Manitoba Agriculture Crop Report – October 22, 2018

Northwest Region Crop Report Prepared by: Manitoba Agriculture
October 22, 2018 |

Northwest Region

Nice fall weather, with warm temperatures and no precipitation, resulted in good harvest progress this past week.

The spring wheat harvest is complete, with the exception of some later seeded fields. Most canola is harvested, although some of the later seeded canola remains both standing and in the swath. The good weather has allowed for good progress on the soybean harvest. There are still some flax fields needing to be harvested. The hemp harvest is underway. Much of the fall field work is still underway in preparation for spring. Some anhydrous ammonia has been applied as harvest and field conditions allow. Weeds and volunteers are slow growing and minimal fall weed control has taken place at this point.

Red spring wheat harvest generally complete at 98% with the remainder being those later seeded fields. The average yield for hard red spring wheat is 65 to 85 bu/ac with 80% of the crop grading #1, and the remainder grading #2 or lower. Canola harvest is nearing completion; approximately 85 to 95%. Those acres remaining are on fields that were seeded later in the spring or fields that had been reseeded. Canola yields are averaging 50 to 60 bu/ac. The quality of
canola harvested is standard for the region with 95% of the crop grading #1 and the balance #2. A lot of the canola harvested was high moisture and required extra aeration and drying. Quality of some of the later seeded canola is lower due to green seed issues.

Field pea harvest operations are complete with yields averaging 50 to 70 bu/ac and grading #2 in the Swan River and Roblin areas. Soybeans are 95% complete with yields averaging 30 to 50 bu/ac; 95% of the crop is grading #2. Some flax fields remain to be harvested. Across the region, producers are feeding livestock earlier than normal as a result of the dry late summer conditions and cool fall halting pasture growth. With the eastern side of the region
receiving less precipitation, there are areas where forage yields were half to one third of normal and availability of livestock water is rated at 60 to 70% adequate. Producers do not have adequate winter feed supplies and have been searching for and sourcing alternative feeds such as pea grain and utilizing more
grain and straw rations. The western part of the region received more rainfall earlier in the growing season so first cut forage yields are closer to average. Wet conditions in September delayed second cut and greenfeed harvest and reduced quality and yield. Corn silage harvest is nearing completion with yields estimated to be average. Feed supplies and livestock water availability is adequate the area. Early feed analysis results have been showing variable feed quality so feed testing is necessary to determine quality.