The Final Crop Report for the 2021 Growing Season

October 14, 2021

5 minutes read

For the Period September 28th to October 4th, 2021

Harvest is practically complete in the province, with nearly all regions having 99 per cent of the crop in the bin. The five-year (2016-2020) average for harvest progress for this time of year is 79 per cent. Producers continue to do post-harvest work in the fields such as harrowing, weed control and preparing to or bringing livestock home. There have been reports that the dry soil conditions and recent cold temperatures have limited fertilizer and herbicide applications.

Harvest weather was favourable throughout the fall, allowing producers to harvest without major delays from rain or waiting for crops to mature. The season-long drought and extreme temperatures caused crop yields to be much lower than average; however, most crops were reported to be within the top two quality grades. Several small rain storms in early-September meant most of the province experienced regrowth in pastures and fields. This regrowth caused issues with harvest, especially in crops like canola. Producers had to apply herbicides or find other solutions in order to begin harvest.

Crop yields varied throughout the province, depending heavily on the amount of moisture received throughout the season. Overall provincial yields are well below average, even areas that received timely rains reported below average yields. Yields were impacted by the extreme drought, heat stress, wind, hail and grasshoppers. Average yields are estimated as 30 bushel per acre for hard red spring wheat, 19 bushel per acre for durum, 49 bushel per acre for oats, 34 bushel per acre for barley, 21 bushel per acre for canola, 22 bushel per acre for peas and 870 pounds per acre for lentils.

Moisture conditions remain a concern, with much of the province receiving minimal or below average rainfall this year along with hot temperatures and drying winds throughout the growing season. All regions in the province reported that their topsoil moisture was short or very short for most of the season.

Significant precipitation is needed this fall and winter to replenish moisture levels in the soil and dugouts. Heading into winter, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as twelve per cent adequate, 43 per cent short and 45 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as eight per cent adequate, 35 per cent short and 57 per cent very short.

Average hay yields on dry land are reported as 0.79 tons per acre (alfalfa), 0.77 tons per acre (alfalfa/brome and wild hay), 0.55 tons per acre (other tame hay) and 1.13 tons per acre (greenfeed). On irrigated land, the estimated average hay yields are 2.2 tons per acre (alfalfa), 2.1 tons per acre (alfalfa/brome), 1.60 tons per acre (wild hay) and 1.9 tons per acre (greenfeed). Most of the hay going into winter is rated as poor to good in quality.

At this time, most livestock producers indicated they will have inadequate to adequate supplies of hay, straw, greenfeed and feed grain heading into winter. Many areas in the province will have inadequate winter feed supplies and shortages are expected due to a poor first cut of hay and the inability to get a second cut. Due to the dry conditions this year, dugout, slough and well levels have been low and there are concerns about livestock water supplies. Some producers were able to use crop residue and straw from their grain farming neighbours and use it as feed. The late rains allowed for some pastures to briefly green up and extend grazing for one or two more weeks.

With drier than normal field conditions this fall, the number of acres seeded to winter cereals is below normal. In most areas, winter wheat acres are estimated to fall 17 per cent, while fall rye is estimated to fall twelve per cent. With harvest wrapping up in most regions, there was adequate time for seeding but there were concerns with poor germination and establishment of winter cereals prior to winter due to the extremely low topsoil moisture conditions.

Producers were able to complete fall work such as fixing fences, moving cattle, hauling grain and bales, picking rocks, spraying weeds and working fields. Producers will continue to do this work until the temperature drops sharply or a big snowfall occurs.

Even as harvest winds-up in Saskatchewan, we want to remind producers to exercise caution and remain safe in their post-harvest operations.

Saskatchewan Harvest October 4, 2021 Per cent combined
Winter wheat	100
Fall rye*	100
Spring wheat	100
Durum	100
Oats*	100
Barley*	100
Canaryseed	99
Flax	95
Canola	98
Mustard	100
Soybeans	98
Lentils	100
Peas	100
Chickpeas	100
*includes 10 per cent ‘other’
Harvest Progress Per cent Combined All Crops
5-year avg. (2016-2020)	79
Oct 5/20	96
Oct 7/19	55
Oct 1/18	73
Oct 2/17	89
Oct 3/16	80
10-year avg. (2011-2020)	83

Provincial Estimated Crop Yields – October 4, 2021
	Winter wheat	Fall rye	HRSW	Other wheat*	Durum	Oat	Barley	Canary seed
Southeast	31	26	34	36	33	63	50	1,101
Southwest	13	10	15	13	15	20	23	242
East Central	32	28	37	26	21	47	35	575
West Central	13	13	19	14	16	24	18	698
Northeast	42	N/A	35	n/a	N/A	60	47	N/A
Northwest	N/A	N/A	30	29	N/A	51	36	N/A
Provincial	27	24	30	26	19	49	34	773
10 yr. prov. avg. (2011-2020)	43	39	41	N/A	38	83	61	1,157
	Flax	Canola	Mustard	Soybean	Pea	Lentil	Chickpea
Southeast	20	27	820	28	34	1,246	1,383
Southwest	8	15	383	16	16	815	553
East Central	14	22	464	25	24	897	N/A
West Central	10	14	618	9	16	735	N/A
Northeast	14	24	N/A	N/A	27	N/A	N/A
Northwest	20	24	N/A	N/A	21	618	N/A
Provincial	15	21	431	27	22	870	741
10 yr. prov. avg. (2011-2020)	23	34	1,024	N/A	36	1,359	1,366
* ‘Other wheat’ includes all wheat classes other than Hard Red Spring Wheat Crop yield predictions at this point in time. Please keep in mind these are regional averages, and yields can vary greatly across an area. * canaryseed, mustard, lentil and chickpea in lbs/ac. All other crops in bu/ac. **** there is no 10-year provincial average for soybean and ‘other wheat’ as these categories were first reported in 2014

Harvest by Crop District October 4, 2021
Crop District	Per cent combined	Crop District	Per cent combined	Crop District	Per cent combined
1A	100	4A	100	7A	100
1B	100	4B	100	7B	100
2A	100	5A	98	8A	100
2B	100	5B	99	8B	99
3ASE	100	6A	100	9AE	100
3ASW	99	6B	100	9AW	99
3AN	100			9B	99
3BS	99
3BN	100