TOPSOIL MOISTURE CONTINUES TO IMPROVE

Released on June 18, 2002

Topsoil moisture continues to improve according to Saskatchewan

Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization's weekly crop report.



Recent rain was a boost to many areas with crop land topsoil moisture rated

as fair to good by about 80 per cent of crop reporters and 66 per cent of

crop reporters rating hay and pasture land topsoil moisture as fair to

good. The northwest corner and regions of the grainbelt including the

Kindersley, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Tisdale and Wynyard areas continue to

report poor soil moisture, pasture and surface water conditions.



Although pasture and haylands are turning green where the rain fell, forage

production will be down because of the cool, dry spring.



Warm weather and timely rains are needed to advance crop development.

Spring cereals are 43 per cent at or past the tillering stage, compared

with the five-year average of 68 per cent. The average for flax is over 50

per cent at the vegetative stage compared to the current level of 22 per

cent. Canola crops are 33 per cent at or past the seedling stage, compared

with the average of over 66 per cent. Pulse crops are 50 per cent at the

vegetative stage, compared with the average of 70 per cent. The average

for fall seeded crop is over 50 per cent heading compared to 19 per cent

currently reported.



Improved moisture conditions have meant increased weed growth, and control

operations are underway. The main sources of crop damage reported during

the past week were insects (flea beetles, grasshoppers, cutworms), drought

and wind.



Farmers are taking advantage of the improved moisture to re-seed damaged

crops and to seed more cereal crops.



The crop report is available online at www.agr.gov.sk.ca



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For more information, contact:



Terry Karwandy, Agrologist

Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-5956