Saskatchewan’s crops were able to get past some subpar growing conditions for an overall average to above-average yield in 2009, according to the provincial ag ministry.
Overall, provincially, crop yields were above the 10-year average, the ag ministry said Wednesday in its year-end crop report for 2009. The quality of most crops was average to above-average.
Most of the crop downgrading that occurred was caused by weathering and insects, the province said.
Forage yields, however, were considered below average throughout the province, although forage quality was rated “generally good.”
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Cool springtime conditions in the spring of 2009 were compounded in some areas by dry conditions, the province said. Seeding operations began in the southwest by the third week in April and by June 1, 95 per cent of the province’s crops were seeded.
Crop development was behind normal for much of the growing season due to cool weather, which lasted until September when warm weather allowed crops to mature quickly.
A wet October, however, kept many farmers from finishing harvest work until November. By Nov. 24, 99 per cent of the harvest was complete, the province said.
Harvest started in the southwest at the end of July with the swathing and straight-combining of winter wheat and fall rye, the province said.
The unusual growing conditions, however, led to “stagey” crops. “Many crops matured unevenly, making it hard to make management decisions, such as when to start desiccating or swathing,” the province said.
