Northwest Region Crop Report Prepared by: Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development September 22, 2014 |

Northwest Region
Scattered showers were intermittent throughout the Northwest Region, limiting the amount of harvest progress made. The amount of moisture varied across crop districts. Wet field conditions are most troublesome in the Dauphin area where some fields are unable to support harvest equipment. Most harvest progress made over the week was in the Swan Valley where much of the crop harvested was at tough moisture levels and put on aeration to bring it to safe storage levels.

Regionally, approximately 95% of the wheat crop is mature. The wheat harvest varies from less than 5% combined in The Pas to 95% complete in Swan Valley, 20 to 30% in the Roblin, SteRose, McCreary areas to less than 20% in the Dauphin area. To date, wheat yields are reported as average and quality is good.

About 80% of the canola crop is swathed and 25 to 30% is combined. There are a few reports from producers indicating they are waiting for the green seed count to decrease. Reported canola yields range from 20 bu/acre to over 30 bu/acre. The quality of canola harvested to date is reported as good.

Harvest of the field pea crop is complete with average yields and good quality reported. The majority of soybean and flax crops remain standing. Some of the earlier seeded fields of soybeans are drying down.

There has been little to no seeding of winter wheat or fall rye in the region due to the late harvest of this year’s crop. At least a couple of weeks of dry warm weather are needed in order for producers get this year’s crop harvested and in the bin.

Many producers are beginning to haul hay to winter feeding areas. Native pastures are slowing in growth and soon will need supplemental feeding where continuous grazing has occurred; other pastures are holding on reasonably well. Some cattle are being moved to second cut hay fields for supplemental feeding. Some haying continued in areas dry enough to cut and bale on native hay and second cut alfalfa mixes being harvested as well. Producers continue to wait to harvest late seeded cereals for greenfeed. In areas that received frost, there are some issues reported with nitrates. Water supply on all pastures is good.