Initial Saskatchewan Crop Ratings Mostly Lower

Initial crop condition ratings in Saskatchewan are mostly below those of a year earlier. 

Thursday’s crop report rated the condition of crops in the province as of Monday. And while last year’s first condition ratings were not released until a week later, they were almost universally higher compared to this time around. 

For example, the Saskatchewan spring wheat crop was rated 64% good to excellent as of Monday, down from 87% on June 10 last year. The durum crop was rated 76% good to excellent as of Monday, compared to last year’s initial rating of 93%, while oats and barley – at 61% and 67% good to excellent, respectively – were down from 87%. 

At just 57% good to excellent as of Monday, the condition of the canola crop was the lowest among all crops in the province and 21 points below last year’s June 10 rating.  

The flax and mustard crops came in at 74% and 67% good to excellent, versus last year’s initial ratings of 91% and 88%. The lentil crop was rated 79% good to excellent, down from 90%, while peas were 16 points below last year at 75%. The canary crop was rated 71% good to excellent, down from 89%, and chickpeas, at 86%, were down from 95%. 

Soybeans were the only crop with a condition rating above last year, up 2 points at 85% good to excellent.