very poor condition.

Similar to pasture conditions, topsoil moisture levels have steadily diminished in the last two months with limited precipitation. Heading into the winter, cropland topsoil moisture is 24 per cent adequate, 59 per cent short and 17 per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 23 per cent adequate, 65 per cent short and 12 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture levels are 18 per cent adequate, 63 per cent short and 19 per cent very short. Producers are hoping for rain prior to freezing and plenty of snow this fall and winter to replenish soil moisture levels.

Since finishing harvest, producers have been harrowing fields, moving cattle home for the winter and hauling bales. Some producers have reduced fall spraying and fertilizer applications due to how dry their areas have been.