Harvest progress sits at 18 per cent complete across the province, which slightly lower than the 5-year average (23 per cent) harvest progress. Winter wheat and fall rye harvest is near completion, with 97 per cent of acres harvested. Early yield reports for winter wheat are averaging about 60 bu/acre and 70 bu/acre for fall rye. Harvest continues in spring cereal crops, with barley at 38 per cent complete, oats at 31 per cent complete and spring wheat at 32 per cent complete. Overall, cereal crops remain in fair to mostly good condition.
Corn is mainly in the R4 to R5 growth stages. Canola crops ranged from very late pod fill with straw, pod and seed colour change to swathing/pre-harvest application ready to harvest ready. Harvesting in the Central region has begun with 15 per cent of the acres being harvested. Field pea harvest continues, with approximately 85 per cent of acres harvested. Soybean fields are mostly in the R6 to R7 growth stages with reports in the Central region of soybean showing stress symptoms due to lack of moisture.
Premature ripening has occurred on these fields.
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Cereals
Harvest of winter wheat and fall rye continued with about 97 per cent of acres combined. Yield reports for winter wheat range from 50 to 65 bu/acre and fall rye yields in the 60 to 90 bu/acre range.
Spring cereal crops are mostly in the hard dough stage, with pre-harvest desiccation and swathing continuing. All regions are reporting the start of harvest for spring cereals.
The spring wheat quality is rated mostly fair to good.
Corn fields ranged from the R4 to the R5 stages.
Oilseeds
Canola crops in the region ranged from very late pod fill with straw, pod and seed colour change to swathing/pre-harvest application ready to harvest ready. Harvesting in the Central region has begun with 15 per cent of the acres being harvested. Harvest is expected to begin in other regions over the next week. Overall crop condition ranged from fair to mostly good.
Sunflower fields were in the R7 (back of the head starting to turn pale yellow) to the R8 (back of the head yellow but bracts remain green) growth stages.
Flax crop growth stage ranged from late stage 10 (green capsule) to mid stage 11 (brown capsule) with lots of variability being noted in fields. The crop was in fair to mostly good condition.
Pulses and soybeans
Field pea harvest continues in most parts of the province, with approximately 85 per cent of harvest completed. The Northwest region is reporting 60 per cent complete. Early yield reports in the Southwest and Central regions are in the 45 to 55 bu/acre range and 60 to 70 bu/ac range in the Northwest region. The majority of the crop is in good condition.
Soybean growth stages on most fields ranged from late R6 with leaf yellowing and leaf drop to mid R7 with greater amounts of leaf colour change and leaf drop. Some fields of early maturing varieties were found to be in late R7. Central region reporting soybeans reaching R8 stage due to the drier conditions. Overall crop condition remains good.
Dry bean harvest has begun with about 7 per cent of the acres being reported harvest. Yields and quality are variable and dependent on summer rainfall. Drier regions of the Central region reporting small seed size and yields in the range of 1400 lbs/acre. Areas that received timely rainfall throughout the summer reporting yields close to 2000 lbs/acre.
Forages and livestock
Forages
A handful of dairy producers are finishing up third cut with yields reported as significantly better than second cut. Beef producers continue to work on second cut between isolated rain showers.
Baling of straw has begun and will continue on fields as they are harvested.
Recent rain has helped pastures and second cut as things start to green up again and hay crops grow.
Slough hay is being cut and looks to be average yields.
Many beef producers in the Central region are having to start supplemental feeding, flies are still a big
issue. Corn intended for silage is growing very well, pasture regrowth is very minimal.
Livestock
Grass conditions on pasture are variable and highly dependent on moisture levels, grazing management strategy, and soil type.
Some producers are supplementing hay on pasture to ensure nutrient requirements of cattle are being met and to take pressure off the grass.
A handful of producers are beginning to move cattle onto fenced hayfields to graze available regrowth. Water levels in dugouts are low. This is of particular concern on pastures located in areas that have consistently missed out on rain.
Pastures are still average to below average conditions. Dugouts are about 35 per cent full in the Southwest.
Pasture conditions range from poor to sufficient growth for grazing in the Central region. Regrowth is slow but has improved depending on rainfall. Drier pastures are browning off and will have minimal regrowth even with recent rain. Feeding on pasture is occurring in the drier areas. Some early weaning is happening due to lack of grass.
Regional comments
Southwest
A slow week of harvest as rains and foggy cool weather kept producers out of the field until later in the week and weekend. Producers continued with pre-harvest on cereals and have started on the canola crop. Some swathing still happening as producers try to work with uneven crop maturity. Harvest continued towards the end of the week with producers still working on peas and cereal harvest. Producers are starting to see a quality difference as mature crops showed some weathering in the sample. In general, crops look average with average yields and good quality. Areas west of 83 highway from Miniota to Reston and through to Pierson are reporting below average yields because of the dry conditions.
Fall rye and winter wheat harvest is pretty much complete in most areas in the Southwest and yields look to be average with good quality. Producers are starting to plan on winter cereals for 2024.
Most of the pea harvest is complete but the remaining crop has been difficult to harvest as the ground is wet. Damp conditions make for late starts and early shut downs. Yield looks to be average with good quality around 45 to 50 bu/ac.
Producers resumed harvesting of spring wheat later this past week. In most cases producers are harvesting tough grain and are drying or putting it in aeration bins. Yields look to be average to slightly above average with good test weight and protein on the early harvested fields. Recent rains and foggy weather has not affected seed quality so far. Barley quality and yields are reporting average yields with some yellowing of the kernels. Swathed crops are taking longer to dry after the rain. Oat harvest continued and yields look to be average, the sample is showing effects of the recent moisture.
Most of the canola crop is starting to turn and is in the seed color change stage. Some producers have started swathing and some pre-harvest was done on canola crops later in the week. Early seeded canola and canola in the dry areas has been harvested but the acreage complete is small.
Soybeans are at R6 to R7 stage. Recent rain has helped pod fill and later seeded soybeans. Some late weed growth (especially volunteer canola) has occurred in areas where the stands are thin.
Corn is in the R4 to R5 stage early dent. Crop has managed the dry conditions well, good height reported in many fields.
Northwest
A slower start to the week with cooler, wet weather setting in and clearing up for a couple of days and then rain again. Frequent rains, high humidity and heavy dews all contributed to the slow week of harvest progress and crop maturity. Precipitation amounts varied with Rorketon station receiving highest amount at 27 mm and The Pas the lowest amount at 3.1 mm. Although localized amounts brought more precipitation than was reported, in some areas upwards to 50 mm fell in Swan Valley and Roblin. Hail was reported in the Swan Valley area, damage unknown at this time.
Fall Rye and winter wheat harvest is 99 per cent complete. Yields vary widely and dependent on early season rains. Spring cereals are mostly in the hard dough stages to mature, with the odd field slightly behind. Pre-harvest applications were ongoing and moving towards complete. Harvest progress is approximately 15-20 per cent across the region, more advanced towards Dauphin area and waiting to start in The Pas. Initial reports are varied depending on precipitation through the season.
Most of the canola across the region is podded and maturing. Approximately 2 per cent of the canola remains flowering but should wrap up shortly. Upper pods on plants are small, which may affect yield in some fields. Aster yellow symptoms are very noticeable in some fields. Flea beetle pressure has been increasing. There has been a start to desiccation or swathing across the entire region as some of the earliest seeded canola fields have reached the appropriate stage.
Field peas are in the R8 stages. Field pea harvest is continuing as crops reach maturity, with a pause last week due to rain. Most of the desiccation is complete except the odd later field. Field pea harvest is approximately 60 per cent complete across the region. Yields range and are mostly dependent on precipitation through the season. Fields with little precipitation ranged from 40 to 45 bu/acre while better fields at 60 to 70 bu/acre. Baling of pea straw is occurring. Some post-harvest field work has been done as crops removed.
Soybeans are mostly at the R7 stage and advancing towards maturity. A few fields that have been stressed through the season are in a more advanced stage.
Central
Harvest was delayed this week due to intermittent and sometimes heavy rainfall. Snowflake (27 mm) and Clearwater (26 mm) received the most. A storm with high winds and hail around Graysville resulted in some lodging and crop damage. However, some regions particularly around Portage, St Claude and Treherne received very little rainfall. Most areas have had notable dew and fog in the mornings. Harvest will resume as warmer and weather returns.
Winter wheat and fall rye harvest is complete. Fall rye yields have varied greatly depending on how much rainfall the crop received this year, with most yields in the region of 60 to 90 bu/acre. However, some fall rye yields are as low as 30 bu/acre. Winter wheat yields are around 60 bu/acre.
Harvest of spring cereals are underway, with spring wheat harvest sitting at around 55 per cent, barley 80 per cent, and oats 50 per cent. Cereals are mostly at full maturity, with a few still at the hard dough stage. Spring wheat yields are highly variable, depending mostly on how much rainfall the crop received during the growing season. Most spring wheat yields have been in the region of 35 to 65 bu/acre, but yields have ranged from as low as 16 bu/acre to as high as 80 bu/ac only a few miles away. Oats have been yielding 80 to 130 bu/acre, with some in the driest areas as low as 60 bu/acre. Barley ranges from 70 to 100 bu/acre.
Corn is at R4 (dough) and R5 (dent) stages. Most of the crop looks promising; however, fields that have received the least amount of rainfall have observable wilting symptoms and cob tip dieback.
Field pea harvest is almost complete, with approximately 95 per cent of the pea crop harvested. Most yields have been in the region of 45 to 75 bu/acre. However, on some of the driest fields, yields are as low as 30 bu/acre.
Canola is undergoing seed colour change and dry down, with most canola now in the range of 50 to 100 per cent seed colour change. Many fields have been swathed, and approximately 15 per cent of the crop has already been harvested. Harvest is expected to quickly progress next week, but early harvested canola is showing yields between 20 and 50 bu/acre, with averages closer to the 30 to 40 bushel range.
Flax is approaching harvest, with most fields at stage 11 (brown capsule), with most now around 50 – 80% brown boll. The earliest flax fields will soon be harvested. Sunflower fields were mostly in the R7 to R9, with most fields at R8 (back of the head yellow but bracts remain green).
Soybeans are at mid-late R6 to R7, with a few fields at R8. Many soybean and dry beans have been affected by the low rainfall and are visibly stressed, with a number maturing prematurely (pods browning and leaves dropping). It is possible that the earliest soybean fields may be harvested in the coming week. Cutting and harvest has begun on the most mature dry beans, with harvest progress at approximately 7 per cent complete.
Potato harvest is underway, with approximately 5 per cent harvested. Early yield reports on irrigated land are promising.
Producers are scouting their fields for Waterhemp and/or Palmer amaranth, and for the most part are investigating any unusual weeds, especially those that have escaped control measures. As soybeans and dry beans defoliate, scouting for weed escapes becomes easier.
Eastern
Rainfall accumulations ranged from trace to greater than 30 mm. All areas received some rainfall during the middle of last week with the greatest amounts occurring as part of severe weather in some Northern districts. In areas east and Northeast of Winnipeg (Selkirk and Dugald areas), severe thunderstorms occurred last Thursday evening that included heavy downpours, 90 to 100 km/hr winds (133 km/hr in Dugald) and hail that caused extensive damage to some crops. In areas of the region that experienced less rainfall and an absence of thunderstorms, harvesting and field work were able to proceed as planned. However, in some Northern districts that received greater amounts of precipitation and/or experienced storms, harvest and fieldwork progress slowed significantly. Producers look toward making good progress on spring cereal harvest and accompanying field work this week if the weather allows.
Harvesting of winter wheat and fall rye was completed last week. Average yield on winter wheat improved to about 75 bu/acre. Fall rye yields ranged from about 45 to 90 bu/acre and will likely average out at around 75 bu/acre.
Spring cereal crops ranged from pre-harvest application/swathing stage to harvest ready with about 30 per cent of spring wheat harvest complete along with about 20 per cent of oats and barley. Average yield on spring wheat has been better than expected at around 65 bu/acre with 13.5 per cent or higher protein levels and grading #1 or #2. Oat yields reported thus far have ranged from 50 to 120 bu/acre. Application of pre-harvest herbicides and swathing was ongoing with about 80 per cent of acres complete. Significant progress on harvest, field work and pre-harvest herbicide applications is expected this week if weather allows.
Corn fields were in the R5 (dent) growth stage. The majority of the crop remained in good to excellent condition but some fields in lower rainfall areas slipped into fair condition demonstrating overall wilting, lower leaves firing off and cob tip dieback. Disease scouting continued.
Sunflower fields were mostly in the R8 (back of the head yellow but bracts remain green) growth stage with some plants starting to have their bracts turn yellow and brown. The crop remained in good to excellent condition.
Canola crops in the region ranged from very late pod fill with straw, pod and seed colour change to swathing/pre- harvest application ready to harvest ready. A very limited amount of canola harvesting on early seeded fields was noted with more harvesting expected this week. Swathing and pre-harvest herbicide applications were about 20 per cent complete and expected to proceed rapidly this week with appropriate weather. Overall crop condition ranged from fair to mostly good.
Overall, flax crop growth stages ranged from very late stage 10 (green capsule) to late stage 11 (brown capsule) with lots of variability being noted in fields. The crop was in fair to mostly good condition.
Soybean growth stages on most fields ranged from late R6 (full seed) with leaf yellowing and leaf drop to mid R7 (one or more brown pods on the main stem) with greater amounts of leaf colour change and leaf drop. As well, some fields of early maturing varieties were found to be in late R7. Overall crop condition remained good on most fields. The presence of white mould continued to be noted last week, particularly in fields seeded to later maturing varieties that have rank, lush plant growth and high yield potential.
Field pea harvest was about 95 per cent complete and was expected to finish up shortly once weather allowed. Yields were higher than expected given the periodic dry conditions experienced earlier on in the growing season and averaged out at around 70 bu/acre so far with good quality.
Interlake
Interlake region received a welcoming amount of rainfall this past week along with a hailstorm. However, precipitation continues to be variable with scattered thundershowers with minimal amount of rainfall in some areas of the Interlake region. The St. Andrew’s area received about 50 mm of rain last week, with hail damage to crops. The Teulon area received about 20 mm of rain with minor hail damage to crops but producers reporting crop lodging of standing cereals. The Northern part of the Interlake received about 25 mm of rainfall with no hail damage to crops.
Winter wheat and fall rye harvest is complete with yield report in the 50 to 70 bu/ac and 60 to100 bu/ac respectively. Spring wheat harvest continues with about 25 per cent complete; yields reported is in the 65 to 70 bu/ac range. Some producers have reported spring wheat yields to be below and slightly above average depending on rainfall.
Oat harvest process is about 60 per cent done and barley is about 70 per cent with yield estimates of 120 bu/acre and 80 bu/acre respectively. Harvest should be widespread by next week if weather conditions are favourable.
Field pea harvest is about 85 per cent complete with yields ranging from 50 to 65 bu/acre and good quality.
Most soybeans have advanced to the R6 to R7 but vary across the Interlake region; some have started turning (yellow-brown and actively dropping leaves) depending on variety and seeding date.
Canola swathing and desiccating continues with the start of the earliest canola fields being harvested. Sunflowers are at R7 stage the crop remained in good to excellent condition.
