CROP REPORT FOR THE PERIOD JULY 26 TO AUGUST 1, 2011

Saskatchewan livestock producers continue to make good haying progress and now have 84 per cent of the hay crop cut. Sixty-seven per cent of the hay crop has been baled or put into silage, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly Crop Report.

Haying progress varies across the province, ranging from 91 per cent cut (west-central) to 64 per cent cut (northwest). Eighty-six per cent of the hay crop is cut in the southeastern region, 88 per cent in the southwestern region, 89 per cent in the east-central region and 88 per cent in the northeastern region.

Seventy-six per cent of the hay crop has been baled or put into silage in the southwest, 72 per cent in east-central, 67 per cent in the northeast, 72 per cent in the southeast, 75 per cent in west-central and 34 per cent in the northwest.

Ninety per cent of the hay crop is rated as good to excellent in quality, eight per cent is rated as fair and two per cent is reported as poor quality.

Producers are starting to harvest in some regions of the province. Farmers are desiccating pulses and swathing mustard, canola and fall cereals in some regions. A few lentil fields have been combined in some areas. The majority of crop damage is due to hail, wind and insects. Extreme winds and hail during the past week damaged crops and buildings in some areas.

Across the province, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as seven per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate, 14 per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate, 15 per cent short and one per cent very short.

While crops are generally still behind normal in development, the warm weather over the past couple of weeks has advanced crops and many producers are expected to harvest in the next couple of weeks.

Farmers are busy haying, scouting fields and getting ready for harvest.

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For more information, contact:

Grant McLean
Agriculture
Moose Jaw
Phone: 306-694-3592