Manitoba producers made just minimal progress in the field this past week, with the harvest pace now falling behind average.
Tuesday’s crop report pegged the overall harvest in the province at 18% complete, up only 5 points on the week and 5 points behind the five-year average amid generally damp, rainy conditions. Over the previous couple of weeks, the harvest had been running right about on par with the average.
Harvest progress remains the most advanced in the Central Region, where 31% of the crop was off, compared to 22% a week earlier. The Interlake harvest gained 7 points on the week to 19% done, while the Eastern was up 5 points at 15% complete. The Southwest harvest climbed just 3 points to 11% done, and the Northwest was up 5 points to 9%.
Harvest continues in spring cereal crops, with barley at 38% complete, oats at 31% complete and spring wheat at 32% complete. Overall, cereal crops remain in fair to mostly good condition.
The pea harvest is now estimated at 85% complete, with canola at 5%. Early pea 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. Canola crops range from very late pod fill with straw, pod and seed colour change to swathing/pre-harvest application ready to harvest ready.
Dry bean harvest has begun with about 7% of the acres reported harvested. Yields and quality are variable and dependent on summer rainfall. Drier regions of the Central region are reporting small seed size and yields in the range of 1400 lbs/acre. Areas that received timely rainfall throughout the summer are seeing yields close to 2000 lbs/acre.
Corn is mainly in the R4 to R5 growth stages, while 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 in these fields, the report said.
Small amounts of precipitation were received across Manitoba croplands Aug. 21 - 27 with values ranging from a trace to about 33 mm. However, storms last week brought heavy rain and hail to isolated areas. The Dugald station reported 28.8 mm of rain in one hour on Aug. 24. Most of the precipitation in the past week was seen in the Northwest, Interlake and Eastern regions.
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