Manitoba Agriculture's weekly crop report suggests the harvest province-wide, is 50 percent complete.
However, the northwest and southwest regions each stand at 42 percent complete.
Southwest
Rainfall and poor weather conditions kept producers out of the field for most of the week. Most of the harvest completed occurred under wet conditions, and producers had to dry the grain. A major thunderstorm with heavy rain also hit on Sunday night. Moisture amounts are variable across the region. Winter wheat and fall rye are complete, with average yields and quality. Field peas are 100% harvested, with good quality and average yields. Spring wheat is approximately 85% complete, with above-average yields around 65 to 70 bu/acre, and some reports as high as 90+ bu/acre. Quality and protein levels are good, ranging from 13.5% to 15%. A higher percentage of wheat remains unharvested north of Highway 16. Barley is about 75% complete, with average to slightly above-average yields in the 75 to 90 bu/acre range. Quality is good, with average to above-average test weights. Oats are around 60% complete. Several acres have been swathed due to green straw. Yields appear to be average, though later-harvested oats are showing lower yields and quality due to wet and humid conditions. Canola harvest is approximately 10-15% complete, with many acres being desiccated or swathed. Harvest progress is slow due to delayed dry-down and green seed. Frost has affected canola in some areas. Yield estimates are around 50 bu/acre. Soybeans are in the R6 to R7 growth stage. Recent rains were very timely for crop development, and the past week of heat has accelerated crop maturity. Frost over the last weekend caused some leaf discoloration and early leaf drop. Corn is in the dent stage. While the plants are still green, the cobs are starting to bend over. This may indicate the beginning of the optimal silage stage (R5.5 or ~40% milk line, no black layer yet). Flax is approximately 85% in the brown boll stage. Green stems and some re-flowerings are occurring due to excessive moisture. Sunflowers are at the R7 stage. There are reports of blackbird damage in both corn and sunflower fields.
Northwest
High daytime temperatures made for a good week of harvest progress until the precipitation over the weekend. Heavy dews have also contributed to a shortened harvest window. Desiccation/swathing continues in canola as stages are reached. Post-harvest field operations are continuing. Fall rye and winter wheat seeding is underway, with some fields established and some acres to be seeded before the approaching deadline. Spring wheat harvest, across the entire region, is varied due to rainfall during the season. Harvest is most advanced in the Swan Valley and Dauphin areas, while areas in The Pas and Roblin/Russell continue behind. Initial estimated average yields are 50-60 bu/ac. with some fields yielding 70+ bu/ac. Recent precipitation events have caused some wheat to sprout. Field pea harvest is complete. Yields vary from 30-60 bu/ac. Canola crops continue varied across the region. Desiccation/swathing continues, with some harvest progress this week while fields move towards maturity. Harvest progress is approximately 8% complete, being most advanced in the Swan Valley region. Varied stages within some fields are noticeable with some plants at maturity and some plants still green – especially in areas of the field that had not germinated due to lack of moisture this spring. Soybean crops are mostly in R7 stage, moving closer to maturity.
