Manitoba Agriculture reports that rain during the week slowed harvest, but it continued on the dry days. Many producers are caught up on cereals, and are well into the canola and soybeans.
Heavy dews and rains have continued to limit harvest hours, but crop moisture levels have dropped. Most areas are looking for rain, post-harvest, to benefit soil moisture levels for next
year, and improve tillage conditions in some soils. Temperatures have been extremely variable, with daytime highs ranging from low teens to high 20s. Overnight lows have settled to just above 3°C to slightly below. Average daily temperatures range from 15°C to 17°C, higher than last week.
The spring wheat harvest for many in the region is complete. Overall progress is estimated at 95-100% done. Only a few isolated fields left. Yields have generally been good; Straw has been baled immediately following cereal harvest with most bales collected off the fields. Some post-harvest weed spraying is also occurring.
Oats and barley harvest also 100% complete.
Canola harvest is estimated at 80% complete. Yield reports range from 25 to 55 bu/acre, with average yields expected to be in the 35 to 45 bu/acre range.
Flax harvest continues, with 30% complete. Yields ranging from 20 to 25 bu/acre.
Most soybeans are R8. Harvest progress is estimated at 55% complete, with some producers just starting and others finished. Early yields reported in the 20 to 45 bu/acre range. Average is expected to end up at 30 to 32 bu/acre range. Some of the later maturing varieties benefited from the late rains.
Most sunflowers are at R9. Desiccation applications continue. Corn silage chopping continues, with some areas complete. Yields are variable, dependent on rainfall amounts through the growing season.
Fall rye and winter wheat are in, with good emergence. Later seeded fields would benefit from rain to aid emergence.
Corn is physiologically mature, with grain moistures ranging from 23 to 28%. Heights are variable due to dry conditions. Corn silage chopping continues, with some areas complete. Silage is past its optimum stage, and now producers are more on the dry side at about 40% moisture or less.
