Where did 2017 yield come from? Where did the yield go?

Based on the latest (but not final) StatCan estimates, canola yields in Manitoba in 2017 were better than the 5-year average, yields in Alberta were around average, and yields in Saskatchewan were below average. These, of course, are broad generalities. Some regions had yields range from single digits to well above 60 bu./ac.

What were the key driving factors behind very good yields in some areas and poor yields in others?

Here is our short list:

Good subsoil moisture. Soil moisture reserves carried a lot of crops toward good yields even while in-season rainfall in most regions was well below average.

Moderate temperatures. Cooler nights in July were a big positive factor in Manitoba in particular, where hot days and warm nights through flowering are the norm. Canola prefers the cooler conditions Manitoba experienced in 2017. (See the maps at the bottom. Click them to enlarge.)

Less disease. Lower than average rainfall reduced sclerotinia stem rot severity in many regions. This improved yields and reduced costs of production for areas that often have higher disease incidence rates. Note however that there was substantial variation in disease levels across the Prairies. And while disease survey results, in general, report decreased disease within each province, an exception was blackleg in Saskatchewan where the incidence of basal cankers was higher in 2017 compared to 2016.

Lack of moisture. Drought or near drought in some regions led to the single digits yields noted at the top of the article. (See the maps at the bottom. Click them to enlarge.) In some areas (eastern Manitoba, for example), less moisture than has been usual the past few years may have actually helped yields.

Excess moisture. In some areas, excess spring moisture delayed seeding. (Delayed 2016 harvest was wrapped up in this.) Even so, excess moisture and delayed seeding could have been an overall positive for yield with a long fall, but the fall wasn’t long enough for some. Small areas north and east of Edmonton still don’t have the crop off. (See the maps at the bottom. Click them to enlarge.)

What were key yield factors in your area in 2017? Please take a minute to share your experiences through our quick Canola Watch survey:

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