Northwest Region Crop Report Prepared by: Manitoba Agriculture
June 9, 2020 |

Northwest Region
The week started out with warm weather reaching highs of 29°C; however much of the region also received high winds.

Widespread rainfall events resulted in 13 mm precipitation throughout the region with northern areas of the region receiving upwards of 30 mm. There was a light hail event south of Swan River. This rain was welcome in many areas of the region where topsoil had dried out and was causing emergence issues. Cool weather arrived by the end of the week with lows hovering near zero.

Soil moisture is generally adequate to good throughout the region with the exception of The Pas where recent rainfall has saturated fields. Seeding is generally complete in the region with producers nearing completion at The Pas. Some reseeding has occurred in the Swan River area where pressure on
emerging canola has included flea beetles, cutworms, dry soil conditions, wind, and poor emergence. Other crops continue to be assessed for damage.

Spring wheat and cereal seeding is generally complete in the region with 90% in the seedling/tillering growth stage. Cereals rated as 90 to 100% in excellent condition. Canola seeding is nearly compete, with some reseeding resulting in variable growth stages. The canola crop condition is variable with 75% of canola around Roblin in excellent condition, 25% in good condition. Around Swan River, canola fields are 40% good to excellent, 30% average condition and 30% very poor to poor condition. Soybean seeding is complete and the crop is emerging; crop condition is average to excellent with crop condition better in the southern part of the region. Condition of the field peas is 95% good to excellent. Flax is 100% in the ground, in the stem elongation stage and rated as average to excellent condition.

Flea beetles and cutworms continue to be a concern and have required some control. Diamondback moth numbers remain low for the region. Strong winds have made pesticide applications challenging. Forage growth will benefit greatly from the weekend’s rainfall. Cows continue to be hauled out, however the majority of pastures do not have sufficient growth to sustain herds and supplemental feed is needed. Cereal greenfeed seeding is wrapping up. Dugoutwater supplies are adequate. Alfalfa fields and silage corn putting on good growth as temperatures rise.