Crop District 9AW – Shellbrook, North Battleford, Big River and Hafford areas;
Crop District 9B – Meadow Lake, Turtleford, Pierceland, Maidstone and Lloydminster areas
For the Period October 10 to 16, 2023
Producers in the northwest have finished harvest with remarkable speed this year. Many producers in the region are content with the 2023 cropping season overall. Many were able to enter the field early this year due to a dry spring. Some significant rain events moved through the region, and while causing some hail damage, many producers were happy with the moisture overall. Having put the combines away for the year, producers are now working cattle and their fields.
Crops in the northwest benefitted from the timely rains that moved through the region, and yields are now at or above the provincial average for the year. The majority of crops are also above the 10-year provincial yield averages. While crops are being marketed in all quality categories, the majority of crops are within the top two categories for the year. Crop damage was due to plant disease affecting seed quality, insect damage, and drought damage resulting in light kernels.
The northwest received varying levels of moisture this year. Depending on the exact location within the region, there was between 106 to 381 mm received this year. Topsoil moisture is beginning to show the effects of reduced moisture, with 27 per cent of cropland having adequate moisture, 52 per cent is short, and 21 per cent is very short. Twenty-six per cent of hay and pastures have adequate topsoil moisture, 46 per cent are short, and 28 per cent are very short for moisture.
The majority of producers are comfortable with their feed supply going into the winter this year. Generally, hay in the region is reported as good quality and yielding sufficient levels. Alfalfa yielded 1.72 tons per acre, brome/alfalfa yielded 1.44 tons per acre and greenfeed yielded 2.52 tons per acre. Silage yielded 6.33 tons per acre. Producers are also expecting to increase their winter wheat acres this year by approximately eight per cent.
Farmers are busy harrowing, applying fertilizer, hauling bales, fixing fences and moving cattle home.