Released on November 9, 1999
Saskatchewan farmers are expected to harvest 27.8 million tonnes of the majorgrains, oilseeds, and specialty crops for the 1999 crop year, according to
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food's final crop report for the year.
The 1999 production is 16 per cent above the 10-year (1989-98) average of 24
million tonnes. The above-average production is due to above-average harvested
area (three per cent) and above-average yields for all crops.
Saskatchewan producers harvested above-average acreage of all crops except
spring wheat, durum, fall rye and spring rye. On a provincial basis, yield
estimates are expected to be in a range from eight to 39 per cent above
average.
With delayed seeding and delayed development, harvest was a long, drawn out
affair. Some harvesting began at the end of July with early seeded canola.
Some crops are yet to be harvested (over 100,000 acres) and a few may be left
until spring.
In spite of generally above-average yields, quality is down. Overall, 1999
crop quality is average to below average. Some areas, mostly in the western
part of the grainbelt, did manage to harvest above-average quality crops, but
many areas found their crops hit by insect, disease, weather and frost damage.
Ergot and wheat midge caused much of the downgrading for the wheat crops, while
fungal diseases took their toll on the pulse crops.
On average, at least three-quarters of the spring wheat crop falls into the top
two grades. Sixty-three per cent of the durum and 59 per cent of the oats are
expected to be in the top two grades, while one-third of the barley is expected
to be of malting quality. Eighty-two per cent of the flax and 80 per cent of
the canola are expected to grade No. 1. Ninety-three per cent of the winter
wheat and 91 per cent of the fall rye are expected to be in the top two grades.
Eighty-three per cent of the mustard and 78 per cent of the sunflowers are
expected to grade No. 1 Canada. Sixty-nine per cent of the lentils and 85 per
cent of the field peas are expected to grade No. 1 and 2 Canada.
Across the province, the first and second cuts of brome/alfalfa hay on dryland
averaged 2.1 tons per acre, well above the 10-year (1989-98) average of 1.2
tons per acre. Hay quality also suffered from weathering this year. Rainy
weather delayed haying operations. Like field crops, hay yields were good but
quality was only fair. Winter feed supplies are reported adequate to surplus
across the province.
The area seeded to winter wheat in Saskatchewan is estimated to be increasing
to 100,000 acres, an increase of 5 per cent from the fall of 1998. Most of the
increased acreage will be in the eastern part of the province. Fall rye
plantings are expected to decrease to 200,000 acres, down 11 per cent from the
fall of 1998. Dry soil conditions and the lateness of the harvest were the
main reasons for the decline in fall rye acreage and the less than expected
increase in the winter wheat acreage.
Topsoil moisture conditions on crop land are generally fair to poor, with the
exception of an area in the southeast and east central grainbelt. Fall
precipitation has been almost non-existent, except in the eastern part of the
province. Hay and pasture land are in the same condition as crop land. The
November 1, 1999 Stubble Subsoil Moisture Map shows that the western two-thirds
of the province is very dry. There is, however, a lot of variability, even
from field to field. In many areas, there is moisture below the top layer of
soil, but crops will require moisture in the top layer to be able to grow down
to the subsoil moisture reserves.
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food wishes to extend a special "Thank You" to all
of our crop reporters throughout the province who made the 1999 crop report
possible.
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For more information, contact:
Terry Karwandy
Agriculture Economist
Statistics Branch
Agriculture and Food
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-5956