Northwest Region Crop Report Prepared by: Manitoba Agriculture
October 22, 2019 |
Northwest Region
Due to the previous heavy snowfall near Dauphin, Ste. Rose, and surrounding areas, harvest operations have seen limited progress. Some harvest operations were able to resume in Swan River and Roblin and as normal in The Pas, due to limited precipitation.
Red spring wheat harvest is estimated at approximately 95% complete in all parts of the region. Canola harvest is 85% complete at Roblin, 95% at The Pas and Swan River and remains at 85% in Dauphin. Canola yields range from 50 to 70 bu/ac. Soybeans that have been recently harvested have been challenged with high moisture. Yields ranged from 25 to 35 bu/ac in Swan River; 33 to 41 bu/ac in Roblin. Soybean harvest at Roblin is mostly complete; 90% at Swan River; 65% in Ste. Rose area; Dauphin remains 75% complete. Flax harvest is done in Swan River with 50% remaining standing in Roblin. Harvest of grain corn has started in the Ste. Rose area.
The first snowstorm of the season wreaked havoc on most of the area between the Riding and Duck Mountains particularly in the Dauphin, Ethelbert, Rorketon and Westlake areas once again. Significant power line damage was incurred in the Westlake area in particular. Any remaining annual crops including a significant amount of standing corn for silage were covered in heavy wet snow and severely damaged. Fields are saturated and additional moisture will make harvest even more difficult or may not happen at all.
Much of the snow remained in the Parkland area for a week after the storm. Many corn silage fields are outside of normally fenced areas, and outside of the availability of water, potential consequences might be a higher than normal cattle cull rate due to feed shortage. Producers will be feeding a month longer this year than in 2018 as almost all cattle are now being fed. Water supply now looks sufficient.
Silaging efforts will be ongoing as the weather conditions allow. In the Swan River area, silaging is almost 75% complete.