CROP REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 8, 2005

Saskatchewan farmers now have 16 per cent of the 2005 crop planted, compared to the five-year (2000-04) average of 12 per cent planted at this time, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food's weekly crop report.

Seeding is most advanced in the southwest, where 33 per cent of the crop has been planted. Farmers have seeded 19 per cent of the crop in the southeast, and 11 per cent of the crop in the central region. Northern regions report less than 10 per cent of the crop now in the ground.

Some northwestern and southeastern areas received precipitation last week, which helped improve topsoil moisture conditions. Overall, topsoil moisture conditions on crop land have deteriorated slightly from the previous week, with the majority of the poor conditions reported east of a diagonal line from Hudson Bay through Moose Jaw. The topsoil situation on hay and pasture land also deteriorated across Saskatchewan, with reporters indicating that about 68 per cent of hay and pasture land has adequate topsoil moisture conditions, compared with 83 per cent last week. The deterioration in moisture is primarily due to the wind.

Across the province, five per cent of the winter wheat and two per cent of the fall rye were reported as winterkilled. Some farmers reported that damage came from flooding this spring.

Warmer temperatures and precipitation are needed in the coming weeks to encourage grass and hay growth.

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For More Information, Contact:

Terry Bedard Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Regina Phone: (306) 787-5956