Lack of Rain Biggest Concern for Manitoba Producers

The lack of rainfall remains the biggest concern among Manitoba producers, with just spotty showers the past week doing little to improve moisture conditions, according to the latest weekly crop report on Tuesday. 

Only the San Clara area in the province’s Northwest region received significant rainfall over the past seven days, at just under 24 mm. On the other hand, most other regions received less than 5 mm. Soil moisture levels are variable throughout the overall production region, with most areas showing optimal to dry conditions to a 30 cm depth.  

Meanwhile, portions of the Central, Interlake, and Northwest regions are showing very dry conditions, the report added. 

Still, the report said crops nonetheless appear to be developing reasonably well. Cereal crops are reported to be in the four leaf to full flag leaf stage. Crops have shown rapid development and remain in good condition except later planted fields with uneven and thin stands due to dry topsoil. Corn has advanced rapidly with the recent heat and most of the fields are at the V5 to V8 stage.