Cool, wet weather and seeding delays have been the primary story in Manitoba this spring, but slow emergence is also a concern for producers with crops already in the ground, says Ken Gross, an agrologist with Ducks Unlimited.
Growth of winter wheat is likely delayed this spring, Gross noted, which means winter annuals have an opportunity to thrive.
“Last fall was a late harvest for all the spring crops, which meant that winter wheat was probably seeded later than it normally is,” said Gross, who works for DU in Brandon.
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“Which means the winter wheat wasn’t quite as vigorous going into the fall and winter period… so it might not be as competitive with weeds as it normally is.”
Winter annuals such as stinkweed, flixweed and shepherd’s purse can cut into yield, which is why Gross recommends increased vigilance this spring.
“Stinkweed, I think, can reduce your yield by 20 percent,” he said.
“So it wouldn’t hurt to just scout your fields and see if there are any issues, particularly with winter annuals.”
Gross recognizes that producers might have other priorities now, like getting the spring crop seeded, but a quick look at the winter wheat crop is worth the time.
“I don’t want them to wait too long (to spray), especially this year. If they wait till they’re done seeding, that could be a problem,” he said.
While weeds are less of a worry now for Manitoba’s potato growers, Tracy Shinners-Carnelley, a farm production adviser with Manitoba Agriculture, said cool and saturated soils mean a higher potential for seed decay.
“We’re still in this time frame where seed piece decay is of concern,” she said.
“This time (of year) it’s kind of like a race, because you put this seed piece in the ground and you want it to get growing as quickly as possible and emerge.”
The growth is slowed by cool temperatures, which give pathogens in the soil more time to attack seeds.
“In general terms, the longer that a seed piece sits in the ground, under less than ideal conditions, the more likely there could be (rot),” she said.
“We’ll have a better indication of that when the crop does start to emerge,” she said, noting that patchy growth is a primary indicator of seed decay.
Rot is less of a concern in the eastern half of Manitoba’s potato region, because most potatoes are not in the ground.
The area around Portage la Prairie is behind schedule due to a 45 milli-metres rainfall earlier in May.
South-central Manitoba got another untimely downpour May 25, with 50 mm of rain across the region, which might push seeding into June.
While potato producers are likely getting frustrated by the wet spring, Shinners-Carnelley said patience is required.
“Caution has to be used to ensure that they’re not going in there in really wet conditions and causing lots of lumps to form… that will then become a problem to deal with throughout the season.”
