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Manitoba crop report August 31

Posted by Flaman Agriculture Sep 01, 2015

Crop Report: Issue 18, August 2431, 2015

Weekly Provincial Summary 

• Sporadic rainfall and high humidity levels slowed harvest progress and haying operations across Manitoba.  The recent weather is also resulting in quality loss in some crop types.
• A strong weather system passed through several areas of the Central Region the morning of August 28.  Heavy rains and small to large-sized hail resulted in varying amounts of crop damage.
• Harvest of winter cereals is complete with average to above average yields and good quality.
• Spring wheat, barley, oats, canola and field pea harvest continues as field and weather conditions allow.
• Minimal acres of winter wheat and fall rye are seeded to date.

 

Southwest Region

In the Southwest Region, little to no rainfall over the past week helped producers continue with harvest. Rainfall amounts did vary with the majority of the rain coming on Thursday evening in scattered thundershowers. Rainfall amounts for the week ranged from 5 to 25 mm.

Harvest progress varies throughout the Southwest Region. In the south and southwest areas of the region, harvest is 50 to 60% complete. In areas north of Highway #1, harvest is approximately 30% complete with approximately 10% of the spring wheat crop harvested, and the majority of barley acres harvested.  Harvest of winter cereals is complete across the region.

Winter cereal yields are average to slightly above average, and good quality. Spring wheat yields are average to above average with good quality. Barley yields are also reported as average to slightly above average with good quality.

Canola that wasn’t reseeded because of spring frosts is swathed. Some canola has been harvested, with reports of average yields and higher levels of disease in some of the earlier crop.  Reseeded canola is starting to be cut and majority of the crop will be ready to be cut by the end of the week.

The soybean crop is advancing well and recent rains will help crop in the later stages of development. Most of the crop is in the R6 stage with some of the early crop beginning maturity. Sunflowers are in the R6 stage with early seeded sunflowers in the R7 stage. Reports of heavy disease pressure in some areas. Most corn is in the grain filling stages, ranging from R2 to R3. Flax is turning with the odd early field being desiccated.

Pastures benefited from recent rains; however, overgrazed pastures may be under pressure to make the month of September for grazing. Silage of cereal crops is being done and yields are average to above average. Second cut hay is being done with most areas reporting average yields and good quality. Dugouts are about 80% full.
 

Northwest Region

Harvest operations in the Northwest Region moved ahead slowly over the past week. High humidity and heavy dew in the mornings, along with light sporadic showers, contributed to the slow harvest progress. Early seeded canola crops that were not reseeded because of frost are being swathed. Reseeded canola fields are at least ten days away from swathing. In many cases, fall field work operations are caught up to harvest. Soil moisture conditions are adequate in most parts of the region and excessive in some localized areas.

The wheat harvest is the furthest advanced at this point in the region; estimated 70% of the hard red wheat crop is combined. Reported hard red spring wheat yields are extremely variable and range from 25 to 70 bu/acre. Very little canola has been harvested. Approximately 40% of the canola crop has been swathed.

Approximately 45% of the corn crop is in the blister stage of growth, 50% is at milk stage, and 5% at dough stage. For soybeans, 100% of the crop is podded. About 85% of the flax crop is at the boll stage of growth and 15% is mature.
Rain in many areas late Sunday evening has halted haying, greenfeed and silage operations. Harvest will resume once weather and field conditions allow. Second cut hay harvest saw average yields and native hay will continue to be harvested. Cereal silage is complete showing average yields. Water supplies are adequate in most parts of the region.
 

Central Region

The Central Region saw normal to above normal temperatures during the week with minimal precipitation accumulations.  However, on Friday morning a strong weather system moved through some areas of the region. Large hail was reported through the Altona and Plum Coulee areas; hail fell for up to fifteen minutes with stones ranging from marble to baseball in size.  Hail was also reported in other areas including St.Claude, Glenboro to Rathwell, south of Carman, and from Miami to Winkler. Damage occurred to crops such as corn, edible beans, soybeans and canola. Rainfall amounts up to 33 mm were also associated with the system.

Harvest had resumed early to mid-week after the previous weekends’ rain/cool conditions, but field activity was limited with heavy dews and high relative humidity through the week. Smoky conditions resulting from forest fires in Washington State moderated temperatures but did prolong drying of morning dews. Producers are limited by wet conditions when selecting fields for harvest. Artificial grain drying and aeration is occurring as some grain is being harvest at tough moisture levels.
Cereal crop harvest has progressed and is starting to wind down. Progress is slow in lodged fields. Wheat harvest is 40 to 90% completed with the Red River Valley the most advanced. Fusarium head blight levels are reported to be generally low in both winter and spring wheat, and quality is generally good. Quality of the wheat remaining in the field is declining, with downgrading due to mildew and sprouting.

Much of the canola crop is swathed. Combining of canola is well underway in the Red River Valley, with progress estimated at 60% complete. More canola is being straight cut, with positive results to date. Early yield reports are variable, with the best looking stands yielding in the 40 to 50 bu/acre range, to yields as low as 10 to 15 bu/acre.

Field pea harvest is delayed due to wet field conditions.  Early yield reports are in the 45 bu/acre range.  Flax is at the boll stage and starting to turn. There is limited swathing or harvesting done, although some fields are complete in the Roland area. No yield reports to date.

The back of the heads of earliest seeded sunflowers‎ are yellow; desiccation may start in ten days to two weeks. The most recent rains will benefit corn. Most soybean fields are finished flowering. Some of the earliest seeded fields are seeing leaf colour change. Edible beans are starting to turn; some fields have been cut with minimal acres harvested to date.
Some fields have been cultivated, following harvest. Soil testing has begun.

The second cut hay harvest is mostly complete in the southern areas, with reasonable yield and quality. The wettest areas in the northwest report poor quality second cut hay, which is still being harvested. Some fields are not advanced enough to take another cut, and producers are waiting to see if there will be enough growth to warrant that second operation. Low lying areas and sloughs are being cut for feed ‎where access is possible. Pastures are rated in good to fair condition.
 

Eastern Region

In the Eastern Region, the weather last week was very humid with temperatures climbing from seasonal to hot as the week progressed. With localized rainfall events throughout the week and on the weekend, harvest progress was limited. Some harvesting resumed on Wednesday or Thursday in districts where field access was possible. Some field rutting is noted and standing water in field low spots is also still evident throughout the region. The precipitation may impact quality of crops. Warm season crops are showing signs of excess moisture stress in some fields.

Winter wheat harvesting is complete with an average yield of 70 bu/acre and average quality. Spring wheat harvest is 75% complete with an average yield of 60 bu/acre with average quality. About 40% of the oat crop is harvested with an average yield of 110 bu/acre with average quality. About 35% of the canola is harvested with an average yield of 45 bu/acre with average quality. Soybeans are in the R6 growth stage. Sunflowers are in the R7 growth stage with corn in the milk (R3) growth stage.

Pasture conditions are rated at 80% good, 10% fair and 10% poor. There still are hay swaths laying in wet field conditions and dry weather is needed for producers to resume haying. Most producers have their straw baled. Pastures benefited from the rains. Livestock are starting to graze hay fields that were cut earlier. Currently, hay supplies are rated at 20% surplus and 80% adequate. Straw, greenfeed and feed grain supplies are all rated as adequate. Availability of livestock water is also adequate and dugouts are full.
 

Interlake Region

Hot temperatures and humid conditions delayed harvest in many parts of the Interlake Region. Scattered showers earlier in the week brought 5 to 25 mm of rainfall to the region. Damage from last week’s hail storm in Teulon ranged from 10 to 90% hail damage, depending on individual fields.

Spring cereal harvest is slow due to wet, humid conditions. Harvesting of cereals is estimated to be 45 to 50% complete with many acres in the North Interlake remaining to be harvested. Canola continues to be harvested and swathed. Combining is slow due to wet field conditions in the Teulon and Selkirk areas.

Earlier seeded soybeans finished flowering and are starting to change color. The number of aphids decreased significantly making an insecticide spray not needed. Corn is in the blister (R2) stage and sunflowers are in the R6 to R7 stage.
Recent rains stalled haying operations. However, pastures benefitted and second growth on hayfields looks good. There is also reduced grasshopper and alfalfa weevil damage due to the intermittent rains. Progress is being made with ensiling of greenfeed crops. Silage corn looks good.
Posted in Crop reports | Tagged with Manitoba. crop report crop conditions | More articles by Flaman Agriculture

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