Northwest Region Crop Report Prepared by: Manitoba Agriculture
July 6, 2021 |

Northwest Region

Intense heat for a number of days stressed crops throughout the Northwest region. Temperatures reached highs of 36°C with overnight temperatures remaining high as well. Areas that were lacking moisture before the intense heat became more apparent as stresses started to show. A severe thunderstorm through the Swan River and Ethelbert areas Saturday night brought various rainfall amounts from 3 mm up to 50 mm in localized spots. Some hail was reported however, damage is not yet known. Other areas of the region did not receive significant rainfall through last week. Soil moisture conditions have deteriorated further this week and are a continued concern. The accumulated rainfall as a percent of long-term normal is lowest in areas around Dauphin/Ste. Rose in the southeastern parts of the region. Northern parts of the region near Swan River and The Pas, while dry, are faring somewhat better in terms of rainfall amounts and resulting soil moisture conditions.

Spring cereals across the region are 75% heading out with the remainder following behind in the stem elongation growth stage. Cereals are still rated at 70% in good condition, as they have been better able to withstand the challenging spring conditions. Yield potential of the cereal crop is still positive. Winter wheat and fall rye are heading out and just starting to turn colour in the Roblin and Dauphin areas.

Canola across the region is highly variable with about 50% of the canola crop in the region rated as good with the remainder in fair to poor condition. The canola is patchy, shorter than normal, stagey and many fields still have bare spots. These effects are the result of dry conditions, insect feeding, spring frost and wind. Most of the canola is bolting and flowering. The exception are those fields that were reseeded or seeded late and these fields are in the rosette/bolting stage.

Peas are starting to pod. The effects of the ongoing heat stress has caused flower abortion in canola and peas.

Herbicide and fungicide applications continue as the correct crop stage is reached and conditions allow. The continuous strong winds, heat and intermittent showers across the region have made spraying a challenge.

Bertha armyworm monitoring continues across the region. The moths are starting show up in some traps however; cumulative trap count numbers remain low. Grasshopper feeding is a continued concern on pastures and cereals.

First cut hay harvest is underway with more progress made on the eastern side of the region with the hot and dry conditions. More moisture will be necessary for any second cut hay re-growth and to sustain pasture production. Water supplies on pastures are very limited and many producers are moving cattle off pastures due to water shortages or having to haul water to pastures. Corn for silage is growing well with the heat. Grasshoppers continue to be a problem. Much of the eastern part of the area has had very limited moisture including Ste. Rose and Rorketon through to Alonsa with less than 60% of normal precipitation.