Excess moisture slows final fieldwork while soybean harvest advances and livestock producers prepare for winter.
Manitoba producers are making significant progress on harvest operations, but excess soil moisture continues to create challenges in some regions as the 2026 growing season winds down.
According to the latest Manitoba crop report, spring cereal harvest is essentially complete across the Central, Eastern, and Interlake regions. Most spring cereals produced average yields, although results varied from slightly below average to above average depending on location.
Crop quality was generally favourable for fields harvested earlier in the season, but later-harvested crops have experienced downgrades due to sprouting and weather-related damage.
Grain corn remains in the dent stage across much of the province, with harvest already underway in the Central, Eastern, and Interlake regions. Silage corn harvest is also progressing steadily, reaching 74 per cent completion provincewide.
Harvest operations in the Central and Eastern regions are now complete, while work continues elsewhere.
Recent moisture has also benefited winter cereal establishment, with growers reporting good crop development heading into the colder months.
Canola Faces Weather Challenges
Canola harvest moved ahead quickly during the past week despite difficult field conditions in some areas. Yield reports range from below average to average, while strong winds and rainfall have caused lodging in selected fields, complicating harvest efforts.
Producers have also reported issues with sprouting, regrowth, pod shatter, and pod drop, particularly where crops remained in the field longer than expected.
Meanwhile, flax harvest is approximately 60 per cent complete, and sunflower crops have reached the R8 to R9 growth stages.
Soybeans Deliver Solid Results
Soybean harvest continues to be one of the brighter spots of the season. The majority of soybean acres have reached the R8 stage, and harvest is estimated at 80 per cent complete.
The Central and Eastern regions are leading progress, with more than 80 per cent of soybean acres harvested. Yield reports are generally average to above average, providing some positive news for Manitoba farmers.
Pea harvest is now complete across the province, with most producers reporting average yields and good quality.
Wet Conditions Delay Some Forage Operations
While silage corn harvest is nearing completion across southern and eastern Manitoba, chopping remains underway in the Northwest region. Yields have been inconsistent, reflecting the wide range of growing conditions experienced during the season.
In some eastern areas, excessive moisture has delayed harvest beyond the optimal moisture stage for silage. As a result, some producers are evaluating whether remaining acres may be better suited for grain harvest.
Most haying activities are complete, although some farmers continue baling swaths affected by Thanksgiving weekend rainfall, along with native and slough hay acres. Straw baling is also ongoing following grain harvest, including the collection of straw from hail-damaged cereal crops.
Sprouted wheat and oat crops have been reported in some regions, while producers continue moving straw bales whenever field conditions allow. Excess soil moisture remains the primary obstacle, preventing equipment access to some fields and leaving producers waiting for drier weather or freeze-up conditions before completing outstanding work.
Some livestock producers are taking a final cut of alfalfa or utilizing fields for fall grazing following widespread killing frost conditions.
Water supplies remain in good shape, with dugouts estimated to be approximately 90 per cent full across the province.
Fall Livestock Activities Underway
The annual fall calf run is now underway as producers continue weaning calves and marketing spring-born animals through local auction markets.
Pregnancy checking remains active, and many producers are bringing cattle home from summer and community pastures ahead of winter. Some cow-calf pairs continue to graze fall pastures where forage conditions remain adequate.
Recent rainfall temporarily created muddy conditions in livestock pens, but many producers report conditions are gradually drying.
As Manitoba moves further into autumn, excess moisture remains the biggest challenge for producers attempting to finish harvest and complete fall field operations. However, strong soybean yields, nearly completed cereal harvest, and adequate forage and water supplies are providing some encouraging signs heading into winter.