2021 Crop Planning Guide is now available

The 2021 Crop Planning Guide is now available in hard copy or electronically online. This guide provides information that can help estimate the income and cost of production for different crops in the various soil zones in Saskatchewan.

The detailed calculations in the guide are based on the inputs and returns associated with attaining a target yield that represent the fiveyear average of the 80th percentile for each crop in each soil zone. This is the reported yield where 80 per cent of producers would have experienced a lower or equal yield. These yields are based on producer data provided to Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation on an annual basis.

The guide contains a page for each crop. These pages contain information on how costs were calculated. This information includes seeding rates based on plant populations and fertilizer applications required based on the target yields that are expressed for each soil zone.

In the guide, you will also find information on pest control practices, including the number of fungicide and insecticide applications, and herbicide applications including the timing of various applications. Planned herbicide applications are based on the concept of layering which involves using multiple modes of action to reduce incidence of herbicide resistant populations.

Actual costs and yields on each farm may differ considerably from the assumptions used in this guide. Factors such as target yields based on either soil class or anticipated weather concerns as well as pest control practices can change both yields and expenses. Producers are encouraged to use an accompanying electronic Crop Planner Calculator to use their own numbers and increase the accuracy of the planning exercise.

For more information on the Crop Planning Guide or Crop Planner

Calculator, contact the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-4572377 to be connected with a crops extension specialist near you.