CROP REPORT FOR THE WEEK CONCLUDING JULY 13th

A cooler week, with some rainfall, helped to maintain crops, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization's weekly crop report.

Provincially, crop conditions are reported as good to excellent for at least 50 per cent of all crops, with the exception of flax, mustard, and chickpeas. Crop development continues to accelerate with three-quarters of the spring cereals and pulse crops and two-thirds of oilseed crops either normal or ahead of normal development. More than 90 per cent of the fall cereals are either normal or ahead of normal development.

There is, however, concern about short crops and heat stress.

Topsoil moisture conditions on crop land improved, mainly in central and northern areas of the grainbelt. Provincially, 50 per cent of crop reporters rate crop land topsoil moisture as adequate and 39 per cent rate hay and pasture land topsoil moisture as adequate.

The main sources of crop damage during the past week were from insects and lack of moisture. Grasshoppers, in damaging numbers, can be found in areas across much of the province. Hail damage was reported in central and northern areas.

Good haying progress was made during the past week with less than one-quarter of the first-cut crop still standing. Just over 55 per cent of the 2003 hay crop has been baled or made into silage. Quality is generally expected to be good.

The weekly crop report is produced with information provided by 300 volunteer crop reporters in rural municipalities across the province.

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For More Information, Contact:

Terry Karwandy Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Regina Phone: (306)787-5956