Crop Report Prepared by: Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives GO Teams & Crops Knowledge Centre September 19, 2011 |
Northwest Region
Harvest operations continued with favourable weather early in the week. Wednesday saw freezing overnight temperatures. Lighter frosts of -1 to -2 C occurred in the Ste. Rose and Laurier areas. In general, the heavier frosts of -3 to -4 C were reported west of the escarpment from Grandview and the Swan River Valley areas. Combining operations were interrupted as most of the region also received some scattered and variable rain showers mid-week.
The remaining 5% of spring wheat yet to be harvested is now swathed. Quality is average to above average in color and weight while protein levels are variable. Through the southern areas of the region, an above normal number of wheat samples are reporting downgrading due to ergot. Wheat yields vary from 15 to 65 bushels per acre. Other cereal crops are 50 to 70% combined. Yields of barley range from 40 to 80 bushels per acre with oats from 45 to 95 bushels per acre. Overall cereal yield averages are higher through the Roblin-Swan River areas.
Approximately 50% of the canola crop has been combined with about 40% swathed. Yields are ranging from 15 to 60 bushels per acre with overall good quality. From Grandview and east of the escarpment, yield averages are lower. This area has the majority of acres with late seeded canola where some damage is evident from the recent frost.
Flax, soybeans, buckwheat and hemp acres are mature. The lighter frost has damaged terminal plant growth and immature seed of buckwheat and the late seeded soybeans in the Dauphin area.
Post-harvest field work continues as time and available fields allow. Winter wheat is germinating evenly and is establishing well; some planting around the Dauphin area continues. Significant winter wheat has been seeded into minimal or not stubble cover in fields affected by this spring’s excess moisture.
Late seeded greenfeed is recovering in areas that received a lighter frost. Silage corn shows frost damage primarily on leaf growth; some light husk damage is also evident. However, most fields are into dent stage or received only a light frost which minimized the impact.
For pasture not previously impacted by flood or over-grazing, conditions are good but growth has slowed. Straw is being baled, along with some limited haying being completed. Silaging of cereals is underway; up to 8 tons per acre of barley silage has been reported to date.