Saskatchewan Seeding Winding Down

REGINA - Jun 5/07 - SNS -- Seeding this year's crops is winding down in most of Saskatchewan, with 95% of the crop now in the ground, up from 75% last week, but behind the recent five-year average of 91% complete, according to the latest crop report from Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.

Crops are generally emerging well, according to provincial crop reporters. Approximately 75% of crops that have emerged are rated in good to excellent condition.

There was limited progress made with fieldwork in many areas of the province due to wet and/or windy weather. Crop reporters indicated seeding plans may change, as seeding operations were again delayed by rain. All eastern crop districts in the province show less seeding progress than at this time last year.

Topsoil moisture conditions on crop land improved in most areas of the province. Crop reporters rated 18% of crop land as having surplus topsoil moisture, compared to 23% last week. Reporters in the northeastern part of the province rated 64% of the crop land in a surplus topsoil moisture situation, as compared to 83% last week, and east central reporters rated one-third of crop land in their area as having surplus topsoil moisture, down from 37% a week ago. As a whole, 80% of the province's crop land has adequate topsoil moisture. For hay and pasture land, reporters rated 83% as having adequate moisture, up from 77% last week.

Flooding was the main source of crop damage during the past week. Gophers, flea beetles, cutworms, wire worms, leaf diseases, and wind also contributed to crop damage.

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