Rains early this week are too late to change the outlook for this year’s crop, but farmers will be looking for more to 
help pastures, dugouts and soil moisture levels recover 
for next year.

Tiptoeing around the dreaded ‘D’ word

The word ‘drought’ is being tossed around in Manitoba’s agriculture industry, but the province isn’t ready to go there just yet

Most of Manitoba is dry for the second year running, but is it a drought? The term fits, according to AAFC. The agency’s national drought monitor says most of eastern Manitoba and the Interlake is in moderate or severe drought, along with land stretching through southern Manitoba from the Ontario border and well into Westman.

A corn crop in the RM of St. Andrews in Manitoba’s Interlake region on July 5, 2018. (Greg Berg photo)

Ontario, Manitoba corn crops need rain

CNS Canada — Corn development in key growing areas of Ontario and Manitoba remains highly variable as the crop nears its yield-determining phase. “The pollination stage is the critical part of the corn-growing period and I would say probably within the next three weeks we will know what yield is going to look like,” said


Pinto beans. (Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Pulse weekly outlook: Manitoba beans podding, flowering

CNS Canada — A lack of moisture continues to plague Manitoba’s edible beans, but according to one specialist, the crop should still enjoy another strong year. “Most areas have gotten just enough rain to keep things in good condition,” said provincial pulse specialist Dennis Lange. The Winkler region, long considered a major planting area for

There just hasn’t been enough rainfall to fill dugouts this year in much of the province.

Producers watching drying dugouts

Livestock producers have a closer-than-normal watch on low dugouts, although Manitoba Agriculture says levels aren’t near the danger zone yet. No regions were reporting drinking water shortages as of early June, although Manitoba’s June 4 crop report noted varying levels across the province. Dugouts in the Interlake flagged at a third to two-thirds full, while





Environment Canada on April 30 released this forecast map for the probability of above-normal precipitation for the period of May through July 2018.

May showers likely to leave growers unsatisfied

CNS Canada — Canada’s Prairies can expect to see regular rainfall in most regions during May, but it likely won’t be enough to offset dry conditions recorded over the past several months. According to Drew Lerner of World Weather Inc. in Kansas City, the first half of May should see average rainfall amounts in most