The latest Manitoba crop report is out.
It says harvest is 65 percent complete province-wide, but the northwest region is at 58 percent, and the southwest region is at only 50 percent done.
Northwest
Another week of good fall weather allowed for continued harvest progress. Most of the region received frost to varying degrees. Birch River and Ruthenia station recorded lowest overnight temperatures at -3.2 degrees. There are reports of sprouting in some crops. Some low areas in fields continue to hold water. Post harvest operations have been occurring as conditions improve and dry up. Pre-harvest glyphosate applications in spring wheat are wrapped up. Desiccation and swathing of canola have pretty much wrapped as well. Fall rye and winter wheat harvest is complete. Seeding of winter cereals is complete and with recent moisture and heat are growing nicely. Field pea harvest is complete. Reported yields have been mixed, ranging from 30-50 bu/ac. on average. Spring wheat harvest is approximately 85% complete across the region. Reported yields have been mixed, depending on how the crop fared through the season. Yields range from 50-90 bu/ac. so far. There was good progress on canola harvest this week, with approximately 70% of the crop harvested. Yields have been average to below average for the most part. Reported yields so far have averaged 25-35 bu/ac. The majority of the soybean crop is in the late R7 to R8 stage and looks good, where excess moisture hasn’t delayed growth this spring. Harvest is approximately 20% complete across the region.
Southwest
A couple of evenings of frost occurred, but temperatures were not particularly cold. Finally, some producers were able to get harvest operations underway later last week and continued through the weekend. Canola was dry enough to harvest in several areas over the weekend, and most cereal crops were getting close to dry by Sunday. The weather pattern has shifted from high humidity to lower humidity, with winds helping to dry both crops and land. This has brought some renewed optimism and progress with harvest. Sunny, dry mornings have been welcome. Spring wheat harvest is approximately 70–75% complete, with yields holding up but quality declining. Grades of No. 3 and feed are being reported. Barley harvest is approximately 85% complete, with average to above-average yields. Recently harvested crops have been downgraded due to sprouting, color, and low test weight. Most of the crops are grading as feed. Oat harvest is approximately 75–80% complete, with average yields reported. Canola harvest is approximately 50–55% complete. Reports indicate average yields and good quality. The biggest challenges are difficult harvesting conditions caused by lodging and wet fields. Soybeans are in the R8 stage, with fields at 95% maturity. An estimated 5–10% of the soybean crop has been harvested, with average to above-average yields being reported. Corn is in the dent stage (R5), while silage is being harvested at approximately 65% moisture. Sunflowers are at R8 and ready for desiccation. Silage harvest is approximately 40% complete, and producers are moving quickly. Fields appear to be slightly drier than those with small grain crops. One or two fields of winter cereals may have been seeded, but most producers who intend to seed winter cereals have been unable to enter fields due to standing crops and/or excessive moisture. Sclerotinia head rot is beginning to show up in sunflowers. Some blackbirds have been observed around sunflower and corn fields, but not in devastating numbers. However, damage may be affecting up to 15% of some fields. Fall fertilizer applications are starting this week, but those acres will be down a lot this year with the late and wet harvest.
(Manitoba Agriculture news release)
