November 1, 2007

Grain crop in Canada's Saskatchewan in line with 10-year average
 

Saskatchewan farmers harvested 23.875 million metric tonnes of grains, oilseeds and specialty crops during the 2007 growing season, according to data released by Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food in its final crop update.

The production estimate compares with the 10-year average of 23.833 million tonnes and was 1 percent above the 2006 season's 23.750 million tonnes.

The percentage of the crops that fell into the top grade category was above the 10-year average in about half of the crops, the report said. Downgrading came from insects, hail, low bushel weight and weathering in late harvested crops.

The area seeded to winter wheat in Saskatchewan in the fall of 2007 was estimated to have increased over 5 percent from the 2006 level, to 300,000 acres. The largest increase in winter wheat area was said to have occurred in the northeastern corner of the province, the report said.

An estimated 61 percent of the crop land in Saskatchewan was seen as having adequate topsoil moisture, 2 percent as having surplus, and 27 percent as having very short moisture supplies.

The spring wheat crop was estimated to be 37 percent No. 1 Canada Western compared to the 10-year average of 50 percent 1 CW. The overall quality of the durum crop was pegged at 46 percent No. 1 CW for 2007, compared with the 10-year average of 41 percent.

An estimated 22 percent of the oats crop in Saskatchewan was expected to grade as 1 CW, which would be down from the 10-year average of 28 percent.

In 2007, 43 percent of the barley crop was expected to grade as malting quality, above the 10-year average of 31 percent, the report said.

The report said 89 percent of the flaxseed was seen grading as 1 CW, which would be above the 10-year average of 80 percent. An estimated 80 percent of the canola was seen grading as No. 1 Canada, which compares with the 10-year average of 76 percent.

The report said most of the lower grading crops were harvested in the northern and central areas of the province. More of the higher-yielding crops were harvested in the southern regions.