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Western Producer Crop Report

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Published: August 20, 2009

Alberta

South

  • Hail caused severe losses from Warner and Vulcan north.
  • Winter cereals being harvested.
  • Spring cereals in dough stage.
  • Silage operations underway.
  • Pasture conditions fair and improving.
  • Showers stalled bean and lentil harvest.

Central

Northwest

  • Drought stress causing some crops to race to maturity, further limiting yield, but increasing protein in cereal crops.
  • Canola crops podding and improving in condition.
  • Most producers expect a second cut of hay.

Northeast

  • Along the Saskatchewan border, crops improved with warm temperatures and rain.
  • In the west, drought has limited yields in all crops. Canola faring better than cereals.
  • Grasshoppers have reached economic thresholds for spraying.

Peace and B.C.

  • Total precipitation for August has ranged from 4 mm at Peace River to 20 mm at Beaver Lodge.
  • Drought is claiming some yield and advancing maturity. The region is the most advanced on the Prairies, with best potential for high quality crops.

Saskatchewan

Southwest

  • Rain halted harvest operations that began last week. Up to 45 mm on the weekend after 30 to 40 mm fell in the previous week.
  • Five percent of the fall planted crops are harvested. Swathing and one percent of spring crop harvesting are complete. Earliest lentils being combined.
  • Crops remain in good to very good condition, but a week to 10 days behind average.
  • Desiccation of pulse crops underway.

Southeast

  • Up to 90 mm of rain stalled swathing of winter crops. Heat brought maturing crops along and damaged cereals still flowering.
  • Topsoil moisture is generally adequate.
  • Winter cereals being swathed and three percent combined.
  • Two percent of the region’s lentils have been combined, one percent of peas swathed.
  • Haying almost done, ensiling underway.
  • Grasshopper and aphid control underway.

West-Central

  • Recent rain up to 90 mm in the east and 50 mm in the west.
  • Haying and greenfeed baling stalled due to rain.
  • Four percent of winter wheat and nine of fall rye harvested.
  • Pulse crops being desiccated in the west, some flowering in the east.
  • Grasshoppers in many crops, mildew in peas.

East-Central

  • Rain up to 50 mm in the west and 35 mm near Yorkton has stalled the last 10 percent of haying.
  • Crops two to three weeks behind, but recent heat improved maturity.

Northwest

  • Showers near Lloydminster, rain up to 35 mm near North Battleford.
  • Variable crop development, generally 10 days to two weeks late.
  • Crop condition is good, but delayed by two weeks. Some large canola and pea crops reported.

Northeast

  • Rain improved soil condition, heat helped with maturity. Haying delayed by recent rains.
  • Canola podding with fairly even development 10 days behind normal. Heat needed to finish peas and canola. Cereals showing signs of maturity.

Manitoba

Southwest

  • Rain over the weekend was welcome for pastures and second cut hay prospects.
  • Hail with severe crop damage near Miniota and Brandon.
  • Fall cereal and early pulse harvest underway.
  • Some second cut hay better than first cut.

Central and Red River Valley

  • Rain from 20 mm near Somerset up to 75 mm at Brunkild.
  • Hail damage at LaSalle and Emerson.
  • Winter wheat harvest with yields from 30 to 90 bushels per acre.
  • Second cut hay being cut, with better than average yields in west, less than in east.
  • Spring cereals being treated with glyphosate.
  • Fungicide applications underway in beans.
  • Corn filling in south and west. In the east, it is silking and soybeans in R3 and R4 stage.
  • Downy mildew, rust and sclerotinia reported.

Interlake

  • Up to 50 mm of rain at Riverton.
  • Winter wheat harvest underway in the south with good quality and average yields.
  • Late seeded greenfeed short, in need of heat.
  • Second cut hay underway.
  • Canola ranges from podded to flowering with sclerotinia.

Northwest

  • Rain at Swan River up to 100 mm, 63 at Dauphin, 56 at Roblin.
  • Cereals in the dough stage.
  • Earliest canola may be cut by week’s end.
  • First cut hay nearly complete.

Conditions as of Aug. 17

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