Northwest Region Crop Report Prepared by: Manitoba Agriculture September 26, 2016 |

Northwest Region

Windy weather through the week dried conditions enough that harvest operations resumed mid-week in the Northwest Region.

However, widespread rain over the weekend brought harvest operations throughout the region to a halt. Swan River received 20 to 35 mm of precipitation, The Pas 30 mm and amounts ranged from 25 to 50 mm around the Roblin and Dauphin areas. Cooler overnight temperatures with frost mid-week resulted in some visible crop damage. Heavy morning dews and foggy conditions also reduced the available harvest time window.

Producers are pressing forward with harvest operations with the red spring wheat harvest nearing completion in most of the region; it’s 95% complete in the Swan River and Dauphin areas and 85 to 90% in Roblin and The Pas. Much of the grain combined over the last two weeks was harvested at tough moisture levels that required drying; quality is average to below average. Spring wheat yields are ranging from 50 to 70 bu/acre. The barley harvest has begun with 20% of the barley acres combined in the Swan Valley area, and approximately 40% of the barley acres combined in the Roblin area. Approximately 70% of the oats in the Swan Valley have been harvested.

Canola harvest continues with most canola in the region mature and much of it swathed. Some straight combining has occurred around the Dauphin area with approximately 80% of the acres in the Dauphin area harvested. In Swan Valley 70% of the canola is combined, 50% is combined in the Roblin area and 75 to 80% is swathed in The Pas area with 10% combined. Canola yields are variable and quality is average with reports of 50 to 65 bu/acre in the Swan Valley.

Field pea harvest operations are generally complete with the soybean harvest just beginning. Corn remains standing. Weeds are actively growing and some post-harvest fieldwork has taken place, as conditions allow.

Weekend rainfall will delay forage harvest operations. When conditions dry, the late seeded greenfeed and second cut alfalfa acres that remain to be harvested will be put up. Corn silage harvest began last week and will resume when fields are dry enough to handle the equipment traffic. Pastures are holding their own for this time of year.