CROP REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING JULY 6, 2008

Warm, dry weather over the past week helped producers make good progress with haying, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly crop report.

Twenty-six per cent of the first cut of hay has been cut, baled or silaged during the past week, compared to six per cent the previous week. The first estimate of the 2008 hay yield indicates dryland/brome alfalfa will average approximately two tonnes per hectare (0.9 tons per acre) across the province. This is 10 per cent below the 10-year average.

On a provincial basis, spring cereals averaged 32 per cent in the jointed stage, 43 per cent in the shotblade stage, and 14 per cent in the headed stage. Flax crops are 22 per cent in the seedling stage, 67 per cent in the stem extension stage, and nine per cent in the flowering stage. Canola and mustard crops are nine per cent at the seedling stage, 45 per cent in the rosette stage, and 45 per cent at the flowering stage. Pulse crops are 40 per cent in the vegetative stage, 56 per cent in the flowering stage, and four per cent in the pod stage. Fall cereals are nine per cent in the shotblade stage, 73 per cent in the heading stage, and 17 per cent in the dough stage.

Topsoil moisture conditions have deteriorated from last week. While drying occurred in the few areas of surplus moisture, regions of short to very short topsoil moisture also increased. Forty-seven per cent of crop land is rated as having adequate topsoil moisture and 36 per cent of hay and pasture land is rated as having adequate topsoil moisture.

Heat and lack of rainfall was the major source of crop damage during the past week. Other sources of damage included hail, disease, grasshoppers, diamondback moths, aphids, weevils and gophers.

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For more information, contact:

Wayne Thompson
Agriculture
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6806