Manitoba seeding inched forward this past week, moving slightly closer to completion.
Tuesday’s weekly crop report showed overall seeding in the province at 97% complete, up only a single point from a week earlier and behind last year and the five-year average at 100%.
Precipitation was highly variable across agricultural Manitoba during the seven days ended June 21, with some areas receiving substantial rainfall while nearby locations remained almost completely dry, the report said.
Somerset recorded the province’s highest weekly accumulation at 34.3 mm, while the driest locations in the Central Region, Brunkild and Bagot, received only 1 mm. In the Eastern Region, Sprague reported 26.6 mm, compared with no measurable rain at Stead.
Rainfall was generally lighter in the Interlake, where Gimli received 11.8 mm and Fisher Branch just 0.3 mm. The Northwest remained the wettest part of the province overall, with Swan River recording 22.1 mm and Ste. Rose receiving 0.6 mm. In the Southwest, Kenton reported 23.4 mm, compared with 2.8 mm at Minnedosa.
Since May 1, large portions of the Northwest, Interlake and Eastern regions have received more than 80 mm of precipitation. Seasonal totals are now above normal across the Interlake and parts of the Northwest, with some Northwest areas exceeding 150% of normal. Southern portions of the Interlake near Stonewall have received more than 250% of normal precipitation.
By contrast, much of the Southwest remains dry, with seasonal precipitation still below 70% of the 30-year average.
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