Saskatchewan producers completed harvest ahead of the five-year average
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Saskatchewan producers are appreciative of an early finish to harvest this year.
In total, 99 per cent of the crop in the bin, the province’s Oct. 19 crop report said.
Farmers welcome this timely completion of harvest after a few difficult years in which the work continued late into the fall or even the following year. The five-year average for this time of year is 88 per cent of the crop in the bin, said the report.
Unfortunately, while harvest is complete, yields aren’t as strong as farmers hoped, said Todd Lewis. He is the president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan.
“The potential for above-average crops certainly disappeared as the summer went on. We had a good start in the springtime but some parts of the province, (such as) the northern grain belt, had too much moisture. … (Those conditions) hurt yield potential (and) drowned out crop,” Lewis told Farms.com.
In the southern part of the province, farmers experienced drier conditions.
“There wasn't a major (storm) system that moved across the province from border to border. It was more pop-up showers throughout the entire growing season. (Some) producers were fortunate to catch some extra rain per month from a thunderstorm (and) it certainly showed in their yields,” said Lewis.
Overall, Saskatchewan had average yields. The provincial average for canola is 37 bushel per acre, wheat is 51 bu/ac and peas are 39 bu/ac, said the report.
Crop quality was good this year since farmers had favourable harvest weather, said Lewis.
“Producers could take their crops off in the top grades. (Growers had) very little green count in canola … and a lot of the cereals were in the top two grades as well,” he said.
Now that Saskatchewan farmers are done harvest, they welcome the snowfall some areas received over the last couple of weeks, said Lewis.
“Especially in the southern half of the province, pastures and grainland both need some good moisture before spring to replenish the groundwater,” he said.
Lightguard/E+ photo