Overview
Limited harvest progress over the last week due to widespread rainfall across the province. Harvest progress sits at 86 per cent complete across the province, which is ahead of the 5-year average (81 per cent). Harvest has wrapped up for most of the spring cereal crops, with barley at 100 per cent complete, oats at 100 per cent complete and spring wheat at 99 per cent complete. Overall, cereal crops remain in fair to mostly good condition.
Many corn fields have reached physiological maturity and are drying down. Grain corn harvest has started in the Central region and is sitting at 15 per cent complete and 7 per cent provincially. Canola harvest continues with approximately 87 per cent of the acres being harvested across the province. Soybean fields are mostly in the R8 growth stage with harvest progress sitting at 73 per cent provincially.
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Cereals
Spring wheat yields range from 35 to 80 bu/acre, with highs of 90 bu/acre in areas that received more moisture and lows of 16 bu/acre in drier areas. Protein levels range from 13.5 per cent and higher and grading #1 or #2 Canada. Oat yields range from 80-130 bu/acre, with yield reports of 60 bu/acre in drier areas.
Barley yields range from 70 to 100 bu/acre.
The spring wheat quality is rated as mostly fair to good.
The majority of grain corn has reached maturity. Approximately 15 per cent of grain corn has been harvested in the Central region and 7 per cent provincially. Early yield reports ranging from 80 to 200 bu/acre.
Winter wheat and fall rye are emerging, recent rainfall will help with establishment.
Oilseeds
Canola harvest continues with approximately 87 per cent of acres being harvested provincially. Overall crop condition ranged from fair to mostly good. Reported canola yields range from 20-60 bu/acre.
Flax crop is at stage 12 (seeds ripe). Flax harvest continues with approximately 40 per cent of acres being harvested provincially. Yields range from 20 to 25 bu/acre.
Sunflowers are at the R9 stage, desiccation has occurred on a number of acres.
Pulses and soybeans
Soybeans are mostly in the R8 growth stage, with harvest progress at 73 per cent provincially. Yields have been variable and dependent on summer rainfall. Yield ranges from 20 to 30 bu/acre on the earliest harvested fields to 30 to 60 bu/acre on fields harvested over the last week.
Dry bean harvest is approximately 96 per cent complete. Yield ranges from 1200 to 2500 lbs/acre.
Forages & livestock
Forages
Corn silage harvest is largely complete in eastern Manitoba. Reports on yield have been very good. Beef producers continue to work on second cut from fields that are predominantly grass and some have decided to go ahead with second cut harvest of alfalfa stands.
The status of individual pastures remains highly dependent on soil type, moisture levels and grazing management strategy exercised throughout the summer.
Some producers are supplementing hay on pasture to ensure nutrient requirements of cattle are being met. Others are beginning to move cattle onto fenced hay fields or harvested crop land to graze available regrowth and/or stubble. Water levels in dugouts are low but continue to hang on.
Hay levels are rated at 40 per cent surplus, 50 per cent adequate and 10 per cent short. Straw, green feed and feed grains are all rated at 100 per cent adequate.
Corn silage harvest is largely complete in eastern Manitoba. Reports on yield have been very good. Producers who grew corn for silage were quite pleased with their yields as the warm weather early on in the season kick started most corn into an excellent crop. Corn silage yields are ranging from 13 to 15 tonnes/acre.
Livestock
Pastures have a new sense of green in the stand due to the recent rainfall. Pasture condition is rated at 100 per cent fair. Herds in good condition. Water supplies are in fair supply, dugouts are 50 per cent capacity.
Bales have been picked from the first cut generally. Souris River is below normal flows, creeks are not flowing. Many annual crop grain fields have lots of regrowth from the combines, would be an opportunity for additional grazing days if it were fenced.
Continuing to haul cattle off pastures to winter accommodations. Hay bales are being hauled off fields.
Proper stocking density and rotational grazing helped some producers extend their grazing season however, even then many producers had to start supplemental feeding early on in the fall. Many producers started off with carryover feed from last year which was beneficial as the hay yield this year was reduced.
Regional comments
Southwest
No harvest activities during last week due to rain fall. Winter cereals and peas are complete. Spring wheat, oats and barley are complete for the most part. Majority of canola has been harvested at 80 per cent. Corn, soybean and sunflower remain in the fields and the remainder of canola. Most other crops have been harvested. Corn silage is 100 per cent complete.
Temperatures were close to normal for this time of year. Windy and cloudy most of the week with widespread rainfall. 20 mm of rain in Reston, Melita and Pierson, 25 mm in Virden, 18mm Souris, 25mm in Hamiota.
Sunflowers are mid R9, but most fields need frost or are two weeks to go before harvest. Canola is mature with green stems. Some hilltops are flowering again within ripe fields. Green stems are not drying down as normal after straight cutting and are hard to harvest. Variable yields depending on rainfall.
Corn is mature with grain moistures ranging from 12-25 per cent; heights are variable due to drought conditions. Most soybeans are R8. Harvest progress is estimated at 55 per cent complete, with some producers just starting and others finished. Early yields reported in the 20 to 45 bu/ac range. Average is expected to end up at 30 to 32 bu/acre range. Some of the later maturing varieties benefited from the late rains.
Northwest
A slow week of harvest progress across the region as rain set in. While some areas were able to work in between rains most areas were shut down. Temperatures for the week were mostly cool, with overnight temperatures dropping down below 0. Fall field work and anhydrous application is occurring as conditions allow.
Spring wheat harvest had another good week of progress, with most areas approximately 99 per cent done. Yields have been ranging from 50-90 bu/acre, while some fields have done poorer and some better. Some spring wheat remains to be harvested in The Pas.
Canola harvest continued over the week and is approximately 90 per cent complete. Yield reports have averaged from 40 to 55 bu/acre, while some crops have yielded below 40 bu/acre and some above 55 bu/acre. Reports of green stems making harvest challenging.
Soybean harvest progress is approximately 70 per cent complete. There has been some challenges with plants not drying down and staying green. Yields have been average to above average at around 45 to 50 bu/acre, with some yielding lower due to lack of rain.
Central
Rainfall and heavy morning dews have limited harvest and field operations, with little harvest progress made over the past week. Although initially many producers were grateful for the fall rains replenishing moisture reserves, some producers are now hoping for a period of dry and sunny weather to resume harvest and field work.
One benefit to the fall rain has been the strong emergence of fall rye, winter wheat, and cover crops. This warmer than typical fall and available moisture has also resulted in a flush of weed seedlings in fields and yards.
Corn harvest is well underway, but the recent rainfall has delayed harvest. Approximately 15 per cent of corn is harvested so far, with the number closer to 20 per cent in the Pembina River Valley, and closer to 10 per cent around Holland and Austin. Fields that have received the least amount of rainfall are in the poorest condition, and yields vary greatly. Some yields are as low as 80 bu/ac to as high as 200 bu/ac depending on how much moisture the crop received throughout the growing season. Moisture is mostly between 14 to 30 per cent. Almost all silage corn fields are now harvested with only a few fields remaining in the north and west of the central region. Silage corn yields have ranged between 13 to 16 tonne/ac.
Canola harvest is mostly complete in the Pembina Valley and around Carman, with only the odd field yet to be harvested. Around Holland, Austin and Gladstone there remains a greater proportion of the crop yet to be harvested. Yields vary greatly, between 20 and 55 bu/ac, with averages closer to the 30 to 40 bushel range. Some fields still achieved high canola yields, with some in the north of the region around Elie achieving 70 bu/acre and around Portage 60 bu/acre.
Flax harvest is almost complete in the south of the Central region, but in the north west of the region, some areas sit at 50 per cent. Sunflower fields are approaching harvest, with most fields receiving a desiccant in the past weeks. Although some fields are approaching harvest, many require a good frost to enable harvest. Large numbers of blackbirds feeding on sunflowers have been observed.
Approximately 90 per cent of soybeans have been harvested, with soybean yields mostly between 20 to 30 bu/acre. The proportion harvested is higher in the Pembina valley where approximately 95 per cent of soybeans are harvested, and lower around Gladstone and Holland at 70 per cent. Only a few dry bean fields remain. Edible bean yields are in the region of 1800 to 2500 lbs/ac, with the lowest at around 750 lbs/ac and the highest at around 3250 lbs.
Eastern
Rainfall accumulations across the Eastern region ranged from 25 mm to 57 mm with the average rainfall amounts around 30-35 mm. The greatest amounts of rainfall were in Beausejour and Ste. Anne with 55 mm and 57 mm respectively. With the rainfall this past week very little harvest progress was made. Producers are hoping to continue with harvest and fall field work this week as weather allows.
Spring wheat harvest is considered 100 per cent complete. Average yield on spring wheat has been better than expected at around 70 bu/acre with 13.5 per cent or higher protein levels and grading #1 or #2 Canada. Oat harvest is complete with yields at 130 bu/acre on average with good bushel weights. Barley harvest is complete with yields averaging out at around 100 bu/acre.
Corn fields are at physiological maturity and are drying down as weather allows. The majority of the crop remains in good to excellent condition. Yield reports are good averaging 150 bu/ac with good test weight at 55 to 57 lbs/bu. A bit of progress was reported for this week before the rain started, it is estimated that 15 per cent of the corn has been harvested.
Canola harvest progress stalled this week with an estimated 75 per cent of acres now complete. Yields are at 50 to 60 bu/acre on average with good quality. Canola harvesting is expected to continue as weather allows.
The majority of sunflower fields have been desiccated. The crop remains in good to excellent condition as producers wait for the crop to dry down. No harvest reports as of yet.
The flax crop is at stage 12 (seed ripe). Desiccation of most fields has occurred. Harvest is expected to commence once fields have dried down and weather allows. No harvest reports as of yet.
Soybean harvest is estimated at 75 per cent of acres complete. Yield reports range from low to mid 30 bu/acre to as high as 60 bu/acre depending on the variety and the rains received over the growing season. The average yield for the area would be in the 45 bu/acre range.
Interlake
Heavy rainfall, as well as small showers last week limited combining progress. The amount of rainfall received in the Interlake region ranged from 24 mm to 55 mm. Crops are drying down but moisture levels are not dropping as fast as expected due to sporadic rainfall.
Spring wheat harvesting is 100 per cent complete. Yields for spring wheat range from 65 to 80 bu/acre, mostly all #1 or #2 Canada. High-test weights and proteins ranging from 13.9-15.5 per cent with the average being about 14.5 per cent. Oat harvesting is done with yields at 130 to 170 bu/acre depending on rainfall received over the season. Barley harvesting is 100 per cent complete, with average yield 80 to 100 bu/acre.
Soybean harvesting is well underway and about 80 per cent complete depending on variety and seeding date. Majority of fields looking above average. Soybean yield estimate is 40-45 bu/acre depending on the amount of rainfall. There is still green in the stalks making for tough combining.
Canola harvest sits at 80 per cent complete with yields between 40 to 60 bu/acre. Canola harvesting expected to be widespread this week if the weather is suitable.
Sunflowers fields have been desiccated. Harvesting is expected to occur in 2 to 3 weeks given favorable weather conditions.
Corn is at physiological maturity and is drying down. Many of the corn crops are in good to excellent condition. Harvest has started in some areas and is about 10 per cent complete.
