Manitoba
SOUTHWEST
Rain in the region varied from trace amounts to 25 mm.
Producers are busy swathing fall rye and desiccating winter wheat. Early seeded cereal crops are turning and the majority of canola has nearly finished flowering.
Many flax crops are in their fourth week of flowering. Field peas will soon require pre-harvest applications.
Soybeans also look good with many varieties about 75 centimetres. Corn and sunflowers are at least two weeks behind normal development.
Foxtail barley is an issue, as is volunteer canola in some areas. Grasshopper numbers continue to rise, but no other insects are being noted.
Read Also
Farming Smarter receives financial boost from Alberta government for potato research
Farming Smarter near Lethbridge got a boost to its research equipment, thanks to the Alberta government’s increase in funding for research associations.
First cut haying is nearly complete with quality above average. Yields are generally estimated at 75 to 80 percent of normal.
The second cut of alfalfa has begun in some isolated areas. Silage of cereal crops has started with average to below average yields. Alternative feeds may be needed to supplement the winter feed supply.
NORTHWEST
Good growing conditions prevail. Rainfall varied from trace amounts to more than 50 millimetres. Thunderstorms caused some lodging in wheat and small hail was reported.
Over half of the cereal crop is in the milk stage. Half of the canola is flowering and the other half has podded. Most soybeans and field peas have podded.
Wild oats are evident in many wheat crops and barnyard grass and foxtail barley are thriving.
Blackleg and root rot are reported in some fields. However, there are no reports of significant insect activity.
First cut tame hay has been harvested with the second cut beginning. Average to above average yields are reported with good quality. The native hay harvest is ongoing and pastures are rated in good condition.
Perennial ryegrass is harvested with average to above average yields. Cereal silage harvest has started.
CENTRAL
Temperatures averaged 25 to 30 C and precipitation ranged from 15 to 25 mm.
Crops look good, although most areas would benefit from more rain, especially on late maturing crops.
Moisture stress can be seen in corn and soybeans and lower leaf drop has occurred. Grain fill is also a concern.
The winter wheat harvest continues with initial reports indicating average yields range from 50 to 65 bu. per acre. Samples indicate high levels of fusarium damaged kernels, ranging from four to 20 percent.
Spring cereals have fully headed. Some barley and spring wheat has been swathed. Oats are rapidly turning. Canola ranges from full flower to full pod.
Soybeans are podding. Most edible beans have fully podded.
Corn is variable with pollen shed complete in most fields. Sunflowers are blooming and most advanced fields have flowered.
Wild oats, green and yellow foxtail and barnyard grass are a concern in many cereal fields while volunteer canola and cocklebur continue to show up in soybean fields and low lying areas.
Lygus and banded sunflower moth are a concern. Grasshopper control also continues.
Second cut of hay is nearing completion. Alfalfa silage is underway and yields look good. Greenfeed cutting and baling have also begun.
Pasture conditions are adequate, but more moisture is needed.
EASTERN
Trace rainfall occurred with warm and sunny conditions. More rain will maintain yield potential in warm season crops.
Pre-harvest herbicide applications on winter wheat are done and harvest has begun. Yields range from 50 to 80 bu. per acre. Fusarium damaged kernel levels range from 0.6 to 3.3 percent with higher levels expected. Canola swathing has begun.
Defoliation of soybeans caused by insects remains below economic thresholds for spraying.
Timothy seed and perennial ryegrass have been swathed and some ryegrass harvested. Cattle are doing well, although pastures could generally use more precipitation.
INTERLAKE
Many crops are looking good following recent heat and drier conditions. Precipitation varied from one to 11 mm for the period.
Winter wheat is being desiccated or swathed. Spring cereals are in soft to hard dough stages. Canola has mostly podded. Corn is tasseling and sunflowers are in full bloom. Soybeans are podding.
Many producers are considering a second cut of alfalfa. Winter feed supplies are expected to be short. Pastures that have been continuously grazed are running short of digestible grasses.
Saskatchewan
SOUTH
Harvest is underway for fall rye, field peas, winter wheat and lentils. Canola swathing is beginning and desiccation of pulses continues. Haying has been slowed by precipitation and humidity.
Rainfall varied from trace amounts to 92 milli-metres in the Qu’Appelle area. The Moosomin area has recorded the highest amount of rainfall with 642 mm since April 1.
Strong winds, downpours and large hail have damaged many fields, equipment and homes. There are reports of lodged or decimated crops, damaged homes and grain bins and localized flooding.
Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated almost 90 percent adequate. Hay land and pasture moisture is rated at about 75 percent adequate.
Some flax crops are being sprayed for grasshoppers and fusarium head blight is reported in some cereals.
CENTRAL
Crops are advancing quickly, but the majority still lag about a week or more behind normal development.
Desiccation of pulses is in progress and some fall rye is being swathed. Haying is wrapping up, but frequent rain and heavy dew are delaying dry-down and baling. There have been reports of some hay rotting in the swath.
The Macklin area received 76 mm of rainfall, which was the most in the region. The Foam Lake area has received 582 mm since April 1.
Heavy rains, strong winds and hail have lodged crops and flooded fields.
Higher than normal disease levels are reported in pulse and canola crops. Some producers are spraying for grasshoppers in flax and lentils.
Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland, hayland and pastures are rated about 80 percent on average.
NORTH
Crops are quickly advancing, but rain is needed to help crops fill. Desiccating pulses and swathing have begun. Haying has been hampered by delays in dry-down, which has caused deterioration in swaths.
Precipitation varied from trace amounts to a high of 42 mm in the Glaslyn area. Star City has received the most since April 1 with 396 mm.
Crop damage was caused by hail, strong winds and heavy rain.
There are reports of higher than normal disease levels caused by fusarium head blight and sclerotinia.
Producers are also spraying for lygus bugs and diamondback moths in canola.
Topsoil moisture con-ditions on cropland are rated about 90 percent adequate while hay land and pastures average the same.
Alberta
SOUTH
Crops are rapidly progressing, but some are under heat stress. Continued hot and dry conditions are beginning to affect yield potential. Spotty hailstorms were reported.
Harvest of winter wheat and fall rye has begun with about five percent in the bin. About five percent of swathing is done for dry peas, spring wheat, durum, barley and canola.
First cut hay for irrigated and dryland is complete with an average of 90 percent rated good to excellent. About a third of the irrigated second cut is complete.
Pasture and tame hay growth ratings are lower because of the heat with about 55 percent rated good to excellent.
CENTRAL
High temperatures, heavy precipitation and patchy hail were reported. The hail caused severe damage and will impact yield and crop maturity.
Swathing has just started for dry peas, spring and winter wheat, fall rye, durum, barley and canola.
First cut haying is almost complete on dryland and done on irrigated land. Yields average about two tons per acre. Dryland quality is rated about 65 percent good to excellent and 80 percent for irrigated.
Pasture and tame hay conditions are reported as 55 percent good to excellent.
NORTHEAST
Crop development improved with heavy precipitation. Overall, most are in good to excellent condition.
About 35 percent of the winter wheat and fall rye is swathed. Approximately 10 percent of the winter wheat is harvested with yields averaging 44.5 bushels per acre.
Almost all of the first cut dryland hay is complete with yields averaging 1.7 tons per acre. Quality is rated 84 percent good to excellent. Pasture and tame hay conditions are reported on average 90 percent good to excellent.
NORTHWEST
Crop development advanced with hot temperatures and isolated showers, however the continued heat is affecting conditions and most primary crops are rated 84 percent good to excellent.
Swathing and harvest has not started.
Most of the first cut of hay is complete. Average yield is about 2.1 tons per acre.
Heat stress affected quality and is rated 77 percent good to excellent. Pasture and tame hay average 63 percent good to excellent.
PEACE
Crops advanced with a week of hot, dry conditions with a few isolated showers, however yield is being affected in some areas.
Insect damage is caused by root maggots, grasshoppers, flea beetles and lygus bugs are a concern in some areas.
Canola swathing has started with about five percent complete.
First cut hay is virtually complete with average yield estimated at 1.4 tons per acre.
Its quality is rated 75 percent good to excellent. Pasture and tame hay conditions are about 50 percent good to excellent.
