Rain Delay Creates Frost Concern

Rain across much of the province put a damper on harvest this week.

 

Dane Froese with Manitoba Agriculture talked about the delay.

 

"It still is mid-September, we do generally get a fairly warm spell in September at some time, and we are going to need it to be able to finish off harvest in a timely or low-moisture type of fashion," he said. "If it gets a little too wet, we're looking at drying or putting on aeration for the bulk of the crops that are continuing to come off and that does get time consuming and expensive. As long as crops are physiologically mature, they can be dried down, but if they aren't at that physiologically mature stage yet, the risk of frost does increase as we get later in to the season."

 

Froese says there has been quality issues with the wheat swaths left out in the field.

Video: Michigan Cover Crop Decision Tool Update 2026

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This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number 2023-38640-39573 through the North Central Region SARE program under project number ENC23-226. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.