Better Weather Needed For Canola Harvest

Canola harvest and swathing have been on hold for over a week in parts of southern Manitoba. Wet conditions have kept growers off the field.

"Certainly, canola tends to hold its quality fairly well in the swath," says Derwyn Hammond, senior agronomist with the Canola Council of Canada. "For now, if we can get some decent weather in the next couple weeks, I don't think it's a big concern."

Producers in the south-eastern and south-central parts of the province had a good start on harvest prior to the rain, while growers in the west were just beginning harvest.

"Not a lot of combining yet in the west, but certainly most of the crop is in swath. As we move east, there's much more progress. There's only the odd field left to swath and, in some areas, over half the crop is in the bin," says Hammond.