Crop Report Prepared by: Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives GO Teams & Crops Knowledge Centre
July 30, 2012 |

Northwest Region

Throughout the Northwest Region, above seasonal daytime temperatures and occasional high humidity began the week. Later in the week saw widespread thunder showers, occasional high winds and variable precipitation amounts of 15 to 55 mm with some locally higher amounts reported. A number of locations report having hail, including Inglis.

Wet soil moisture conditions through the northern areas of the region are improving; however, reduced crop condition, yellowing and ponding persists. In the rest of the region, conditions are generally better. Cereal crops are developing in to dough stages, with some beginning to ripen. Approximately 10 to 15% of the canola crop remains at flowering. Silage corn is beginning to tassel, with hemp and soybeans also responding well to the favourable heat and moisture. Winter wheat harvest has begun in the Ste.Rose and Dauphin areas. Perennial grass seed crops are being swathed.

Some economic levels of lygus bugs are reported on canola throughout the region. High alfalfa plant bug and lygus bug populations have affected pod set in some forage seed around Dauphin area. Aster yellows is occurring in almost all canola fields; some fields have 30% of the stand impacted. Aster yellows is also impacting many flax fields.

As weather conditions allowed, haying operations in the southern areas continued with approximately 10% of first cut remaining and 75% is baled and ensilaged. High humidity and rain has delayed dry down and harvest operations. Hay yields are average or below and quality has declined further with weathering. The hay harvest is less advanced and continues to be delayed in northern areas where field conditions remain wet.