Crop Report Prepared by: Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives GO Teams & Crops Knowledge Centre August 2, 2011 |

Northwest Region
Scattered showers accumulated up to 35 mm through Roblin to The Pas, with lesser amounts of 10 to 15 mm in other sectors of the region. Temperatures and relative humidity levels were average to above seasonal levels.

Soil moisture reserves are generally good to fair, with good growing conditions advancing crops favourably. Best yield potentials are through the Swan River and Roblin areas, where canola is up to 95% podded and wheat has advanced into dough stage and filling well.

East of the Escarpment to Lake Manitoba, where the wet spring delayed seeding, crops are developing well, but with yield potentials remaining below average. Many of the fields have variable staging and uniformity. Canola to 70% pod stage and wheat is 50% into dough and filling stages. Green feed acres continue to develop with the favourable growing conditions. Winter wheat is beginning to ripen.

Management of unseeded acres continues with herbicides and tillage. To a limited extent, seeding of perennial ryegrass and timothy has also occurred in excess moisture areas.

Bertha armyworm trap numbers are decreasing and remain at low risk. Durban, is the exception at moderate risk and canola fields are being monitored for larvae. A true armyworm infestation occurring at Bellsite required control on wheat was reported. There are limited reports of crop diseases.

First cut haying operations of improved forages is complete, with the last of the harvest reduced in quality due to weathering. Second growth forages and pastures continue to develop with seasonal conditions and improved soil moisture. Some producers have proceeded with destruction of excess moisture impacted forages. The native hay harvest is beginning with average or above yield potentials on accessible lands that were not flooded. Additional native hay acres are not recovering as flooding impacted low lying or poorly drained native forage and pasture lands adjacent to Lake’s Manitoba, Winnipegosis and Dauphin.