Northwest Region Crop Report Prepared by: Manitoba Agriculture
July 23, 2019 |

Northwest Region

Good growing conditions in the region this past week and the crop is progressing well. Daytime temperatures hovered around 25°C and there was widespread rain along with heavy morning dews. Rainfall amounts ranged from ~15 mm in the Dauphin/Ste. Rose area; Swan River/Minitonas about 17 mm; Grandview 39 mm and The Pas approximately 25 mm. Roblin area received the most rainfall last week at 50 mm. Rain and favourable weather conditions have helped crops to recover from prolonged dry spring conditions. Soil moisture around Dauphin/Ste. Rose area continue to be short; soils in Swan River, The Pas and Roblin are 100% adequate.

There was good advancement in crop growth in the region; most fields look clean with good weed control. The canola crop continues to advance and, with the exception of very late seeded or stressed fields, 100% of the crop is flowering. Spring cereals are starting to turn colour and are in the milk to soft dough stage. Field peas in the region are podding and starting to mature. Soybeans are flowering around Roblin and Swan River and are in the R1 stage. 60% of the flax crop is flowering with the earlier seeded fields in the boll stage. Silage corn around Roblin is in good to poor condition.

Diamondback moth larvae are present in some fields but not in high numbers; producers are encouraged to scout fields for these pests before making spray decisions. From the 30 Bertha armyworm monitoring traps in the region, the highest cumulative counts are around Ste. Rose at 322 and Minitonas at 323. These numbers are in the “uncertain risk” range and reflect areas to prioritize when scouting for larvae. Fungicide applications occurring as conditions and staging allows.

Variable weather with rain and heavy morning dew is causing fluctuations to the fusarium head blight (FHB) risk map for the region. Generally, crops in the region are in average condition and have somewhat compensated for the challenging spring conditions.

Haying has been delayed due to recent rains, and will resume with stable forecast and clearer weather. Hay yields are reporting to be very low with 30 to 50% of normal, although newer fields are reporting somewhat higher yields at 50 to 60% of normal. Pastures are improving with the additional moisture; however, water sources continue to be low or very low on pastures.

Grasshoppers continue to be a major problem throughout the area, on both pastures and hay fields. Annual crops are starting to improve that are intended for silage and greenfeed. Hayfield conditions are rated as good (20%) to fair (40%), the balance being poor to very poor. Pasture conditions rated as good (10%) to fair (40%), poor (20%) and very poor (30%).