Overview
Harvesting of winter wheat and fall rye continued with about 60 and 30 per cent of acres combined, respectively. Early yield reports on winter wheat were averaging around 65 bu/acre. Spring cereal crops were in the intermediate to hard dough stage with the exception of very late seeded crops that were in soft dough. Disease pressure remains low due to the dry conditions this year, with levels of fusarium head blight in spring wheat expected to be low. A small number of ergot bodies have been found in some spring wheat fields. Overall, cereal crops remain in fair to mostly good condition although some oat fields seeded on light soils and in lower rainfall areas continued to show stress symptoms, most notably turning white and rapidly drying down.
Corn fields ranged from the R2 to early R3 growth stages. The crop remained in good to excellent condition in the Eastern and Interlake regions. In the Central region many cornfields are visibly water stressed. Most soybean fields were in the R5 growth stage. Overall crop condition remained good on most fields with the exception of some later seeded crop. In the Central region, soybeans and dry beans are showing signs of stress due to the lack of timely rainfall.
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Producers are encouraged to scout their fields for weeds which have escaped control. This is an important part of integrated pest management. Waterhemp has been found in the Central and Eastern regions and producers should seek identification of any unusual pigweed in their field.
Cereals
Harvesting of winter wheat and fall rye continued with about 60 and 30 per cent of acres combined, respectively. Application of pre-harvest herbicides or swathing also continued on crop that was still drying down. Harvest in the Dauphin and Swan Valley area is approximately 80 per cent complete.
Spring cereal crops were in the intermediate to hard dough stage with the exception of very late seeded crops that were in soft dough.
Corn fields ranged from the R2 (blister) to early R3 (milk) growth stages. The crop remained in good to excellent condition in the Eastern and Interlake regions. In the Central region many corn fields are visibly water stressed.
The spring wheat crop is rated mostly fair to good (see Table 3 at top). No change from previous week.
Oilseeds
Most of the canola crop in the region ranged from early to late pod fill with some colour change noted on the early seeded crop. Overall crop condition ranged from fair to mostly good.
Sunflower fields ranged from the R5.5 (flowering) to R6 (flowering completed and ray flowers drying down) growth stages. Fungicide applications had occurred last week and will continue this week. The crop remained in good to excellent condition.
Flax crops ranged from very late stage 9 (late flower) to mid stage 10 (green capsule). The crop was mostly in good condition overall but, in drier areas, some crops in fair condition could be found.
Pulses and Soybeans
Field pea crops growth stage moved rapidly last week with most crops at R6 (mid maturity) or R7 (full maturity). Crop desiccation was ongoing with harvest expected to follow soon if the weather was cooperative. The majority of the crop remained in good condition, but in drier areas fields are in fair condition and demonstrating lower yield potential.
Most soybean fields were in the R5 (seed filling) growth stage. Overall crop condition remained good on most fields with the exception of some later seeded crop. In the Central region soybeans and dry beans are showing signs of stress due to the lack of timely rainfall.
Forages and Livestock
Forages
Most dairy producers have either completed or are close to completing second cut. Yields are reported as below average but quality appears to be good. Regrowth for third cut has been very slow due to lack of moisture.
Beef producers have largely completed first cut, with some grass and native hay fields remaining. Several beef producers have started second cut and greenfeed harvest is ongoing.
Hay yields remain highly variable and are dependent on moisture conditions, whereas greenfeed yields are better than expected.
Corn intended for silage is growing well, with some silage cornfields over 11 feet high. Some annual crops intended for silage have begun being harvested and yields appear to be average.
Reports of high numbers of grasshoppers in pastures and hay fields in the Interlake region.
With very little regrowth on second cut hay fields, beef producers need to be mindful of August 15
approaching, the beginning of the critical harvest fall period. (Link: critical harvest fall period for alfalfa).
Livestock
Fly pressure has also been reported to be an issue.
Water levels in dugouts are low and water supply may become a concern in the near future in the Eastern region. Most dugouts are at sufficient levels in the Interlake region and 45 per cent full in the Southwest.
Pasture regrowth has been reduced due to lack of moisture, and grass is starting to turn brown. It is likely producers either begin supplemental feeding out on pasture or bring cattle back to yards. Some producers have already begun supplemental feeding out on pastures in the Portage and Manitou areas. Pastures that have the appropriate stocking density, or utilizing rotational grazing are the most likely to be keeping up with cattle feed demand. However, even on these farms, regrowth is reduced due to lack of moisture this year.
Black flies and horse flies are a nuisance to livestock and producers, and are resulting in pink eye issues.
Regional Comments
Southwest
No significant moisture and warm temperatures over the past week has seen harvest start in the Southwest. Several areas have crops that are ripening. Rainfall would be beneficial for later seeded crops like soybeans. Rains are needed for all pasture land and hay crops. In general, crops look average now, however without any rain, yields will be trending below average.
Fall rye and winter wheat harvest is progressing in the southern portion of the region and yields look to be average with good quality. Some reports of ergot showing up in fall rye. There are still reports of some grasshoppers damaging the crops, as they move from dried pastures and hayland into crops.
Most wheat crops are in the firm to hard dough stage and have handled the warm, dry conditions the best of all the cereal crops. Desiccation of early seeded wheat will begin later this week. Fusarium head blight is low and some reports of aphids on wheat heads.
Pea crops are being desiccated and harvest has begun in some areas. Some later seeded fields are turning and are getting closer to pre-harvest applications. Pea crops look to be an average yield around 45 and good quality with dry conditions.
Barley fields are turning fast. Some producers are swathing early fields to take advantage of weather and to start harvest. Barley fields are showing lots of effects from the dry conditions and the heat. Several fields have the barley heads stalling in the flag leaf stage.
Oat crops range from the milk stage to soft dough and are ripening fast due to the warm dry conditions.
Several fields with large white areas showing up. These areas continue to get larger as the crop runs out of moisture.
Most of the canola crops are in full pod stage with the early seeded crops showing some turning. No major insect or disease issues showing up. Potential yield looks to be average to slightly below average as pod development does not look as good as other years.
Northwest
A week of hot temperatures moved the crops along in the region, although overnight temperatures continued to cool down to single digits. Precipitation amounts varied across the region this week, while some areas received minimal rain. There were thunderstorms that brought hail to some areas. Extent of damage is currently unknown. Areas that have received minimal rainfall throughout the region are showing signs of stress. Water sources are continuing to dry out.
Fall rye and winter wheat harvest, in most of the region began over the weekend. Harvest in the Dauphin and Swan Valley area is approximately 80% complete. Perennial ryegrass harvest also began last week. Yields not reported at this time.
Spring cereals are in the soft to hard dough stages. Most advanced spring wheat has received pre-harvest applications, while the remaining crops continue not far behind. Depending on conditions, harvest of earliest seeded cereals is not far away.
Most of the canola across the region is podded. Approximately 10-15 per cent of the canola is still flowering but should wrap up this week. Some sunscald is appearing with recent high temperatures. Aster yellow symptoms are noticeable in some fields.
Field peas are in the R6-R7 stages, with some field pea harvest starting over the weekend in the Swan Valley area. Desiccation has also begun in fields that have reached the appropriate stages.
Soybeans are mostly at the R5 stage while some varieties are headed into the R6 stage. Areas that have received rains during the pod filling stage are looking good. Fields that have not received adequate precipitation appear short and are showing signs of dry conditions.
Central
The week was hot and dry for most locations in the central region. Most producers in the Central region received very little or no rain this past week. Moisture stress & wilting is being observed in soybean, edible beans, and corn. Most producers would appreciate an inch or two of rain, especially those with late season crops, including soybeans, and corn, as well as those with hay and pasture. However, as spring and winter cereals continue to be harvested, rain would not be helpful for these crops.
Fall rye and winter wheat is mature and ready to harvest. Approximately 50 per cent of winter cereals have been harvested already. Almost all winter cereals will be harvested in the coming week. Winter cereal yields are down from 2022 due to the drier weather conditions.
Spring wheat, barley and oats are maturing quickly, with crops mostly at the intermediate dough to hard dough stages. Harvest has already begun for some spring wheat producers, as well as the earliest barley and oat fields. Corn is now at R1 (silking) to early R3 (milk) growth stages. Many corn fields are visibly water stressed.
Field peas continue to be quickly approaching harvest; with most fields at R6 (mid maturity) or R7 (full maturity). Pea harvest is underway for the most mature crops.
Canola is mostly undergoing pod fill to dry down. A few fields are still at the very end of flowering. Canola harvest may begin next week on the lightest land. Flax is anywhere at the end of flowering (95 per cent) with bolls filling rapidly, to 20 per cent brown boll. Most sunflowers are at the later flowering stages, mostly between R5.5 and R6.
Soybean are mostly between R5 (seed filling) and R6 (full seed). Many soybean and dry beans are visually stressed from a lack of moisture.
Grasshoppers continue to be seen feeding on cereals, pasture and some soybean and dry bean fields. In some cereal fields, grasshoppers have all but totally consumed cereal flag leaves. However, some producers report that grasshopper populations have reduced over the past week.
Eastern
Rainfall accumulations ranged from trace amounts to as much as 18 mm. Most of that rainfall occurred as part of fast moving severe thunderstorms that covered most of the Eastern region on Tuesday. In general, central and northern districts experienced the greatest rainfall amounts. There were some reports of small sized hail occurring in various parts of the region, as part of this storm system. Day and night time temperatures were above seasonal this past week with high humidity also a feature. Growers in many areas continued to characterize soil moisture levels as keeping up with crop demand and keeping crops in acceptable to good condition, although some overly dry areas could be found. Additional rainfall will be needed over most areas to ensure crop yield potential is maintained, particularly for long season crop types.
Harvesting of winter wheat and fall rye continued with about 60 and 30 per cent of acres combined, respectively. Application of pre-harvest herbicides or swathing also continued on crop that was still drying down. Harvest in the coming week, if weather is supportive. Early yield reports on winter wheat were averaging at around 65 bu/acre.
Most spring cereal crops were in the intermediate to hard dough stage with the exception of very late seeded crops that were in soft dough. Application of pre-harvest herbicides has begun on some of the early seeded crop and will continue this week if weather allows. Crops continued to show greater amounts of turning and colour change. Overall, cereal crops remain in fair to mostly good condition. Some oat fields seeded on light soils and in lower rainfall areas continued to show stress symptoms, most notably turning white and rapidly drying down. Insect scouting lessened as more of the crop moved out of vulnerable growth stages.
Corn fields ranged from the R2 (blister) to early R3 (milk) growth stages. The crop remained in good to excellent condition. Disease and insect scouting continued although no concerns were identified thus far.
Sunflower fields ranged from the R5.5 (flowering) to R6 (flowering completed and ray flowers drying down) growth stages. Fungicide applications had occurred last week and will continue this week. The crop remained in good to excellent condition. Scouting for insects continues.
Most of the canola crop in the region ranged from early to late pod fill with some colour change noted on the early seeded crop. Overall crop condition ranged from fair to mostly good. Insect scouting continued and insecticide applications to control diamond back moth larvae, lygus bugs, bertha armyworm and flea beetles had occurred with the most prevalent insect concerns being diamondback moth and lygus bugs. Growers and agronomists noted that the severity of insect concerns varied greatly from field to field requiring detailed and timely scouting.
Flax crops ranged from very late stage 9 (late flower) to mid stage 10 (green capsule). The crop was mostly in good condition overall but, in drier areas, some crops in fair condition could be found.
Most soybean fields were in the R5 (seed filling) growth stage although some fields in late R4 (full pod) could still be found. Overall crop condition remained good on most fields with the exception of some later seeded crop. Insect scouting continued, particularly for soybean aphids.The increased appearance of soybean aphid predators was noted. On some fields, above threshold soybean aphid numbers were found but these populations were often
in “hotspots” within fields. Producers and agronomists continued to closely monitor fields and noted that the presence of soybean aphids varied greatly from field to field requiring extensive scouting to get a handle on the situation.
Field pea crops growth stage moved rapidly last week with most crops at R6 (mid maturity) or R7 (full maturity). Crop desiccation was ongoing with harvest expected to follow shortly if the weather cooperates. The majority of the crop remained in good condition, but in drier areas, fields are in fair condition and demonstrating lower yield potential.
Interlake
The Interlake region continues to experience warmer weather conditions. Daytime temperatures went up to 30 to 33 C, with daily averages around 20 C. Spotty rainfall was noted across the region this past week. Humidity levels remained high. Rain is needed in all areas for crop development and advancement, particularly in some parts of the north Interlake region, which remains short of moisture. Some crops are still hanging on from shower to shower. Soil moisture levels are keeping up with crop demand with recent rainfall.
Most crops are approaching harvesting. Overall crops are above average and appear excellent with recent showers. All cereals have rapidly advanced. Some cereal fields were combined last week in the North Interlake region, particularly fall rye with an early yield potential estimate of 65-70 bu/ac. Winter wheat was combined in some parts of the Interlake region with yields approaching 100 bushels per acre. Spring wheat is at the soft to hard dough stage.
The latest seeded flax has finished flowering. Canola is about 50 per cent done flowering and looks excellent. Still flowering in late-seeded and re-seeded canola, but podding out in some parts of the south Interlake area. Reseeded canola is looking good in fields that have received adequate rainfall.
Most soybeans have advanced to the R4-R5; seed filling stage. Majority of fields were looking good regardless of rain, but will need ongoing rains to fill out. Soybean aphids being reported with hotspots in some fields.
Insect pressure remained low in some parts of the Interlake region. Grasshoppers continued to be monitored and numbers are not above the economic threshold. Concern has been mostly in pastures, cereal, and forage grass fields.
