June 30, 2009

Warm weather conditions in Manitoba during the week ended Monday (June 29) allowed for good crop development, according to the latest crop report from Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives.

However, heavy rainfall in some regions over the weekend caused problems with overland flooding in those areas.

Rainfall in central Manitoba was highly variable during the week, ranging from 12 millimetres to as much as 130 millimetres, said the report. Standing water was causing problems in some cases. However, overall, the recent warmer temperatures have helped improve crop growth. The majority of the canola crops were in the four- to six-leaf stage, although some early seeded fields were starting to flower. Cereal crops were in the two-leaf to tillering stages, with some yellowing reported due to excess moisture. Sunflowers were in the two- to six-leaf stage, and soy was in the unifoliate to third-trifoliate stages.

Eastern Manitoba also saw heavy rainfall over the weekend, leaving some fields saturated or flooded. Crop development in the region was variable, according to the report, with cereal crops ranging from the two-leaf to the flag-leaf stages. Canola fields ranged anywhere from the cotyledon stage to flowering. Winter wheat was said to be fair to excellent, while hay fields were rated as fair to good.

Hot/dry conditions allowed for good progress on field operations in the Interlake during the week. However, heavy rainfall over the weekend led to overland flooding. In the southern part of the region, early seeded canola crops were starting to bolt. Soy was in the second-trifoliate-leaf stage. In the northern part of the region soil crusting was causing some concerns, although the recent rains helped improve emergence.

Showers were isolated in Northwestern Manitoba during the week. Some areas were rated as dry, and there were reports of crop injury in the Swan Valley area due to heavy winds and high temperatures. Cereal crops in the region were in the tillering stage, while the majority of canola was entering the rosette stage, with a few fields bolting.

In Southwestern Manitoba crop conditions were said to be good overall, with most areas benefiting from 20 to 25 millimetres of precipitation during the week, according to the report. However, some areas were still rated as dry. Haying operations were starting in the region, and the forage crops have shown some improvement from the recent heat and moisture.