Modest Increase in Sask Special Crops Forecast

VANCOUVER - Apr 9/08 - SNS -- Surveys of Saskatchewan's crop reporters reveal they are looking for a modest increase in total specialty crop acreage in that province this year.

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture's first weekly crop report for 2008 found farmers in the province plan to seed 34.2 million acres of all crops, up 3% from the recent 10-year (1998-2007) average of 33.3 million acres, and 4% above last year's 33.1 million acres. Special crop acreage is forecast to rise from 5.415 to 5.52 million acres.

"Crops that show increases in intended acreage include: spring wheat, durum, flax, canola, mustard, lentils and peas. Crops that are expected to show acreage decreases include: oats, barley, triticale, canary seed and chickpeas. Summerfallow area is estimated to decrease to 5.01 million acres, which is 31% below the 10-year average," the Saskatchewan Agriculture said.

"Crop reporters indicated that there is some uncertainty about seeding plans, so seeding intentions may still change. Part of this uncertainty can be attributed to dry soil conditions in the southern part of the province, slow snow melt in northern areas and high input prices."

It is important to note that provincial seeded area forecasts should only be used as a guide. The numbers often differ from those contained in Statistics Canada's seeding intentions survey, due for release on April 21. Different survey methods are used. While Statistics Canada contacts individual growers, Saskatchewan Agriculture surveys its crop reporters, who discuss acreage plans with neighbors. Despite that caveat, it is worth noting there is not a lot of difference between the trade's acreage expectations for major specialty crops and the provincial numbers.

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