The Manitoba harvest made just modest progress this past week amid wet conditions, especially in the Northwest Region.
Tuesday’s weekly crop report estimated the provincewide harvest at 56% complete as of Sunday, up only 6 points on the week. Progress is now the most advanced in the Interlake Region, where 72% of the crop was off as of Sunday, up from 59% a week earlier. The harvest in the Central Region advanced 6 points to 69% done, with the Eastern Region gaining 10 points to 67%.
On the other hand, the Southwest harvest progressed just 3 points on the week to 45% complete, while the Northwest advanced 2 points to 44%.
Across the province, 93% of the spring wheat crop was in the bin as of Sunday, along with 89% of the barley, 84% of the oats and 45% on the canola. Soybeans were 3% harvested.
Extensive rainfall was a major factor in the slow progress. The Northwest bore the brunt of the weather, with more than 50 mm falling within an hour at Keld on Sept. 15. Ethelbert saw the highest totals at 109.1 mm, prompting a State of Local Emergency due to flooding and washed-out roads. In the Red River Valley, parts of the Central and Eastern regions also received more than 30 mm of rain. While some areas of the Interlake remain dry, wet conditions were widespread across the Northwest, Southwest, Central, and parts of the East.
Yield reports show generally solid results where crops have been harvested. Spring wheat yields are averaging more than 60 bu/acre, with some regions reporting 70+. Oats are running 110–130+ bu/acre, and barley between 65–110 bu/acre. Corn is mostly in the R5 (dent) stage, while soybeans are approaching harvest readiness, expected within one to two weeks. Field peas are complete, averaging about 60 bu/acre, and dry bean harvest has just begun.
Regional summaries highlight the struggles producers face. In the Southwest, frequent rain kept farmers out of fields, with much of the harvested grain requiring drying. The Northwest saw especially heavy precipitation. Heavy dews further narrowed the harvest window. The Central Region initially made good progress, but rain late in the week and saturated soils brought operations nearly to a standstill, with producers now waiting for warm, dry weather. The Eastern Region averaged 22.7 mm of rain, halting most harvest activity, though sunnier conditions are expected later this week. Finally, the Interlake continued to advance despite some rain.
