Hursh: Comparing crop yields month-over-month

The Saskatchewan crop has become larger as harvest has progressed.

Here are some comparisons between the yield estimates in Thursday’s crop report to the estimates made back in early September.
 
Only a couple crops have seen their yield estimates reduced over the past month. 
 
Oats are down one bushel to 92 bushels an acre. Soybeans are also down a bushel to 39 bushels per acre. Barley remains the same as the provincial estimate made in early September – 71 bushels per acre and field peas are the same at 42. Other crops are up. Durum is up by 3 bushels to 41. Flax is up a bushel to 26. 
 
The canola yield estimate is up 3 bushels to 42. Spring wheat is up one to 51 bushels. Mustard has improved by 51 pounds per acre to 1192 pounds. Canary seed is up 76 pounds to 1419. Lentils are up 128 pounds to a provincial average of 1922. 
 
Chickpeas have the biggest price improvement going to 1817 pounds an acre, an increase of 195 pounds. In most cases, crop quality is good, but price levels remain a disappointment and improved yield estimates will not help.