Northwest Region Crop Report Prepared by: Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development June 20, 2016 |

Northwest Region

Temperatures and rainfall amounts were extremely variable throughout the Northwest Region over the past week. Localized areas around and south of Ste. Rose, Makinak and McCreary received up to 25 mm of rainfall adding to the already wet conditions. Crops in this area are yellowing due to excessive moisture and weed control operations have resulted in rutted fields. Rainfall amounts north of Ste Rose through Dauphin, Roblin, Swan River and The Pas ranged between 0 and 12 mm. Soil moisture conditions range from short to adequate in most parts of the region, to excessive in localized parts of the Laurier/McCreary area and the Roblin area. High winds over the weekend caused damage to some crops. In general, most crops throughout the region are advancing nicely, with the exception of those crops suffering from excessive moisture.

Regionally, 30% of wheat is at the tillering stage of growth while 70% is elongating. Approximately 5% of canola is emerging, 45% is seedling and 50% is at the rosette stage of growth. Most of the field peas are in the vegetative stage of growth, while approximately 80% of the soybeans are also in the vegetative stage.

Herbicide treatments are nearing completion but applications continue as field conditions allow in areas challenged by wet field conditions. Reports of flea beetle activity are on the decline in the Swan River Valley, Roblin and The Pas areas as the canola crop progresses. There continue to be some reports of cutworm activity in those areas as well, but those have also declined in numbers. Diamondback moth monitoring trap populations continue to be highest in The Pas and Swan Valley areas.

Pastures have adequate growth as a result of periodic showers and warm temperatures. Grass and alfalfa fields are maturing. Dairy producers near Makinak have harvested alfalfa silage bales. Some hay has been cut around Dauphin and Swan River, while some fields have been harvested as chopped silage around Roblin. Weekend rains were welcome, particularly in areas that had been dry, although precipitation is posing a challenge to harvesting high quality hay.