Saskatchewan livestock producers made good haying progress last week and now have 88 per cent of the hay crop cut. Seventy-six per cent of the hay crop has been baled or put into silage, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's Weekly Crop Report for the period of July 24 to 30. Eighty-nine per cent of the provincial hay crop is rated as good to excellent in quality.

Haying progress varies across the province. Southwestern Saskatchewan has 96 per cent of the hay cut; southeastern Saskatchewan has 92 per cent cut; the west-central region has 80 per cent cut; the east-central region has 89 per cent cut; the northwest has 76 per cent cut; and the northeast has 88 per cent cut.

Provincial pasture conditions are rated as 23 per cent excellent, 57 per cent good, 17 per cent fair and three per cent poor. Livestock water availability is adequate.

Many areas of the province received several inches of rainfall this past week that has helped to alleviate crop stress. Top soil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 12 per cent surplus, 73 per cent adequate, 14 per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as eight per cent surplus, 69 per cent adequate, 20 per cent short and three per cent very short.

Producers are starting to harvest winter cereals and pulses in some regions of the province. Farmers are desiccating pulses and swathing canola and mustard in some areas. The majority of crop damage this week is due to disease, insects and wind.

Farmers are busy haying, controlling diseases and insects and getting ready for harvest.