The latest Manitoba crop report suggests continues heavy rain and flooding is having a negative effect on crops across the province, and slowing spraying and haying operations.
In the northwest region, an intense weather event hit the area to start the week, with rain beginning Monday and continuing into Tuesday bringing significant amounts across the region.
The large amounts across the region overwhelmed ditches/drains and rivers very quickly, causing significant overland flooding and damage to infrastructure.
In addition to the entire Northwest region receiving damage, the Swan Valley area was affected for a second time.
Water levels have since receded; however many fields are still affected by overland flooding and damage continues to be assessed.
Infrastructure damage was significant in this storm, with all previous repairs in the Swan Valley region washed away again. Much more additional damage was received across the entire region, making commuting impossible, as well as accessing fields.
Although some fields received timely herbicide applications, there are many fields that have missed the application window due to unfavourable conditions, including wet fields, rain and high winds.
Fall rye and winter wheat are headed out and continue towards flowering stage.
Field peas continue in the vegetative stage and most advanced are now into the R1 stage.
Areas that have been continuously wet are showing signs of excess moisture. Crop stages continue to range in spring cereals, from tillering to flag leaf stage.
Once again, areas under continuous excess moisture are showing symptoms of stress.
Canola fields also range in stages, from 4 leaf to the earliest fields now in early flower. While some crops look healthy, some fields under excess moisture are thin and starting to stress bolt.
Herbicide applications may be challenging due to excess moisture.
Soybean fields range from the second to fourth trifoliate stage and some fields are showing signs of IDC.
Turning to the southwest portion of Manitoba, weekend storms have left that region experiencing very wet conditions.
Most areas south of Highway #1 received 2–7 inches of rain, on top of the heavy rainfall from the previous week.
Some crops are completely submerged, while others are partially under water. Significant hail was reported near Cromer, Dand, Boissevain, Killarney, Wawanesa, and north of Hartney.
Minor hail, approximately the size of a loonie, was reported near Reston and Brandon.
Boissevain received golf ballsized hail, while Killarney experienced baseball-sized hail.
Moderate lodging in cereal crops has also been observed in the Melita area.
Overall, most of the Southwest region has good crop potential if conditions dry out soon.
However, some flooded areas are unlikely to recover, and those crops will be lost.
Despite these losses, conditions are not as severe as those reported in areas to the north and east.
Most pea fields have filled in and are just beginning to flower. They are approaching the stage for fungicide application if required; however, disease pressure remains low, and growers may be able to delay application.
Winter wheat and fall rye are headed and continue to look good, with low disease levels reported so far.
Producers were able to spray most of these acres before the major rainfall events began.
Spring-seeded cereals are at the flag leaf to early heading stage. Producers are attempting to apply fungicides, but many fields remain too wet, resulting in rutting during ground applications.
Spray planes are heavily booked, which may affect the timing needed for optimal disease control.
Leaf disease pressure remains relatively low at this time, but the current warm and humid conditions could increase disease development.
Spring wheat crop condition is at 50% good and 50% average.
Most canola fields are at the full cabbage to early bolting stage, with the earliest fields approaching 30% flowering.
Fungicide application timing is becoming critical for effective disease control. Higher cabbage seedpod weevil populations have been noted in the southern portion of the region, although there have been few reports of spraying.
Weed control applications are still ongoing in some later-seeded canola fields.
Soybean crops have generally handled the wet conditions well, although some iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) is beginning to appear.
Most soybean fields are currently at the V3 to early flowering growth stage.
Corn and sunflower crops are progressing at an average pace.
They continue to grow, and warmer temperatures would be beneficial for further development.
(Manitoba Agriculture news release)
