CROP REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 20TH, 2006

Harvest operations are underway on close to 50 per cent of the 2006 crop, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food's weekly crop report.

Nineteen per cent of the 2006 crop has been combined, and a further 27 per cent has been swathed or is ready to be straight combined. The five-year (2001-2005) average for this time of year is seven per cent combined, and 13 per cent swathed or ready to be straight combined.

Harvest operations are most advanced in the southwestern part of the province, where 44 per cent of the crop has been combined. Provincially, the winter wheat crop is 91 per cent combined, fall rye is 82 per cent combined, peas are 64 per cent combined and lentils are 65 per cent combined.

Warm temperatures and minimal rainfall have caused topsoil moisture conditions to deteriorate on crop land. Twenty-nine per cent of the crop reporters gave a very short rating for topsoil moisture conditions, compared with 22 per cent last week. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture conditions were rated as very short by 33 per cent of the reporters. This figure is up from 28 per cent last week.

Yields of brome/alfalfa hay on dryland were estimated at 1.6 tonnes per acre, above the 10-year (1996-2005) average of 1.1 tonnes per acre. Yields were estimated to be the highest in the northeast, and the lowest in the southwestern region.

Insects, drought stress and wind were the main sources of crop damage during the past week.

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For More Information, Contact:

Terry Bedard Agriculture and Food Regina Phone: (306) 787-5956