Manitoba Agriculture Crop Report

 

Southwest Region
 

Rainfall amounts varied again throughout the Southwest Region with some large storms in the middle of the week in the northern part of the region. Rossburn, Russell and Angusville reported strong winds, heavy rainfall and hail.  

 

Winter wheat and fall rye harvest continues with reports of average yields and good quality. Producers are also harvesting peas in the region with reports of average to below average yields, and similar variability with quality. Several producers have started pre-harvest spraying of cereal crops and with some good weather, spring cereal harvest may start towards the end of the week. Some early seeded cereal acres, mainly barley, have been harvested with average to above average yields reported.

 

Swathing of canola has started with disease being a major issue in deciding when to cut. Soybeans are progressing and are in the R5 to R6 stage. Symptoms of sclerotinia are starting to appear in sunflowers in some fields, but crop is still progressing well. Corn is tasseling and cobs are developing.

 

Most first cut haying operations have been completed and reports are above average yields. Some second cut has been started. Pastures are good with dugouts 100% full.

 

 

There was unsettled weather throughout the Northwest Region over the week, with intermittent showers and poor drying conditions. Rainfall amounts varied with 12 to 50 mm in Swan River, up to 40 mm in The Pas, and trace to 10 mm through Roblin and Dauphin areas.  Soil moisture conditions are variable, ranging from adequate in most areas to excessive in those areas receiving high rainfall amounts over the last couple of weeks. In general, most field crops throughout the region continue to mature and are in relatively good condition, with the exception of crops in those areas impacted by too much moisture.

 

Crops are advancing with fall rye, perennial ryegrass and winter wheat harvest continuing in the Dauphin and Roblin areas, as weather permitted. Some barley has been harvested in the Ste. Rose area. Spring wheat is maturing and throughout the region with reports of some fields receiving pre-harvest herbicide application. Canola continues to develop with 100% of the canola fields podding and some canola swathed in the Dauphin and Swan River areas. Field peas are also advancing with most fields podded; reports of some fields being desiccated and a small number of acres were harvested in the Swan River area. Soybeans, for the most part, are at R3 stage.

 

Some crop lodging due to rain and/or wind is evident throughout the entire region and crop damage due to excessive moisture is evident in lower areas in fields. Aster yellows are reported in canola in the Roblin and Swan Valley areas at relatively low levels. Some oat blast in the Roblin area has been reported and fusarium head blight is present in spring wheat throughout the region. White mould and powdery mildew is reported in some pea fields, as well as sclerotinia in canola where fungicide was not applied.

 

Weather continues to delay first cut hay harvest. Heavy rains in some areas have made fields impassable. Due to the late harvest and the hay crops receiving rain when in the swath, feed quality will be below average. Some second cut hay has been put up with producers opting to make silage. Annual crops are being harvested for greenfeed and silage with above average yields reported. Pastures are rated average to good and livestock water supplies are adequate.

 

 

Warm temperatures throughout the week allowed for continued rapid crop growth in the Central Region. Unsettled weather remains, and the majority of the region saw some rain or thundershowers with amounts ranging from 5 to 25 mm. High humidity continues to limit drying conditions, increasing potential for disease infections in crops, and interfering with haying operations. Field access continues to be an issue due to wet conditions and field activity is limited; ruts are being made by swathers and combines. Equipment is getting stuck and producers are looking at equipment modifications such as track kits and rear wheel assist kits. Harvest progress is slow as grain moisture levels remain high. Swath and pre-harvest timing is difficult due to staginess of crops.

 

Fall rye and winter wheat harvest is nearly complete. Yields of winter wheat range from 65 to over 100 bu/acre, with average yields in the 75 to 85 bu/acre range. Protein contents to date are reported in the 11 to 11.5% range. Early yield reports for fall rye are from 75 to 95 bu/acre; some ergot reported. Perennial ryegrass is being harvested with struggles related to the wet conditions and high humidity. No yield reports to date.

 

Spring cereals are maturing and pre-harvest applications continue. Spring wheat yields range from 40 to 60 bu/acre to date, and barley yields are in the 70 to 85 bu/acre range. Oats are being swathed with some acres harvested; no yield reports to date.

 

The later seeded canola is podded while early seeded canola is seeing good seed colour change. Swathing continues. Pre-harvest applications are taking place in some fields that will be straight cut. Sclerotinia infections are becoming more evident, resulting in premature ripening.

 

Corn is growing rapidly and some fields have advanced to milk stage. Soybeans continue to flower and pod. Fields range from R4 to R5.5; with many approaching R6. Bacterial blight is evident in many fields, and both phytophthera and white mould are showing up. Edible beans are podded; the most advanced fields have some colour change. Fields are stressed due to excessive rainfall. There are reports of white mould showing up in fields where canopy is dense. Bacterial blight is also evident in many fields.

 

Many pea fields have dried down. Stands look good where excess moisture is not an issue. Yields reported are in the 25 to 40 bu/acre range. Boll formation is complete in most flax fields and colour change is evident. Pre-harvest applications have begun. Sunflowers are flowering and in the R4 to R5.5 stage; monitoring continues for for head insects. There is lodging and snapped stems in some sunflower fields from the previous week’s strong winds.  Potato harvest has begun.

 

Good growth of forages continues. Second cut continues and is surpassing that of first cut in both quantity and quality due to the more cooperative weather. High humidity still is an issue for drying of swaths and many producers are wrapping bales. Greenfeed and cereals are being cut for silage, with good results. There is abundant grass growth in pastures. Livestock water supply is adequate.

 

 

The weather last week in the Eastern Region improved in regards to rainfall. Southern districts received from minimal to more than 15 mm of rain with most of this occurring at the start of last week. Central and northern districts experienced minimal precipitation, although some isolated showers/rainstorms did occur. Overall, the Eastern Region had improved drying conditions allowing for greater field access with producers continuing with pre-harvest applications, harvesting, and haying. Tillage in harvested winter wheat fields was also occurring. Crop development in warm season crops continued to accelerate given the seasonal to warm temperatures. Producers are looking for the weather to continue warm and sunny as they move into harvesting. Soil moisture conditions are considered ample to support continued development in warm season crops. Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland were rated from adequate to surplus across the Eastern Region with surplus conditions most prevalent in southern districts.

 

Winter wheat harvest is almost complete in the Eastern Region with reported yields ranging from 60 to 95 bu/acre. Protein levels are often at 11% or higher. Fusarium damaged kernel levels are lower than expected based on pre-harvest field observations. Majority of spring cereals are mature with the remainder of the crop quickly moving from late hard dough to maturity. Pre-harvest applications in spring wheat are almost complete. Harvesting of spring wheat is 5% complete. Canola is mostly mature with pre-harvest applications about 60% complete and swathing about 25% complete. Field peas are mature with pre-harvest applications on-going and harvest has started. The soybean crop ranges from the R5 (beginning seed fill) or R6 (full seed) growth stages. The frequency of reports of soybeans displaying potassium deficiency symptoms, phytophthora wilt and sclerotinia increased last week. Sunflowers are mostly at the R6 (end of flowering/seed filling stages) with the remainder of the crop at late R5 (flowering stages). Corn is mostly at the R3 (milk stage) with the remainder of the crop at the R2 (blister stage).

 

Across the region, 60% of hay land is in good to fair condition with the remaining rated as poor to very poor. Some more hay was harvested last week in between the rain. There is still about 30% of hay still standing. Quality to date is noted as good with first cut alfalfa hay yielding 2 tons/acre and first cut grass/alfalfa hay yielding 1.75 tons/acre. Second cut alfalfa hay is yielding 1.5 tons/acre. The majority of pastureland is rated in good condition. Availability of livestock water was adequate.

 

 

Warm temperatures with scattered thunderstorms were once again the weather pattern in the Interlake Region. Near Fisher Branch, producers received anywhere from 60 to 100 mm of rainfall in a short period of time. North of Arborg, producers received 35 to 45 mm of precipitation, along with hail.

 

Winter wheat harvest is nearly complete in the south Interlake but is still on-going in north Interlake. Reports of yields ranging from 60 to 80 bu/acre with minimal levels of fusarium damaged kernels reported. Spring cereal harvest has started with barley, wheat, and oats acres being combined. No reports to date on yields and quality. Spring cereals continue to be swathed or pre-harvested as crop reach the proper maturity. Canola development varies as some fields have been swathed for over 7 to 10 days, some fields will be getting cut this week, and later seeded fields are just finishing flowering. Soybean crops are at the R5 stage, and sunflowers are in the mid-flowering stage. Forage grass seed harvest is still on-going with minimal acres left to harvest. Some insecticides are being applied on alfalfa seed fields for lygus control. Pea fields in the region are being harvested with yields of 40 to 50 bu/acre. Flax fields are starting to dry down as the crops start to turn colour.

 

Haying continues between the scattered showers. Producers continue to work on baling second cut and in areas are working on the third cut. Dugout conditions are good.