Manitoba Harvest Nears Two-Thirds Complete 

Amid improving weather conditions, Manitoba farmers made substantial harvest progress during the past week. 

Tuesday’s weekly crop report showed the provincewide harvest at 65% complete as of Tuesday, up 14 percentage points from a week earlier. 

Progress was strongest in the Southwest and Northwest, where regional completion advanced 18 points to 50% and 58%, respectively. The Central region remained furthest ahead at 83% complete, up from 71%, while the Eastern region reached 72% from 66% and the Interlake climbed to 66% from 59%. 

Canola and soybeans accounted for some of the largest gains. Provincial canola harvest reached 74% done, up 17 points from the previous week, while soybean harvest surged to 31% from just 5%. Spring wheat advanced to 86% from 77%, barley to 91% from 81% and oats to 88% from 72%. Field pea harvest is now complete. 

Drier conditions helped producers return to fields in many areas, although rainfall remained variable. Southern portions of the Eastern and Central regions received 5 to 30 mm, with Gardenton recording the provincial high of 32.9 mm. The Interlake and Northwest received less than 1 mm in most areas. 

Crop quality remains a concern in later-harvested fields. Sprouting and weathering have downgraded some cereals, while canola producers have reported lodging, sprouting, regrowth, pod shatter and pod drop. Early soybean yields have generally been average to slightly above average. 

Southwest 

• Regional harvest reached 50%, up from 32% a week earlier. 

• Spring wheat was about 75% harvested, with yields holding up but quality declining; No. 3 and feed grades are being reported. 

• Barley reached 85% and oats 75%, with some recently harvested grain downgraded because of sprouting, colour and low test weight. 

• Canola harvest reached 55%, up from 30%, with generally average yields and good quality, although lodging and wet fields remain challenges. 

• Soybean harvest reached about 10%, with early yields average to above average. 

• Improved drying conditions and lower humidity revived harvest progress, although the late, wet season is expected to limit fall fertilizer applications. 

Northwest 

• Harvest advanced to 58% complete, up from 40% the previous week. 

• Spring wheat harvest reached 85%, with reported yields ranging from roughly 50 to 90 bu/acre. 

• Canola harvest climbed to 70% from 40%, with most yields averaging 25 to 35 bu/acre and generally running average to below average. 

• Soybean harvest reached 20%, with most crops in the late R7 to R8 stages. 

• Field pea harvest is complete, with yields generally ranging from 30 to 50 bu/acre. 

• Good fall weather supported fieldwork, although frost occurred across much of the region and some crops have shown sprouting. 

Central 

• The Central region remained Manitoba's most advanced at 83% harvested, up from 71%. 

• Spring cereals are essentially complete, with spring wheat at 99% and barley and oats also 99% harvested. 

• Canola harvest reached 90%, although remaining acres are concentrated in the northern part of the region; yields have generally been below recent years. 

• Soybean harvest jumped to 65% from 15%, with yields mostly average to slightly above average. 

• Grain corn harvest has started and was about 7% complete, with early yields reported above average. 

• Quality issues include cereal sprouting and low falling numbers, green seed in soybeans and canola, and pod shattering in canola. 

Eastern 

• Regional harvest reached 72%, up from 66% the previous week. 

• Wheat, barley and oats were about 98% complete, with yields generally no better than average after spring flooding hurt some fields. 

• Canola harvest surged to 95% from 85%, with yields ranging from below average to average. 

• Soybean harvest reached 25%, up from 5%, with early yields generally average to above average. 

• Corn is largely physiologically mature, and early grain corn harvest has begun with yields reported average to slightly above average. 

• Rainfall ranged from less than 1 mm to nearly 27 mm, and producers are looking for sunnier, windier weather to speed drying. 

Interlake 

• Harvest reached 66%, up from 59% a week earlier, aided by limited rainfall and drier field conditions. 

• Spring cereal harvest is complete, with generally average to slightly above-average yields, although sprouting and rain bleaching have affected some wheat. 

• Canola harvest advanced to 75% from 60%, with yields generally average to above average. 

• Soybean harvest is underway, with the provincial table showing about 5% complete in the region; early yields are average to slightly above average. 

• Grain corn harvest has started in southern areas and was about 10% complete, with early yields slightly above average. 

• Corn silage harvest reached 65%, while sunflower and flax harvests are beginning and fall fieldwork continues where conditions allow.