Crop Conditions Improving

REGINA - Jul 30/10 - SNS -- The condition of crops growing in Saskatcheasan improved slightly during the past week, juding from the latest crop progress report from Saskatchewan Agriculture.

The warmer weather in the past two weeks has helped advance crops; however, most are still one to two weeks behind normal in development. Roughly 83% of the winter wheat, 88% of the fall rye, 89% of the triticale and 79% of the peas are in good to excellent condition.

As the week got underway, 77% of the spring wheat, 83% of the durum, 78% of the oats, 76% of the barley, 80% of the flax, 71% of the canola, 81% of the mustard, 77% of the lentils, 78% of the canaryseed and 97% of the chickpeas are in fair to good condition.

The majority of crop damage is being caused by flooding and hail. Wheat midge and grasshoppers are also causing damage.

Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 29% surplus, 68% adequate and 3% short. Topsoil moisture on hay land and pasture is rated as 18% surplus, 77% adequate, 4% short and 1% very short.