Whats an Average crop to some is a bumper to others.

[SASKFARMER3]

I travel throughout lots of Saskatchewan and Manitoba in the summer and have been criticised for my calling this years crop an average. Hey if your farming at Kamsack 60 wheat is average, 50 canola but if your farming at swift current 60 durum and 40 canola is a bumper. But this year with the quality problems in Alberta, southern Sask and Manitoba and the drought reduced crop in Northern Alberta plus frost damage it will come out as an average crop for most of Canada. But saying what your yields are is it really in the best interest of you the farmers. Come on its nice to brag that your canola went 60 but isn't it better to let the neighbors keep guessing for years what your canola really went. Having some people year after year telling tales of big yields yet when you look at his bin space, couple of 3300 bushel bins and a little pile on ground and then farm auction sale. I for one believe in being modest about your crops. I for one believe like my father, when some one asks hows yours running he always said yea its OK never a number just yea its OK.
Good luck with the harvest. (Watch the USA, Argentina and Australia Crops)

[bucket]

when I ask someone how it is running - I don't expect a run down on the fields. If a guy says "I am happy all things considered" I know his bins are filling up and he will be there next year. When people ask I say its a good crop and quickly change the subject to prices from the board because we have missed an opportunity to make some incredible money this year. The US farmer locked in durum for 15 bucks in feb 08 and now we will be lucky to see 8 this year.

And the grading is insulting this year on durum. Pioneer at reed lake is grading hard. I think they know lots of durum went in where it should not have and they have to make provisions to blend that off. One guy took a load in and they graded it hard and he drove the load home. You would think that would send a message.

[bucket]

50 bpa Canola is average for Kamsack???? Whatever!!!

[blackjack]

...remember the true yield is only known after its sold...

[grassfarmer]

Each to their own, some guys brag yields, some brag how many quarters they farm, how big their combines, how many cows etc etc. Personally I'm interested in net margins.

[SASKFARMER3]

Snapper you never seen big crops. In NE Sask they produce big crops year in year out, except for the frost year of 02 and 04, take a drive. Guys from Alberta and over seas who are buying land near Regina and moose jaw you picked the wrong area for yield.
Have a good one.

[jensend]

here are the average canola yields for rm 271 kamsack and rm 273 veregin for the last ten years. i'm sure there are farmers with consistently better than these. this comes off the sask ag website.


Rural Municipality Crop Yields

Crop Year RM Canola (bu/ac)
1998 271 25.4
1998 273 24.9
1999 271 29.5
1999 273 29.5
2000 271 28.6
2000 273 26.9
2001 271 26.4
2001 273 24.8
2002 271 23.8
2002 273 23.3
2003 271 33.3
2003 273 27
2004 271 18.3
2004 273 22.7
2005 271 34.7
2005 273 32.4
2006 271 33
2006 273 32.5
2007 271 24.6
2007 273 23.5

[jensend]

Jensend, that is priceless!!!!!!!!! LOL!!

[furrowtickler]

There is no area in Sask that averages 50 bus canola. There are on some occations small areas that may get 50 , and this is one area. Camrose - Red Deer - Westlock is one of two ares in Western Canada (Central Manitoba the other) that has a shot at 50 averages at best. NE Sask is good but not that good on average. BTW what is average - 3, 5, 10, 20 years? There are some(10-15%) areas here (NW Sask) running 45-50 canola but more running 20-25 bus/ac, with an average being almost bang on 30-32.
But I do agree with SF comments on what is average for who. The guys getting 25 bus crops are not happy but that is their long term average, a small number of others are close to their averages at 40 . This year farming practices were a huge determining factor. Weed control timing and fert were huge factors - as usual.

[SASKFARMER3]

Boys boys boys. Take that provincial Average book and Put it you know where. Its avearage. Yes so some get 50 plus and some 12. What I am talking is progressive farmers that are following a different play book than the average Joe. Variety is huge, Fertility is huge, timing of swathing is huge, Seed numbers is huge, and weed control is huge, One note RR ready cost you money and don't give yield. Why do you think field of dreams is in the Kamsack Hyas area. HM.
Yes big yields are in Manitoba on general. NE E NW Sask has potential and Northern Alberta hugging the mountains and down to US border. Palliser triangle is not.
Go for a drive with a guy harvesting in these areas and watch the monitor. Or just go to Swanriver manitoba and see what farms look like.