CROP REPORT FOR THE PERIOD APRIL 20 TO APRIL 26, 2010

Saskatchewan farmers have begun seeding. One per cent of the 2010 crop is in the ground, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's Weekly Crop Report.

Seeding has progressed the most in the southwestern and southeastern regions, where four and one per cent, respectively, of the seeding is complete.

Across the province, topsoil moisture conditions are rated as 12 per cent surplus, 75 per cent adequate, 12 per cent short and one per cent very short. Topsoil moisture on hay land and pasture is rated as six per cent surplus, 71 per cent adequate, 20 per cent short and three per cent very short. As a result of the last couple of weeks' rain, more than 50 per cent of the land in the northeastern region has surplus moisture. In the southwestern and west-central areas, more than 20 per cent of the land is short or very short of moisture.

Rain showers rolled through most of the province during the past week.

Pasture conditions are rated as five per cent excellent, 43 per cent good, 33 per cent fair, 13 per cent poor and six per cent very poor. Eighty-nine per cent of livestock producers have adequate water supplies for their livestock, while 11 per cent are short of water for their animals.

Farmers and ranchers are busy applying fertilizer, picking rocks, cleaning seed, controlling weeds and gophers, calving and readying machinery for seeding.

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For more information, contact:

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