Manitoba
Southwest
Thirty to 100 millimetres of precipitation were recorded, which was welcome for late seeded soybean and sunflower crops. The moisture was accompanied by high winds, which resulted in severe lodging in less mature crops.
Canola swathing has begun with reports of average to above average stands.
It is estimated the soybean crop will reach maturity in 20 to 30 days, depending on the variety in combination with warmer temperatures.
Flax crops are beginning to change colour and continue to have excellent yield potential.
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Most of the hay harvest is complete with only silage, native and ditch hay remaining. Quality continues to be well above average with first cut yields averaging about 80 percent normal. Second cut of alfalfa is entering the early bud stage with excellent yields projected. Barley silage yields are reported as average.
Pastures have improved after recent rain and cooler temperatures.
Northwest
Rainfall was 19 to more than 100 mm with cooler temperatures that caused lodging.
Most of the wheat is in the dough stage and most canola has podded. Swathing for both had begun before the rain. The moisture also brought harvest of winter cereals and early seeded barley crops to a standstill.
Most soybeans and field peas have podded.
Wheat is showing symptoms of fusarium head blight and glume blotch. Some canola fields have signs of sclerotinia, blackleg and root rot. Wild oats, barnyard grass, foxtail barley and Canada thistle are showing up in some fields. Cleavers are also evident in canola crops as well as confirmation of lygus bugs where fields were sprayed.
Rain helped replenish dugouts and improve pasture conditions.
Central
Precipitation amounts were 30 to 75 mm with some isolated areas receiving more than 125 mm.
Lodging occurred in some crops, but late maturing crops will benefit from more moisture.
Harvest of winter wheat is nearing completion with average yields 50 to 65 bu. per acre. Quality is down for many with fusarium damaged kernels at levels of .5 to 20 percent.
Most barley is harvested with yields of 70 to 100 bu. per acre. Early yield reports for spring wheat are 60 to 65 bu. per acre with good quality. Protein reports range from 11 to 13.5 percent. Preharvest applications continue.
Early yield reports of harvested oats are 100 to 130 bu. per acre with good test weight.
About half of canola is swathed. Harvested fields are reporting yields around 40 bu. per acre. Most soybeans are podding, and edible beans continue to mature. Desiccation has begun.
Corn development varies with many fields in the dough stage. Sunflowers have flowered.
Rust, brown girdling root rot, blackleg, sclerotinia infection, leaf spotting, brown spot, bacterial blight and downy mildew are causing crop infestations, but are not widespread.
Control measures for insect damage are mostly below economic thresholds, but scouting is encouraged.
While precipitation is replenishing pastures, it has stalled the second cut of hay and greenfeed operations.
Eastern
Precipitation was two to 58 mm with a mix of weather, including fog, high humidity and cooler temperatures.
The moisture will help maintain yield potential in soybean and corn crops, but more heat units are needed for maturity and harvest.
Harvest will begin once fields dry. Yields are expected to be down in soybeans and corn as a result of previous dry conditions. Sunflowers appear to be in good shape.
Insect activity and damage are well below economic threshold levels.
Pastures and the cattle on them are doing well. There’s adequate winter feed supplies with a small surplus in hay supplies.
Interlake
Total accumulation of rain was 55 to 85 mm, along with cool temperatures.
Harvest of winter wheat is ongoing with average yields of 55 to 65 bu. per acre. Fusarium damaged kernels levels are two to five percent.
Canola is being swathed as maturity dictates. Soybeans continue to stay green and fill. Most corn is at the blister milk stage and needs more heat as it matures.
Harvest continues for forage grass seed, and most timothy is completed. Average yields are reported.
There are reports of grasshopper damage in some grass hay fields and pastures.
Saskatchewan
SOUTH
Combining is well underway with an average of about five percent completed and about 15 percent swathed or ready for straight-cutting.
On average, 25 percent of fall rye and field peas has been combined, followed by 20 percent of winter wheat and 12 percent of lentils. Almost 40 percent of the canola has been swathed while about 20 percent of mustard is swathed or ready for straight cutting.
Average yields are reported, but quality is reduced as a result of excess moisture and lack of maturity.
Precipitation varied from 22 to 119 mm in the Stewart Valley area. Since April 1, the Moosomin area has received 762 mm of rain.
Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated on average about 60 percent adequate while hayland and pastures are slightly more at about 65 percent adequate.
Heavy winds and rain caused lodging in many crops. Grasshoppers are a concern in localized areas. Sclerotinia and fusarium head blight are also causing damage.
CENTRAL
Cool, wet weather interrupted harvest and many crops remain one to two weeks behind normal development.
More than half the fall rye, one-third of field peas, a quarter of winter wheat and canola and less than 10 percent of mustard, barley and durum have been swathed or ready to be straight cut.
Rainfall ranged from trace amounts to more than 140 mm in the Bethune area, which led the province. The Foam Lake area has the highest cumulative amount with 664 mm since April 1.
Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland, hayland and pastures are rated at about 75 percent adequate.
The majority of damage was caused by heavy rain and strong winds, which lodged many crops. Reported disease damage includes sclerotinia, ascochyta blight and fusarium head blight.
NORTH
Harvest has begun with desiccating pulses and swathing canola, but it has been delayed by precipitation in many areas.
Rainfall varied from small amounts to 72 mm in the Lake Lenore area. The North Battleford area has received 503 mm of rain since April 1.
About a quarter of field peas are swathed or ready for straight-cutting, followed by 15 percent of canola and less than 10 percent of winter wheat, barley and fall rye.
Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland, hayland and pastures are rated about 90 percent adequate.
Crop damage was caused by strong winds, localized flooding and diseases such as sclerotinia, blackleg and fusarium head blight. Grasshoppers and lygus bugs have also caused damage.
Alberta
SOUTH
Harvest progress was slowed by heavy rain in amounts up to 90 mm. On the other hand, there are excellent soil moisture conditions for seeding winter wheat.
Slightly more than 10 percent of crops have been swathed and less than 10 percent combined.
About one-quarter of canola and winter wheat are swathed. Almost 40 percent of field peas and about 20 percent winter wheat are combined.
Crop conditions improved with three-quarters now rated good to excellent.
There will probably be no second cutting of hay, but more than 60 percent of second cut irrigated hay is completed with good yields and excellent quality.
NORTHEAST
Harvest progress slowed in areas with spotty showers followed by cooler temperatures and reports of light frost.
About 20 percent of crops are swathed, which includes almost 40 percent canola. Combining has begun with more than 20 percent field peas finished.
Crops condition have slightly improved to 85 percent rated good to excellent.
About 35 percent of second cut hay is completed and of very good quality.
NORTHWEST
Light frost and cooler temperatures with light spotty rainfall slowed harvest.
Slightly more than 10 percent of crops are swathed with about one-quarter of canola swathed. About 20 percent of field peas are combined.
Crop conditions improved and are rated 80 percent good to excellent.
About one-third of second cut dry land hay is completed with very good to excellent quality.
CENTRAL
Precipitation brought harvest operations mostly to a standstill, and cooler temperatures have slowed ripening.
Most harvest activity has been in eastern and central areas with about 15 percent swathed, which includes about 30 percent of canola and winter wheat being swathed.
Combining has just started with less than 20 percent of field peas and more than 10 percent of winter wheat completed.
Crop conditions remain at about 70 percent rated good to excellent.
Second cutting of dry land hay is underway with reports of good yields and fair to good quality.
PEACE
Dry conditions are rapidly maturing crops. The area saw a few isolated showers as well as light frost.
Combining is about 15 percent completed. Almost three-quarters of field peas and one-quarter of spring wheat are harvested. About one-third of crops are swathed, which includes much more than half of the canola.
Crop conditions dropped a little and more than 40 percent is rated good to excellent.
Almost 10 percent of the second cutting of dry land hay is harvested. Yields are fair with good quality.
