CROP REPORT FOR THE PERIOD OCTOBER 6 TO 12, 2009

Wet, cold weather slowed fall work and harvest operations this past week, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's Weekly Crop Report.

One per-cent was gained in harvest progress with 77 per cent of the 2009 crop combined. Thirteen per cent is swathed and five per cent is ready to straight-combine.

Seventy-six per cent of the spring wheat, 87 per cent of the durum, 59 per cent of the oats, 85 per cent of the barley, 30 per cent of the flax, 66 per cent of the canola, 87 per cent of the mustard, 49 per cent of the canary seed and 75 per cent of the chickpeas have been combined. Twenty-two per cent of the oats and 33 per cent of the canola are in the swath, and 43 per cent of the flax is ready to straight combine.

Province wide, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 18 per cent surplus, 54 per cent adequate, 20 per cent short and six per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are rated as seven per cent surplus, 56 per cent adequate, 24 per cent short and 10 per cent very short.

Snow, rain, frost and wind were the major causes of crop damage in this week's report. The recent weather conditions have caused bleaching, sprouting, lodging and shattering in some crops, raising concerns over grade loss. There were some reports of wildlife, particularly water fowl, damaging swaths.

Producers need several days of sunny warm weather so they can complete the 2009 harvest.

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For more information, contact:

Grant Mclean
Agriculture
Moose Jaw
Phone: 306-694-3592
Email: grant.mclean@gov.sk.ca