SOUTHWEST REGION

Rainfall throughout the southwest region limited harvest to a few days last week. Frost was recorded with temperatures dropping as low as -3 C. Cereal crop harvest ranges between 40 to 65 per cent complete. Many acres have been taken off tough with producers drying grain. Quality of all cereal crops remaining in the field continues to decline. Canola harvest ranges from 10 to 50 per cent complete with yields average to below average. No flax has been harvested to date. The sunflower crop is showing effects of sclerotina head rot and stem rot. Instead of dry feed, silage was being done. Producers were finding it difficult to travel on fields with heavy equipment. Some winter wheat and fall rye has been planted over the past week but acres were limited.

NORTHWEST REGION

Frost was recorded with temperatures of -2 to -3 C on Tuesday and Sunday. Overall harvested acres of wheat range from 75 to 85 per cent complete and canola harvest is 25 to 35 per cent complete. Both crops have below average yields for the region.

Until recent heavy rains, the Pas harvest was proceeding favourably with yields and quality somewhat above that area average. General fieldwork, weed control herbicide applications, straw baling and fall-seeded crop planting also continued. Producers are relying on aeration or drying of higher moisture samples.

While corn silage has not begun, some barley silage is completed with above average yields reported. Green feed is being harvested and because of moisture and frost stress, some samples have been submitted for nitrate testing. Pasture conditions and available forage remains good in most of the region.

CENTRAL REGION

Harvest advanced during the earlier part of the week and during the weekend. Frost was reported in the western part of the region with little impact as most crops are ripe. Cereal grains harvest is reported to be 95 to 100 per cent complete. Canola harvest is mostly complete in the Red River Valley while 85 to 95 per cent is completed in the escarpment area.

On the escarpment area, yields are above average with good grades. Flax is mature and harvest is progressing as conditions allow.

Field beans are reported dry and harvest is underway in the Red River Valley area.

Some white mould in the beans and head rot in sunflowers is being reported. Some desiccating of sunflower acres occurred in the Portage area. New potato harvest is progressing but difficult to impossible in some areas depending on the soil moisture levels.

Seeded winter cereal acreage to date is considered below average due to the delayed harvest and the wet soil conditions. Many fields have standing water in parts of the fields.

Second cut hay is mostly completed with good yields and quality hay conditions.

EASTERN REGION

The Eastern region experienced light rain and cooler weather which slowed harvest and haying progress. All areas of the region reported light frost (–1 C) on Sunday morning. No crop damage was reported to corn and soybeans but wilting of soybeans leaves was apparent.

The southeastern portion of the region reported five per cent of wheat acres not harvested while northern areas still have as much as 10 per cent of oats and 15 per cent of flax acres still to harvest.

Quality remains a concern with swaths lying on the ground creating mildew and sprouting issues.

Soybean harvest got underway on Friday with early seeded and early maturing varieties harvested with yields reported between 30 to 40 bushels/acre.

Sunflowers continued seed filling and yield potential continued to vary greatly. Corn is maturing. Winter wheat seedling emergence is good to excellent with plants in the one-to-three-leaf stage with the majority of the plants in the two-leaf stage. Winter wheat acres are lower than anticipated in the eastern region.

Producers continue to struggle making dry hay.

INTERLAKE REGION

Soils are saturated resulting in harvesting equipment frequently getting stuck in mud. Harvest is incomplete on most crops. Producers in the Arborg/ Riverton/Fisher Branch area are using tracks and four-wheel drive equipment to travel on wet cropland. Recent frosts have advanced soybean and sunflower dry down. Haying progress is limited.

Some second cut haylage was harvested over the weekend. Recent frosts will dessicate some alfalfa fields which could result in leaf drop and loss of quality. Frost has also caused concerns over nitrate levels in greenfeed and swath grazing crops.

Alternate grazing plans are beginning as pastures wind down. Producers are moving cattle to hayfields to make use of regrowth. Corn crops that have experienced drowning from excess moisture may be used for grazing as silage harvest will be difficult.