Manitoba crops are quickly advancing, with winter cereals, as well as oats, peas, and spring wheat, likely to start coming off in the next week or so.
Winter cereal crops continued to dry down over the last week with producers applying pre-harvest herbicides or swathing as crop seed moisture content allowed, said the latest weekly crop report on Tuesday. If the weather is conducive to continued drydown, harvesting will begin within the next seven days, it added.
In the Central region near Carman, both oats spring wheat – which is rated mostly fair to good across the province - have seen rapid dry down due to the lack of moisture. Spring wheat in these areas could be harvested in the next week to 10 days, the report said.
Dryness remained a major theme of this week’s report. In the Southwest, another week with no significant moisture and warmer temperatures have started to take a toll on crops, especially in those areas that were already in desperate need of precipitation, the report said. Some crops are “losing tillers and starting to ripen or turn prematurely.”
In the Eastern region, crops remain in good condition overall, but soil moisture reserves are not adequate to maintain crop condition over the coming weeks unless significantly recharged, the report said.
Localized precipitation events were observed across Manitoba this past week, with amounts ranging from 0.5 mm to 51.6 mm.
Water levels in dugouts are low and water supply may become a very serious concern in the near future. Dugouts are reported about 50% full in the Southwest region and at sufficient levels in the Interlake region.
Haying continued between scattered rain showers in the Eastern region last week. Second cut is well underway for dairy producers and, in general, yields are reported as below average. The majority of beef producers are close to completing first cut with some grass and native hay fields remaining. A handful of beef producers have started second cut and many plan to work on harvesting their greenfeed acres this week. Yields remain highly variable and are dependent on moisture conditions.
Canola crops across the province are reported at mostly at 70% flower to pod filling. However, late seeded canola in the Northwest region has just recently bolted and entered the flowering stage. Overall crop condition ranges from fair to mostly good.
Field pea crops were well into the R5 (beginning maturity) growth stage last week and are expected to move rapidly to maturity if the weather is conducive.
Soybean fields were at the mid R4 (full pod) growth stage with late seeded fields at the late R3 (beginning pod) growth stage. Overall crop condition remained good on most fields with the exception of some later seeded crop that remained stagey and thin due to poor topsoil moisture conditions at seeding time.
Southwest:
Another dry week in the southwest with no significant moisture and warmer temperatures have started to show effects on crops in some areas especially those areas that are in desperate need of precipitation. Some areas are losing tillers and starting to ripen or turn prematurely. Forecast this week for hotter temperatures will only increase the amount of damage in the fields. Any precipitation is welcome and most areas in the region remain short for moisture. In general, crops look average now.
Northwest:
Another mixed week of weather with warm temperatures near normal for July; however, nighttime temperatures still cooling into the single digits. Localized showers brought precipitation to some areas. Precipitation amounts continue to vary greatly across the region. Some areas seeing heavy dews in the morning. A couple of days saw smoky conditions due to wildfire.
Fall rye and winter wheat continue in the dough stages getting closer to maturity. Some pre-harvest applications have been done in the Dauphin area. Some ryegrass harvest has begun in the Fork River area. Spring cereals continue to progress from the milk stage and are moving into the late milk/soft dough stage. Most spring cereals are in good condition; however, some areas would have greatly benefited from precipitation.
Canola continues in various stages across the region due to the wide range of seeding dates and emergence. Some of the earliest seeded canola in the Swan River region is at end of flowering and podded, while the later seeded crops have recently bolted and are just beginning the flowering stage.
Central:
The week was dry for most locations in the central region. Most producers would appreciate an inch or two of rain, especially soybean and corn producers and those with hay and pasture. Cooler weather last week was beneficial for crops flowering and grain filling. The weather this year has resulted in crops approaching harvest earlier than normal. Over the coming week fall rye and winter wheat will continue to be swathed and harvested, and it is likely early spring wheat, oats, and peas will begin to be combined as well.
Most cereals are visibly drying down. Fall rye and winter wheat is at soft to hard dough stages, with some fields being swathed. Most winter cereals will be harvested within one to two weeks. Spring wheat and barley are at the soft dough to hard dough stages and quickly approaching harvest. Oats are between the milk to the hard dough stages. Corn is tasseling, with the early ears forming and some silking.
Eastern:
Winter cereal crops continued to dry down over the last week with producers applying pre-harvest herbicides or swathing as crop seed moisture content allowed. If the weather is conducive to continued drydown, harvesting will begin within the next seven days. Crop condition remained good to excellent. Spring cereal growth stage ranged from soft to hard dough with the exception of very late seeded crops that were in late milk. Very early seeded crop put on light land in low rainfall areas began to dry down and harvest was expected in early August. Compared to last week, many spring wheat crops were showing some evidence of turning and colour change.
Overall, cereal crops remain in fair to mostly good condition although some oat fields seeded on light soils and in lower rainfall areas were starting to show stress symptoms, most notably turning white and rapidly drying down. Insect scouting continued in the crop for armyworms and grasshoppers but only limited insecticide applications occurred.
Interlake:
Crops are generally looking very good. Warm temperatures and good moisture have allowed for rapid crop growth. Cereals are looking great, other than some of the last seeded or reseeded fields; heads have now emerged. Spring wheat and barley have set seed and are starting to fill, as are oats. Most of the lodged cereals have come back up over the last week. Spring wheat is fully headed and are at the soft dough stage. Fall rye has turned colour and nearing maturity soon. Fall rye pre-harvest glyphosate will be starting in the coming weeks. Peas look excellent. They are flowering and pods are filling well. Peas seeded on the drier fields have smaller pods and seeds, but potential yields might still be good.
