Manitoba Agriculture's weekly crop report suggests rain delayed harvest progress throughout much of the province this past week.
Province-wide, the harvest is listed at 40 percent complete.
The northwest region is 35 percent complete, while the southwest is 33 percent complete.
Southwest
Wet conditions kept producers out of the fields for most of the week. Some producers were able to work on Tuesday and Wednesday before showers started again. The weekend brought cool weather with frost on both Friday and Saturday. Lows were reported in several areas ranging from -1 to -2°C for several hours. Damage appeared to be minimal for most crops. Late-seeded canola may show some damage, but most soybean crops were past the stage for severe harm. Winter wheat and fall rye harvest are complete, with average yields and quality. Field pea harvest is complete, with good quality and average yields. Spring wheat is about 70% complete, with above-average yields around 65 to 70 bushels per acre, good quality, and protein ranging from 13.5% to 15%. Some reports indicate higher yields, but producers need to consider unproductive acres affected by kochia, which will reduce average yields.
Barley harvest is approximately 75% complete, with average to slightly above-average yields in the 75 to 90 bushel per acre range, good quality, and average to above-average test weights. Oat harvest is around 40% complete, with several acres swathed due to green straw. Yields are expected to be average to slightly above average, ranging from 90 to 120 bushels per acre, with good test weights. Canola harvest is about 10 to 15% complete, with several acres sprayed or swathed this past week. Some acres were swathed as a precaution due to frost forecasts. Sclerotinia, blackleg, and verticillium stripe are present in canola fields. Yield estimates are in the 30-50 bushels per acre range. Soybeans are in the R6 to R7 growth stage. Recent rains were very timely for crop development, and the past week’s heat will help advance the crop. Frost over the weekend has caused leaf discoloration and the onset of leaf drop. White mold is visible in most soybean fields this year. Corn silage harvest has begun in some areas and is expected to be in full swing later this week. Grain corn is in the dent stage.
Northwest
Progress of harvest was slower this week, as unsettled weather moved in mid-week, pausing most harvest operations. The entire region received precipitation, and a light frost was recorded at several stations, with Laurier recording the lowest temperature below 0, at -1.6 degrees. Hail damage, from the storms that went through the Inglis and Benito areas, is still being assessed. Fall rye and winter wheat harvest is complete. Spring wheat harvest progressed and is at approximately 75% complete. Lodging has been a challenge for some harvesting. Spring wheat estimated average yields are 50-60 bu/ac., with some fields yielding 70 bu/ac. plus. Recent precipitation events have caused some wheat to sprout. Field pea harvest continues across the region and is approximately 95% complete. Yields vary from 30-60 bu/ac. Canola crops are varied across the region. Desiccation/swathing continues, with little harvest progress this week, while fields move towards maturity. Varied stages within some fields, with some plants at maturity while others are still flowering – especially in areas of the field that had not germinated due to lack of spring moisture. Post-harvest field operations are continuing. Soybean crops are at R6 stage and moving closer to R7, but with a range in conditions. Some crops have benefited from recent precipitation, while others continue to show symptoms from lack of moisture.
