CROP REPORT FOR THE PERIOD AUGUST 18 TO 24, 2009

Just over three per cent of the 2009 crop has been combined, up from one per cent last week, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly Crop Report.*

The five-year average (2004-2008) is 16 per cent combined and 22 per cent swathed or ready to straight-combine.

Harvest progressed slowly last week due to spotty rain showers in many areas of the province.

Thirty-seven per cent of the fall rye and 24 per cent of the winter wheat has been combined. Four per cent of the mustard, 11 per cent of the lentils and 18 per cent of the peas have been combined.

Cropland topsoil moisture in the province is rated as eight per cent surplus, 83 per cent adequate, seven per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are rated as two per cent surplus, 80 per cent adequate, 14 per cent short and two per cent very short.

Haying is nearly complete except in the northern regions of the province where rain had kept some producers from wrapping up the last of the 2009 hay crop.

Pasture conditions continue to improve in most areas of the province, due to the moisture received throughout the growing season. Pasture conditions across the province are rated as seven per cent excellent, 47 per cent good, 38 per cent fair, seven per cent poor and one per cent very poor. Livestock water supplies have also improved somewhat from last month and are rated as 94 per cent adequate.

Grasshoppers, flooding and wind caused the majority of crop damage. Isolated hail damage was reported. Other sources of crop damage include powdery mildew and pea aphids.

Farmers are busy swathing, desiccating, cutting greenfeed, hauling grain, scouting fields and waiting for the crops to mature.

*Computer problems last week resulted in an error in the calculation of harvest progress. The actual figure was one per cent combined, not three per cent as reported.

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For more information, contact:

Grant McLean
Agriculture
Moose Jaw
Phone: 694-3592