Crop Report: Issue 12, July 18, 2016
Weekly Provincial Summary
- Generally good growing conditions continue to advance crops across Manitoba. Localized thunderstorms did result in significant precipitation amounts and crop lodging in some areas of the province.
- Majority of acres and crop types are in the flowering and grain fill stages of development.
- Disease pressure and insect activity continues to be monitored as the growing season progresses.
- Rain, high humidity and wet field conditions continue to cause challenges for haying operations.
Southwest Region
Rainfall events across the Southwest Region have created wet conditions for another week, with precipitation amounts ranging from 10 to 60 mm.
Winter wheat and fall rye are maturing and symptoms of fusarium head blight are appearing in winter wheat. Spring seeded cereal crops are heading and some early seeded crops are starting to turn. On average, most cereal crops are in the head filling stage. Fusarium head blight symptoms are also starting to appear in spring wheat. Canola crops are flowering with the early seeded crops going out of bloom. Majority of crop is in full flower. Blackleg and sclerotinia are starting to appear. Soybeans are flowering and some are in early pod development. Some crops are showing stress from moisture. Peas are done flowering and are in pod fill stage. Sunflowers are in early bud stage and continue to develop with few issues. Some early planted corn is starting to tassel. Flax is in full bloom with early seeded flax done flowering.
There are no major insect issues to date; producers continue to monitor bertha armyworm populations.
Producers are having issues harvesting first cut of hay; very little has been harvested without any rain on it. Several producers are opting for silage. Producers that did cut early are starting second cut. Pastures are in good condition. Dugouts are 100% full.
Northwest Region
There continued to be rain and thunderstorm activity throughout most of the Northwest Region over the past week with variation in total rainfall amounts. Reported rainfall amounts ranged from as little as 0 to 6 mm in the Roblin area to over 40 mm in The Pas. Some crop lodging due to rain and/or wind is reported in the Roblin area. Soil conditions throughout the region are also variable ranging from adequate in most parts to excessive in some parts of the Swan Valley, The Pas and south of Ste Rose. Some crops in these areas are showing effects of excess moisture with yellowing and crop loss in low areas.
Most field crops throughout the region continue to advance nicely and are in relatively good condition, with the exception of those crops in localized areas continuing to struggle in wet conditions. With regards to crop stage of growth, fall rye and winter wheat crops are beginning to change color. Most spring wheat is in the milk to dough stage. Canola continues to develop rapidly. Approximately 60% of the canola is flowering and 40% is podded. Field peas are also advancing quickly. Reports indicate about 30% of the field peas are blooming and 70% are podded. The majority of the soybeans are in the R1 to R2 stage of growth.
Reports of insect activity and disease continue to be minimal.
After continued rains for the past several weeks on cut hay fields, hay has finally been baled as second cut is growing rapidly. Hay quality and baled moisture content will be of concern. With drier conditions and forecasted better weather, cutting of hay fields has resumed. Some fields are still saturated so will require additional time to dry for hay to be baled. Some producers are choosing to do round bale silage. Pastures are healthy and are producing well.
Central Region
Temperatures remain moderate, with good crop growth on average in the Central Region. However, rainfall throughout the week, combined with cloud cover and high humidity, limited drying conditions for haying operations and increased potential for disease infections in crops. Rainfall accumulations vary, but most of the region received at least 25 mm of rainfall through the week. Highest amounts reported at: Letellier 70 mm, Morris 65 mm, Somerset 55 mm, Clearwater 50 mm, Snow Flake 55 mm, Winkler 50 mm and Manitou 45 mm. Some fields handled the rainfall well; in others, standing water is a concern, especially in the later seeded crops. Yellowing and crop thinning due to excess moisture is evident.
Cereals continue to advance. Heading stage is reached in all spring cereals. Lodging is reported in some of the earliest seeded fields; a result of high winds and thunderstorm activity. Some plants are starting to die back due to root rots; premature ripening is noticeable in scattered plants and adjacent to drains and low areas. The later seeded canola is growing rapidly and most is in full flower. Podding is seen in the most advanced fields where flowering is complete. Some lodging is evident, due to high winds and soft field conditions. Flowering in peas continues and podding has begun. Stands look good where excess moisture is not an issue. Growers continue to scout field peas for pea aphids. Flax continues to flower, and boll formation has begun.
Corn is growing rapidly and the earliest planted corn is in tassel. Some European corn borer eggs and larvae have been found. Soybeans continue to flower and pod. Many fields range from R2 to R3 stage, with some as advanced as R4. Nodulation appears to be successful; there are some concerns in the wettest fields. Bacterial blight is evident in a number of fields. Edible beans are flowering and fungicide applications continue. Sunflowers range from R1 to R4 stage.
Fall rye and winter wheat are progressing well. Fields are in good to excellent condition as they continue to mature. Some fusarium head blight is evident in winter wheat. Fall rye harvest is expected to begin shortly. Lodging is noted in some fields.
The majority of fungicide applications in cereals and canola are now complete; the last remaining will be applied by air.
Some minor grasshopper feeding is reported. Monitoring continues in headed cereals; little spraying for aphids or true armyworm has been required. Beneficial predators are evident in good numbers in most fields. Bertha armyworm trap numbers are low to moderate.
Good growth of forages is supported by very good growing conditions. With existing wet soil conditions, it is a challenge for hay producers to put up dry hay and cutting has been delayed. Fields that were cut over the last two weeks and not baled due to wet conditions are spoiled and not likely to be harvested except to dispose of the material and allow regrowth. With late cutting of forages due to the wet weather conditions, nutritional value of forages is expected to be lower. Livestock water supply is adequate.
Eastern Region
Rainfall accumulations in the Eastern Region varied from 20 mm to as much as 60 mm with higher precipitation levels occurring in northern and southern districts. Last week’s weather was highly variable, ranging from periods of sun to sudden thunderstorms or heavy rainfall events. Humidity levels remained high while temperatures were normal to below normal. Conditions were not conducive to drying. Producers did make progress with field operations, particularly spraying with grounds rigs and an increased use of planes. Loss of yield potential due to excess moisture continues to occur across the Eastern Region. Some standing water in fields is evident. Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated from adequate to surplus across the Eastern Region with surplus conditions most prevalent in northern and southern districts.
Winter cereals are in the dough stage with straw and heads starting to turn. Some lodging is noted due to recent heavy rains and strong winds. Spring cereals range from late milk to dough stage. Canola is podding and pod filling with flowering ending in the early seeded crop. Field peas are in pod filling and flowering is ending. Soybeans are flowering (R2) with the crop starting to transition to podding (R3). Sunflowers are in bud development and corn is beginning to tassel.
Herbicide and fungicide applications are virtually complete in the Eastern Region. A few applications in late seeded crop where ground access are hampered due to excess moisture may still occur if crop yield potential can justify the applications. Much of this will be done using aerial application. Soybean aphids below economic threshold levels were detected in the Eastern Region last week. Field pea aphids continue to be found and monitored, although the field pea crop is starting to develop beyond critical growth stages for economic control. Field pea aphid numbers have varied greatly from field to field. Some insecticide applications to control field pea aphid have occurred.
Across the region, the majority of hay land and pastureland is rated in good condition. Haying operations have been challenging due to wet weather and field conditions. First cut haying progress is noted as 15% baled or silaged with an additional 10% cut and the remainder of the crop still standing. Quality is noted as mostly good with alfalfa hay yielding 2 tons per acre and grass/alfalfa hay yielding 1.75 tons per acre. There has been minimal second cut alfalfa harvested due to the wet fields. Pastures are rated as good. Availability of livestock water is adequate and dugouts are full.
Interlake Region
Last week saw warmer temperatures and additional rainfall in the Interlake Region. Areas in the South Interlake received over 25 mm, while areas in the western Interlake received over 50 mm of rainfall early in the week.
Spring wheat ranges in development from the milk to soft dough stages in majority of fields. Late seeded wheat is still flowering. Canola ranges in development from pod stage in the South Interlake, to flowering in areas of the North Interlake. The early seeded soybeans are starting to flower, with the late seeded soybeans at the fifth and sixth trifoliate stage. Some crop yellowing is noticed in low lying areas. Corn is at the tassel stage. Flax is flowering and peas have started producing pods. Winter wheat development ranges from milk to hard dough stage.
Approximately 75% of the planned fungicide applications on canola and wheat are complete; however, spraying continues in some late seeded crops.
Haying operations are being impacted by rainfall. Many producers are choosing to ensile. Second growth of alfalfa is good and has not been impacted significantly by alfalfa weevil. Native and grass hay yields continue to increase. Grasshopper damage to date is minimal. Pastures are supplying adequate feed for the time of year. There is adequate water for livestock consumption.