CROP REPORT FOR THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 6 TO 12, 2011

Significant harvest progress was made due to a week of great weather. Saskatchewan producers have 60 per cent of the 2011 crop combined and 30 per cent swathed or ready to straight cut, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's Weekly Crop Report. The five year (2006-2010) provincial average for this time of year is 47 per cent combined and 30 per cent ready to straight-cut.

Harvest progress varies across the province. The southwest and southeast have 71 per cent combined, the west-central and east-central regions have 57 per cent and 56 per cent combined, respectively; the northeast has 47 per cent combined and the northwest 39 per cent. Ninety-two per cent of the lentils, 94 per cent of the field peas, 56 per cent of the durum, 53 per cent of the spring wheat and canola and six per cent of the flax have been combined.

Across the province, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as two per cent surplus, 69 per cent adequate, 26 per cent short and three per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 63 per cent adequate, 33 per cent short and two per cent very short.

Freezing temperatures were recorded throughout most of the province on September 13, which will have some effect on the late-seeded crops. Recent high winds rolled swaths around in some areas. In general, crop yields are reported to be average to above-average with the exception of the areas in the south and southeast that received excess moisture in the spring. Crop quality is good on the crop that has been combined to date.

Farmers are busy harvesting, seeding winter cereals, hauling bales and controlling weeds on unseeded acres.

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For more information, contact:

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