Better Progress for Manitoba Harvest but Rain Returns 

Manitoba harvest progress accelerated during the first week of September, although heavy weekend rains brought fieldwork to a halt in many areas and raised new concerns about lodging, sprouting and grain quality. 

The weekly Manitoba crop report on Wednesday showed the provincial harvest at 28% complete as of Tuesday, up from just 11% on Aug. 31. The Central Region remained furthest advanced at 46%, followed by the Eastern Region at 43%, the Interlake at 36%, Southwest at 14% and Northwest at 8%. 

Progress was particularly strong in spring cereals. Barley harvest climbed to 58% complete from 26% a week earlier, oats jumped to 51% from 12%, and spring wheat advanced to 54% from 21%. Field pea harvest reached 82%, up from 64%, while canola harvest increased to 15% from 5%. 

Spring cereal yields have generally been reported as average to above average with good quality, although recent rains are beginning to threaten grades in wetter areas, the report said. Pea yields have mostly been average with good quality. 

Heavy rains Sunday stopped combining across much of southern and eastern Manitoba. Parts of the Interlake received especially large totals, including 98 mm at Stonewall, 78 mm at Selkirk and 67 mm at Woodlands. Southwest areas also reported more than 50 mm in places, along with hail, severe lodging and emerging sprouting concerns. 

Most corn has reached the early dent stage, soybeans are generally between late R6 and R7, and sunflowers are mostly at R7 to R8. Canola harvest is underway in all regions, with significant acreage swathed this year. 

SOUTHWEST 

• Regional harvest reached 14%, up from 7% a week earlier.  

• Spring wheat is about 25% complete and barley 40%.  

• Peas are roughly 90% harvested, with average yields and good quality so far.  

• Canola harvest remains below 10%, with widespread swathing due partly to lodging.  

• Heavy rain and hail stopped harvest, with some areas receiving more than 50 mm.  

• Sprouting, lodging and declining cereal quality are becoming concerns.  

NORTHWEST 

• Harvest advanced to 8% complete, up from 3%.  

• Spring wheat harvest is about 20% complete.  

• Pea harvest is around 15% in the provincial table, with progress varying widely locally.  

• Canola harvest has started in early fields, while swathing and desiccation continue.  

• Wet conditions and renewed weekend rainfall slowed progress.  

• Spring flood damage continues to complicate field and road access.  

CENTRAL 

• Regional harvest surged to 46% from 20%.  

• Spring wheat is 90% complete, barley 85% and oats 80%.  

• Pea harvest is essentially complete.  

• Canola harvest reached 30%, with more swathing than in recent years.  

• Spring cereal yields are mostly average to above average.  

• Soybeans are R6-R7, while corn ranges from late milk to early dent.  

EASTERN 

• Harvest jumped to 43% complete from 5%.  

• Spring wheat harvest reached 90%.  

• Barley is 90% complete and oats 85%.  

• Canola harvest advanced to about 20%, with below-average to average yields.  

• Rainfall of 29-64 mm halted harvest over the weekend.  

• Corn is mostly in the dent stage and soybeans are at R6 to early R7.  

INTERLAKE 

• Regional harvest advanced to 36% from 16%.  

• Spring wheat is 70% complete, while barley and oats are each 75%.  

• Pea harvest is about 98% complete.  

• Canola harvest reached 20%, with yields ranging from below average to average.  

• Heavy weekend rainfall caused lodging and some hail damage. Recent moisture should aid soybean pod fill, although some southern fields had been showing moisture stress.