CROP REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 15, 2007

The warm, dry weather in the past week helped farmers make good haying progress, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food's weekly crop report.

Forty-one per cent of the first cut of hay has been baled or put into silage, up from 20 per cent in the previous week. The first estimate of the 2007 hay yield indicated that dryland brome/alfalfa is expected to average 1.5 tons per acre, about 50 per cent above the 10 year average.

Provincial crop development stage reports show the following: spring cereals are 52 per cent heading; flax crops are 53 per cent flowering; canola and mustard crops are 67 per cent flowering; pulse crops are 51 per cent flowering; and fall cereal crops are 57 per cent at the dough stage.

Topsoil moisture conditions on crop, hay and pasture land continue to be generally adequate across the province. The number of reporters rating topsoil moisture as surplus has decreased to less than six per cent, but the number rating topsoil moisture as short and very short has increased to about 25 per cent. The drier areas are mainly in the southwest regions.

Wheat midge was a major source of crop damage during the past week. Drought and gopher damage are still being reported as the major sources of damage in the southwest regions. Other sources of crop damage included flooding, hail, bertha armyworms and diamondback moths.

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For more information, contact:

Wayne Thompson
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6806