Crop Report Prepared by: Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives GO Teams & Crops Knowledge Centre
August 8, 2011 |

Northwest Region
Early in the week, some isolated thundershowers and occasional light and widely scattered showers occurred throughout most of the Northwest Region. Hail occurred in the Roblin and Swan River areas with localized heavy crop damage reported near Roblin. Soil moisture is adequate but moving towards dry levels due to a combination of little precipitation, periods of high temperatures, strong winds and good crop growth.

Harvest of forage grass seed crops and winter wheat has just begun; initial yields are expected to be average to above average.

Through the Swan River and Roblin areas, all crops are in the seed development and grain filling stages. While somewhat later and more variable, crops are developing well in the rest of the region. Greenfeed acres continue to develop and the later seeded canola is into flowering stages and beginning to pod. Some less mature canola fields are showing heat and environment stress symptoms including reduced plant height and pod set.

Bertha armyworm trap numbers continue to decrease. The Durban area is the exception where canola fields are being monitored for Bertha larvae. Aster yellows is evident and sclerotinia is also beginning to develop in some canola. The fusarium risk level was low to moderate for the week.

Second growth forages continue to develop with adequate soil moisture. Silage corn is growing rapidly in response to higher temperatures and adequate moisture.

Pasture conditions are good where grazing had not been too early. The native hay harvest is continuing with average or above yield potentials on lands which are accessible and have not been flooded. Production is decreased in the flood impacted low lying or poorly drained native forage and pasture lands adjacent to Lake’s Manitoba, Winnipegosis and Dauphin.