Crop Report Prepared by: Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives GO Teams & Crops Knowledge Centre September 26, 2011 |

Northwest Region
Early in the week the Northwest Region had cool seasonal temperatures with occasional light, scattered rain showers. Most areas also recorded localized light frost on Wednesday morning. Through the remainder of the week, above normal temperatures and excellent conditions allowed harvest to proceed rapidly.

Only a few fields of spring wheat remain to be harvested and 10 to 20% of barley and oat acres are left to combine. Canola harvest is 80 to 95% complete. Through most of the region, the remaining canola crop has been swathed. The exception is the area east of the Escarpment where later seeding took place. This area is also reporting some damage on late seeded canola from the recent frost. Harvest is more advanced and better regional yields and quality continue to be reported for all crops through the Roblin to Swan River areas.

Buckwheat yields are in the 20 to 25 bushels per acre range. Hemp harvest is beginning with average yields and good quality. No reports of any flax and soybeans harvested to date.

Some late seeded greenfeed is recovering in areas that received lighter frost. A few greenfeed fields have matured and been taken as grain. Silage corn is drying down and the more immature fields appear not to have had significant damage from the recent frost. Silaging of cereals is continuing.

Post-harvest field work continues as time and available fields allow. Soil moisture conditions are rated as dry to good. Straw is being baled and removed. Some limited haying is being completed.

Pasture conditions are fair and growth is minimal. Where lake levels have dropped and winds have been favourable, associated flooded lands are drying.