Harvest is edging closer across much of Manitoba — and has already begun in some areas — following a mostly dry week across the province, according to the latest weekly crop report on Wednesday.
Provincewide, rainfall over the past week was limited, with isolated showers primarily in the south. Sprague recorded the highest total at just 19.8 mm. Most of the Northwest, Interlake, and Eastern regions received little to no rain, compounding seasonal dryness. Compared to 30-year climate normals, large portions of the Northwest and Interlake regions remain well below 50% of normal precipitation.
In the Southwest, initial winter wheat harvesting has started near Brandon and the eastern parts of the region, though no yield results have been reported yet. The majority of winter cereals are nearing desiccation, and spring cereals like wheat, barley, and oats are maturing quickly. Canola is at the pod-filling stage and responding relatively well to the heat, though excessive temperatures and dryness are starting to impact pod development and cause some flower blasting.
“Rainfall at this stage would be highly beneficial overall,” the report said of the Southwest region
Meanwhile, the Northwest continues to face high heat, smoky skies, and deepening drought stress, the report said. Grasshopper pressure is increasing under the hot and dry conditions. Some winter wheat and fall rye harvesting is underway, and pre-harvest applications have started in spring wheat fields that have reached the appropriate stages. However, many crops may now be too late to benefit from additional rain.
In the Central region, more winter wheat and fall rye fields are being harvested, though yields have been mixed. Areas with sandy soils and limited rainfall have fared poorly, while others have performed better than expected. Spring wheat is mainly at the soft to late dough stage, and full harvest is expected within 2–3 weeks. Oats and barley are also in late dough to ripening stages. Still, yield prospects in drier pockets — such as around Portage la Prairie — remain low, with some crops expected to mature prematurely.
The Eastern region has seen some early spring wheat harvest activity, and desiccation of barley and fall rye is underway, with harvest likely to pick up soon, weather permitting. Most spring cereals are in soft dough stage, and overall field conditions are good, though producers are still hoping for more rain to support corn and soybeans during seed and cob fill.
The Interlake region continues to grapple with persistent dryness, receiving no rainfall this past week. Crop stress is now evident across most fields. Winter wheat is in late hard dough, with some fields already harvested near St. Andrews. Spring wheat and other cereals are approaching desiccation, and although disease pressure remains low due to the dryness, yields are likely to be affected if the dry trend continues, the report said.
