CROP REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING APRIL 12, 2010

The rain that fell this week could not have come at a better time for many Saskatchewan farmers, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's Weekly Crop Report.

The moisture is particularly welcome in the western half of the province, which has been very dry for the past two years. The moisture situation on the east side of the province is sufficient to get the crop up and off to a good start. Some areas received rain on Monday, but the majority of it fell on Tuesday and Wednesday and will be reflected in next week's report.

Crop reporters have indicated that there will be a decrease in the number of acres sown to durum, oats, barley and flax compared to last year. Lentils, canola, canaryseed, mustard and chickpeas will see an increase.

There are reports of farmers in the south, south-east and south-west beginning to seed.

Due to the slow snow melt, the southwest and west central areas of the province are reporting little runoff. Some areas in the central and northern regions are indicating that dugouts have been filled.

The severe wind last Friday, which reached 130 km per hour in places, damaged roofs, corrals, quonsets, bins and trees, and caused some soil-drift. Some areas had snow along with the extreme wind, causing blizzard-like conditions.

Farmers are busy with pre-seeding field work, cleaning seed, drying grain, moving cattle to pasture, calving and fencing.

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For more information, contact:

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