Manitoba Harvest Hits 40% Done; Downgrading Becoming More Common 

The Manitoba harvest made decent progress this past week, although scattered rainfall, wet fields and heavy dews continued to limit progress in several parts of the province. 

The weekly provincial crop report on Tuesday said the overall harvest reached 40% complete as of Monday, up from 28% a week earlier.  

However, the report also noted that downgrading is becoming more common in later harvested crops due to sprouting, colour loss, and lower test weights. Canola yields are running below average to average, it added. The quality of earlier harvested crops is better, the report said. 

The provincewide spring wheat harvest climbed to 70% complete from 54% a week earlier, while barley advanced to 76% from 58% and oats to 65% from 51%. Field peas were 96% harvested, up from 82%, while canola made the largest weekly gain, reaching 36% complete from just 15%. Winter wheat and fall rye harvest are now complete. 

Regionally, the Eastern region is furthest advanced at 62%, followed by Central at 59%, Interlake at 47%, Southwest at 27% and Northwest at 19%. All regions made progress from the previous week, when completion ranged from 8% in the Northwest to 46% in Central. 

Most areas received more than 6 mm of rain during the week, with parts of the Interlake, Southwest and Eastern regions receiving 15 to 40 mm. Bede recorded the highest total at 54.2 mm. Large areas of the Northwest, Southwest and Interlake have received more than 120% of normal precipitation since May 1. 

SOUTHWEST 

• Regional harvest reached 27%, up from 14% a week earlier.  

• Spring wheat is 45% complete, barley 70%, oats 50% and canola 20%.  

• Wet fields continue to cause problems, including combines and grain carts getting stuck.  

• Spring cereal yields are average to above average, but quality is deteriorating in later-harvested crops.  

• Sprouting, colour loss and low test weights are resulting in more grain being downgraded to feed.  

• Soybeans are mostly late R7 to early R8, while corn remains in the dent stage.  

NORTHWEST 

• Harvest advanced to 19% from 8% the previous week.  

• Spring wheat is 45% complete and field peas 75% harvested.  

• Canola harvest is only 5% complete, with yields below average to average.  

• Heavy dews and wet fields have narrowed harvest windows.  

• Spring wheat yields range from slightly below average to above average.  

• Soybeans are mostly in the R6 to R7 stage, with excess moisture delaying development in some fields.  

CENTRAL 

• Regional harvest reached 59%, up from 46%.  

• Spring wheat is 98% complete, with barley also 98% and oats 96%.  

• Canola harvest jumped to 60% from 30% a week earlier.  

• Spring cereal yields are generally average to good, although quality has declined in later-harvested fields.  

• Pre-harvest sprouting has been reported in cereals and some canola fields.  

• Soybeans are at R7 and approaching R8, while corn silage harvest has started.  

EASTERN 

• Harvest advanced to a provincial-leading 62%, up from 43%.  

• Spring wheat is 95% harvested, barley 95% and oats 90%.  

• Canola harvest surged to 75% from 20% a week earlier.  

• Canola yields are running below average to average.  

• Rainfall ranged from 5 to 47 mm, leaving producers waiting for sunnier, windy conditions.  

• Soybeans are at R7, with significant leaf drop underway in many fields.  

INTERLAKE 

• Regional harvest reached 47%, up from 36%.  

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

• Canola harvest is 35% complete, up from 20% a week earlier.  

• Progress is strongest in drier areas, while the North Interlake remains slowed by wet conditions.  

• Spring wheat yields are average to below average, while barley and oat yields are average to slightly above average.  

• Flooding and strong winds have reduced canola yields in some areas by damaging standing and swathed crops.