August 11, 2009

Crop development across Manitoba remained highly varied during the past week, according to the latest crop report released Monday (Aug 10) from Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives.

Crops in most areas will benefit from the forecasts calling for warmer temperatures over the next week, as cool temperatures have led to slow development in many cases, said the report.

Overall moisture conditions in southwestern Manitoba were described as good, with warm weather needed to help development. The majority of cereal crops in southwestern Manitoba were in the dough stage, according to the report, with some producers starting to dessicate winter wheat. Canola crops were finishing flowering and were podding, although late seeded fields were still flowering. Flax crops were finishing flowering, while sunflower fields were just starting to bud, with only the odd field showing flowers.

In northwestern Manitoba cereal crops were filling, with a few early seeded fields starting to turn color, according to the report. The majority of the canola crops were podding. Haying in the region has run into delays due to wet weather, with yields generally a half to three-quarters the size of normal.

Cool temperatures kept crops in Central Manitoba growing at a slow pace during the week, although forecasts for warmer temperatures should help development, said the report. Canola was blooming in the region, with the early seeded fields podding. Cereals ranged from heading to the hard dough stage. Pod formation was starting in soy, while corn fields were tasselling and sunflowers were varied. Flax crops ranged from early flowering to nearly finished flowering. Fall rye was ripe and dessication of winter wheat was starting.

Crop development in eastern Manitoba was also widely varied, with cool temperatures causing slow development, according to the report. The majority of the spring wheat, barley, and oats in the region were in the dough stage. Winter wheat was about a week away from maturity, while canola fields ranged from blooming to pod filling. Field peas were pod filling, as were most of the flax fields. Early seeded corn was just starting to silk in the region.

In the Interlake cereal crops ranged from the early soft dough stage to the milky dough stage. Canola crops in the region ranged from mid-bloom to podded. Corn crops were also highly varied in their maturity, and Manitoba Ag said all crops could use some warmer weather. Haying in the region continued to be delayed by scattered showers.