Heavy Rain Stalls Manitoba Harvest Progress 

Harvest activity expanded across Manitoba this past week, before heavy rain in parts of the province halted progress. 

According to Tuesday's weekly provincial crop report, a large system brought significant precipitation to the Southwest and parts of the Interlake, while scattered rain reached the Northwest and Central regions. Reston received 111 mm over Aug. 14-15, and much of the Southwest reported 50 to 100 mm. 

Although the moisture benefited later-season corn and soybeans following earlier dryness, it also stopped harvest, caused lodging and left standing water in some fields, the report said.  

Since May 1, portions of the Northwest, Southwest and Interlake have received more than 300 mm of precipitation, with seasonal totals above normal across much of the Northwest and Southwest.   

Still, producers did make some progress in the field this past week, prior to the rain. Fall rye harvest is well underway, with the Central and Eastern regions reporting winter cereal harvest at about 75% complete. Spring cereal harvest has also started, particularly in the Central region, while desiccation and swathing continue as crops reach maturity. Spring wheat is mostly in the hard dough stage, with harvest underway in Central Manitoba and expected to begin more widely in the Eastern region this week. 

Barley and oat harvest has begun in several areas, while pea harvest is producing generally average to above-average yields and good quality. The earliest canola fields are also being harvested in the Central region, with many other fields reaching early to mid-seed colour change. 

Crop development remains generally favourable. Most soybeans are between the R5 and R6 stages, while corn is mainly at the R3, or milk, stage. Canola development remains variable, ranging from flowering and podding in late-seeded or re-seeded fields to ripening in the earliest crops. 

Southwest 

• Harvest began early in the week but was halted by widespread rainfall of 50 to 100 mm. 

• Winter wheat and fall rye harvest continues, while barley harvest and spring wheat desiccation have started. 

• Pea harvest is producing average to above-average yields and good quality, although heavy rain caused lodging. 

• Soybeans are at late R5 to R6, corn is at R3 and canola is beginning seed colour change. 

• Heavy rain benefited late-season crops but left standing water and lodged crops in some fields. 

Northwest 

• Fall rye and winter wheat harvest is underway, with most pre-harvest herbicide applications completed. 

• Spring wheat ranges from soft to hard dough, with some lodging reported. 

• Canola is mainly podding, although excess-moisture areas still contain delayed patches that are flowering. 

• Field peas are mostly at R6, while soybeans are mainly at R4. 

• Cooler, unsettled weather arrived late in the week, with overnight temperatures falling as low as 4°C at Inglis. 

Central 

• Winter wheat and fall rye harvest is estimated at 75% complete. 

• The earliest spring wheat, oat and barley fields are being harvested, with barley yields ranging from below to above average. 

• Pea and early canola harvest has begun, while most canola is at mid-seed colour change. 

• Soybeans are at R5 to R6, while most corn is in the milk stage. 

• Rainfall benefited corn and soybeans while temporarily slowing field activity. 

Eastern 

• Winter cereal harvest is about 75% complete, with yields reported slightly below average. 

• Spring wheat is ripe and desiccated, with harvest expected to become more widespread over the coming weeks. 

• Barley and oats are being desiccated or swathed, and initial harvest has begun. 

• Soybeans are at early R6, corn is mostly at the milk stage and canola is generally 40% to 50% seed colour change. 

• Recent rain improved prospects for corn and soybean pod filling, although low-lying areas continue to show some crop loss. 

Interlake 

• Winter wheat and fall rye harvest has started in southern areas and is expected to become more widespread soon. 

• Most spring cereals are at hard dough, with oat swathing and spring wheat desiccation underway. 

• Soybeans are generally at R4 to R5, while peas are mostly at R6 and remain in excellent condition. 

• Early canola is ripening or being swathed, while later crops range from flowering to podding. 

• Recent rain slowed harvest and caused some cereal lodging but benefited corn and soybeans in previously dry areas.