Approximately 75 per cent of crops that have emerged in the southeast area are rated in good to excellent condition, according to the Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food's weekly crop report. Elaine Moats, crop specialist for the Weyburn area, said "the crop emergence is looking very good, generally speaking. There is a lot of crop advancing very nicely."

Saskatchewan farmers have seeded 85 per cent of the 2007 crop, which is up from 75 per cent the previous week but below the five-year average of 91 per cent. With the majority of the seeding done in the Weyburn area, farmers are scouting their fields for weeds and doing some post-emergent weed control.

Moats commented that producers will want to protect against dandelion and foxtail barley. "Even though we went into the winter with dry conditions, we have good moisture conditions that have caused an ideal condition for these weeds."

Fortunately, due to the cool and damp conditions the areas received this spring, the Weyburn area has not had much insect problems in this area. "Initially there was a little concern about cutworms, as other areas of the province have had problems," said Moats. "However, this area has been very fortunate so far."

Moats did caution that producers "will want to keep an eye out for wheat midge and bertha armyworm," as they work their way into June.

Another thing that is going to sneak up sooner for producers is the haying season, which is a result of a combination of the dryer soil and the fluctuation of hot days and cold nights. "It will result in hastening in the maturity of the forage crops," Moats said.

Topsoil moisture conditions on crop land improved in most areas, with reporters rating 18 per cent of the crop land as having surplus topsoil moisture. For hay and pasture land, reporters rated 83 per cent as having adequate moisture, up from 77 per cent last week.