Sunflowers bloom near Gimli.

Sunflowers can be frustrating but profitable

Manitoba’s sunflower crop is holding its own but sclerotinia could still hit hard

Despite inclement weather and legions of lygus bugs, Manitoba’s sunflower crop is looking good this season — at least for now. “So far it’s OK, we’ll see about sclerotinia damage in the next while, I haven’t seen very much head rot yet, but we still have essentially six weeks to go for this crop,” said


Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report: No. 17

Conditions as of August 22, 2016

Sporadic rainfall, high humidity and wet field conditions have slowed harvest progress in areas of Manitoba. However, harvest does continue as weather and field conditions allow. Winter wheat and fall rye harvest is complete. Winter wheat yields range from 50 to 100 bushels per acre, with an estimated provincial average of 75 bushels per acre.

Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report: No. 16

Conditions as of August 15, 2016

Crops are maturing rapidly across Manitoba. The 2016 harvest was slowed by the continuing wet conditions in some areas of Manitoba. However, harvest operations did occur where field and weather conditions allowed. Harvest of winter wheat, fall rye, spring wheat, barley, oats and field peas continues. To date, reported winter wheat yields range from 50


(Bruce Fritz photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Manitoba sunflowers take beating from storms

CNS Canada –– Manitoba crops have suffered an array of problems due to unfavourable weather this year, and sunflowers are no exception. “(Sunflower) crops would be looking really good if it wasn’t for the storms that have been rolling through Manitoba over the last few weeks,” said Troy Turner, agronomist with the National Sunflower Association

Fusarium head blight in canary grass.

Lygus bugs, moths present in sunflowers, keep your eye on stored grain

Manitoba Insect and Disease summary for August 10

Summary Insects: Insects of highest importance to scout for currently are Lygus bugs in canola and sunflowers, and banded sunflower moths in sunflowers. Only trace levels of soybean aphids have been found so far. There have still been no reports of high levels of larvae of bertha armyworms in Manitoba. Plant Pathogens: Various diseases continue


Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report: No. 15

Conditions as of August 8, 2016

Strong weather systems passed through several areas of Manitoba throughout the week. Heavy rains and strong winds halted harvest operations and resulted in lodging of crops.However, harvest did resume where field and weather conditions allowed. Winter wheat yields are ranging from 50 to 95 bushels per acre, with good quality reported to date. Swathing or

Lygus bug on canola pod.

Time to scout for lygus bugs in canola and sunflower crops

Manitoba Insect and Disease summary for August 3

Summary Insects: Insects of highest importance to scout for currently are Lygus bugs in canola and sunflowers, and banded sunflower moths in sunflowers. Only trace levels of soybean aphids have been found so far. Although a couple of traps monitoring adults of bertha armyworm had moderate counts in the Northwest, and a few traps had counts in the uncertain risk


Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report: No. 14

Conditions as of August 2, 2016

Winter wheat and fall rye harvest is underway in Manitoba. To date, preliminary reports indicate winter wheat yields range from 60 to 95 bu/acre, and fall rye yields range from 40 to 90 bu/acre. Weekend thunderstorms resulted in variable amounts of precipitation, hail activity and lodging of crops across some areas of Manitoba. The majority

(File photo)

Shallow roots potential concern for Manitoba sunflowers

Commodity News Service Canada – Sunflower crops in Manitoba are generally in good shape for this time of year, but excess moisture in the key growing areas have kept root systems shallow, which could create problems later in the season, according to an industry participant. It’s still relatively early for sunflowers, with diseases usually not setting in until