Weekly Provincial Summary
- Continued rainfall, cool and humid conditions this week have stalled harvest for the second week.
- Overall harvest progress gauged at 73%, compared to 71% last week and 67% on September 10th.
- Snowfall on Saturday has since melted in most areas, adding to the September precipitation accumulation
- Seeding of fall cereals mostly complete, fall soil sampling and tillage operations have started
- Forages and pastures have benefited from precipitation, but cool temperatures have slowed re-growth
- Dugout levels remain low, producers inquiring about Water Source Development program through Canadian Agricultural Partnership funding
Southwest Region
Rain showers across the region ranging from 8mm (Waskada) to 39 mm (Eden). All areas received some rain. More rain and snow in Northern parts of the region. Hamiota, Rivers, Newdale got 3 to 4 inches of snow on the weekend. Temperature was well below 0C during most of the nights. Cloudy and cool conditions have postponed harvest to a standstill. A couple of producers are attempting to harvest some soybeans. However, daily harvest hours are limited with short days and poor drying conditions. The first foot of soil, conditions are moist, however below that is still very dry. Soil temperatures are also falling to 7C mark given cloudy cool conditions. More and more producers are looking for grain dryers to dry their crops.
Very little harvest progress, harvest complete remains at 75%. Crop left in field is mostly soybeans, straight cut canola, corn and sunflower. Some late wheat and oat fields as well, in areas north of Highway 45. There is some swathed canola also in the field.
Sunflowers have reached R7 for the most part. Corn physically mature but drying down process has only begun for grain corn. A few producers were able to complete corn silage over the past week and yields average to above average with good quality.
Soybeans are mature and ready to harvest in most of areas. 25 to 30% soybeans have combined with initial yields of 25 to 30 bu/ac and some good fields reporting 40 to 45 bu/ac; yields were dependent on moisture they got during the season. There are no major quality issues reported.
Winter wheat and fall rye seeding is now complete. With frequent rains and showers any winter wheat or rye seeded before Sept 15 is emerged and first leaf at the latest.
Sunshine promised for the week coming with a possible showers Wednesday, more seasonal conditions to follow, and hopefully the rest of the crop to come off in October.
Cool rainy weather is hampering corn and green feed silaging operations. Some producers still looking to put up a second cut of hay if weather will co-operate. Forages have perked up and providing some grazing to cattle still on pasture. Producers looking to secure feed stuffs and inquiring about BMPs available for water development. Some slight accumulations of standing water in low spots. Dugouts are 50% full .
Northwest Region
Harvest progress was stalled this week with cool weather, intermittent rain showers, fog, heavy dew and snow over the weekend. Daytime temperatures were generally in the low teens with nighttime temperatures dropping below zero and frost through the end of the week and light snow on Saturday.
Rainfall accumulations resulted in around 13 mm through most parts of the region with southern most areas receiving closer to 20mm. Some harvest operations did take place but grain required drying. Overall harvest progress remains at 70%.
Harvesting of spring wheat is reported as 75 to 95 % complete throughout the region with some later seeded fields still standing. Yields are good ranging from 65 to 85 bu/ac.
There are varying reports regarding the completion of the canola harvest in the Northwest Region. Around Swan River the canola harvest is proceeding at about 35 to 40% complete with yields of 45 to 60 bu/ac; harvest of canola in the Roblin area is at 20% complete with the canola harvest just beginning at The Pas. The lentil and pea harvests are complete with yields of 45 to 50 bu/ac and 50 to 70 bu/ac respectively.
Continued rain and light snowfall is delaying late annual crop harvest including corn silage in much of the northwest. The wet conditions have also halted straw baling.
Supplemental feeding for livestock on pasture continues while some herds have been moved on to extended grazing such as second cut hay fields or annual crop stubble. Producers are securing additional feed where required.
Central Region
Cool, cloudy, rainy conditions prevailed for most of the week resulted in marginal harvest progress made. Daytime temperatures were in the low to mid teens. Nighttime temperatures cool to cold with light frost conditions. Snow and sleet came down along Highway 1 on the weekend with only a few cm accumulation. Foggy conditions on many mornings. Precipitation ranged from 15 to 20 mm for most of the region.
Winter cereal planting is now completed with fall rye acres particularly higher from last year due to the higher price offering.
Cereals harvest is considered done. More than usual cereal straw and some canola straw have been harvested to help make up for the hay shortfall.
Much of the canola fields have been harvested with about 99% complete, leaving only later planted fields left to harvest.
Flax is ripe with harvest about 50 to 60% done. Yield reports are in the 30 to 45 bu/ac. Sunflowers are ripe and drying down with some fields desiccated ahead of harvest.
Corn harvest progressed slightly with yields in the 80 to 120 bu/ac range depending on the seasonal precipitation received. Grain moisture is reported in the 25 to 30% range to lower in the areas with lower yield and drier conditions leading into harvest. Some corn intended for grain is being harvested as silage given the poorer yield expectations in drier pocket areas.
Soybeans harvest progressed moderately during the week with about 50 to 60% of the crop harvested and reported complete in the Altona area. Yield reports range from 25 to 40 bu/ac. Green seed issues are still being reported in the Red River valley but the later harvested fields seem to have lower percentage than earlier.
Edible bean harvest is about 80% done which was stopped due to the wetter conditions. Harvest reports indicate yields in the 1400 to 2000 lb/ac for Pinto beans and 1500 to 1800 lb/ac for Cranberry types with good seed size reported. Field pea harvest is done. Yields reported in the 30 to 80 bu/ac and good quality.
Post harvest tillage progressed this week with the improved top soil moisture conditions. Soil sampling is progressing well ahead of the fall fertilization period coming up. Manure application continues.
Potato harvest is underway. Early yield reports are good ranging in the 300 to 350 cwt/ac. More potato fields have been desiccated to terminate top growth ahead of harvest.
Recent rains are helping to green up pastures but growth is slow as temperatures cool. Many producers have been supplementing hay in pastures. Ammoniating of straw is being done to supplement feed supplies. Corn silage harvest continues. Livestock producers are sourcing alternative feed sources to meet their needs.
Livestock water supply is poor with water levels in the 25 to 35% range in dugouts with declining water quality. Pumping water into dugouts to replenish supplies may be a challenge as water levels in creeks and rivers is also low.
Eastern Region
Rainfall accumulation varied from district to district this week, accumulations varied from 14 mm to 37 mm. Soil moisture conditions on crop land were rated as about 100% surplus in northern districts. Central districts are rated 30% Surplus and 70% Adequate. In southern districts, soil moisture conditions on crop land were rated as 10% adequate, 60% short and 30% very short.
Rainfall in most of the Eastern region ranged from steady rain to intermittent drizzle began on Thursday and has continued on and off ever since. Added to this were cool daytime and night time temperatures and cloudy skies which have not helped to dry things out. Wednesday overnight to Thursday there was frost in some districts, temperatures went as low as -2C and below 0C periods persisted for as long as six hours. Given the advanced maturity of the crops still in the fields, there was relatively little concern expressed by growers. Some harvest/fieldwork progress was made this week before the rain settled in over the weekend. Producers plan to be back to the harvest as soon as field conditions allow.
Harvest progress in the Eastern region is estimated at 70% complete. Cereal harvest is wrapped up. Yields and quality were both very good this year. Spring Wheat yields range from 50 to 80 bu/ac. Reports indicated good quality and protein levels ranging from 13 to 16%. Oat acres have been harvested with reported yields ranging from 80 to 130 bu/ac Canola harvest is mostly wrapped with an estimated 99% of acres being combined across the region with yields ranging from 35 to 60 bu/ac with good quality. Soybeans R8 and drying down. Soybean harvest is estimated at 55% complete as an average for the region (Northern districts are at 15% complete while Central and Southern districts are at 80% complete). Harvest is on-going with yield reports in the 30 to 50 bu/ac range. Fields are ready to harvest but this week’s progress will depending on the weather. Sunflowers are all at the R9 stage and are ready to harvest, weather dependent. Corn is at physiological maturity/black layer, harvest will likely get fully underway by late this week, weather dependant.
Hay and pasture land moisture conditions were rated as 70% short and 30% very short. Pasture land conditions were rated as 30% fair, 40% poor and 30% very poor. Pastures are greening up from the past weeks rain, hog manured fields are starting to have good regrowth for a second cut and or grazing livestock. Producers also started to wean calves and feed livestock on pasture. Some grain corn is getting cut for silage.
Dugouts have about 20% of the water capacity with some dugouts dry. Winter feed supplies of hay are rated at 50% adequate and 50% inadequate, straw is rated at 40% adequate and 60% inadequate. Greenfeed is rated as 100% adequate with the feed grain supply rate at 80% adequate and 20% Inadequate. The availability of livestock water is rated at 70% adequate and 30% inadequate.
Interlake Region
Cooler temperatures, shorter day length, frosts and rainfall amounts from 6 to 24 mm have hampered harvest progress this past week. Overall harvest progress is 75 to 80% complete.
Cereal harvest is 98% complete with a wide range of yields; quality is quite good with spring wheat in top two grades, some with high protein, and vomitoxin levels quite low.
Canola harvest is 90% complete, with a wide range of yields due to variable rainfall amounts; quality is good.
Soybean harvest varies from 10 to 50% complete; yields from 15 to 50 bu/acre. Green seed in soybean samples reducing grades; producers being encouraged to hold off on combining.
Higher than normal amounts of ergot detected in fall rye samples.
Fall rye continues to be seeded with acres higher than in recent past.
Most sunflowers being desiccated, or have been already.
Seed alfalfa yields typically range from 150 to 350 lb/ac.
Phosphorus and potash fertilizer being applied; more so on fields intended for soybeans next year.
Soil testing and some land work continues.
Pastures are no longer growing as fast as being grazed, although recent rains have helped. Tame haying mostly complete, a few fields being cut after killing frosts.
Native/wild haying continues, particularly in low ground and along the lakes. Early weaning and pregnancy checking occurring due to feed/pasture shortage and low dugout levels at 0 to 30% full.
Source : Government of Manitoba