SASKATCHEWAN
SOUTH
Winds damaged swaths
Three percent of the crop in the southeast and seven percent in the southwest has been combined. Another 10 percent in the southwest and 13 percent in the southeast have either been swathed or are ready to straight cut.
Winter wheat yields are 35 to 45 bushels per acre. The first of the spring wheat crops are delivering 30 to 33 bu. while canola is in the 25 to 26 bu. range.
Hay yields are 1.9 to 2.1 tonnes
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ALL CONDITIONS AS OF AUG. 19
per acre for dry land alfalfa, 2.1 for alfalfa/brome, 1.9 to 2.2 for dry land greenfeed and 1.8 for other tame hay.
The Bengough and Moosomin areas have posted the second and third highest cumulative rainfall levels since April 1, with 484 and 474 millimetres respectively.
High winds blew hay and canola swaths around, a number of areas received hail damage and diamondback moths and bertha armyworms damaged canola in some regions.
Hot temperatures in July and August damaged crops seeded into excess moisture. They developed shallow root systems that couldn’t properly protect the plants from the summer heat wave.
CENTRAL
Harvest barley started
Harvest is barely underway with less than one percent of the crop combined.
About 10 percent of the crop in the east-central and three percent in the west-central portions of the province have been swathed or are ready to straight cut.
The early returns are 43 to 48 bu. per acre for the winter wheat, 36 bu. for the spring wheat and 30 to 33 bu. on the few canola crops that have come off.
Hay yields are 1.9 to 2.0 tonnes per acre for dry land alfalfa, 1.8 to 1.9 for alfalfa/brome, 2.2 to 2.4 for dryland greenfeed and 1.4 to 1.9 for other tame hay.
Spotty thunderstorms slowed haying and harvest operations in some areas and delivered as much as 77 mm of rain in the east-central and 58 mm in the west-central regions.
Bertha armyworms are damaging canola crops, and hail caused up to 100 percent loss in some areas.
NORTH
Warmth welcomed
A few fields of winter cereals have been combined and less than one percent of the crop has been swathed or is ready for straight cutting.
Crop reporters estimate a 40 to 45 bu. per acre winter wheat crop, 41 to 42 bu. spring wheat crop and 34 to 35 bu. canola crop.
The Dorintosh area in northwestern Saskatchewan is reporting 547 mm of cumulative rainfall, giving it the dubious distinction of being the wettest place in Saskatchewan this year.
However, there was little rain during the recent Aug. 9-15 period, which was welcomed by farmers who were busy with haying operations.
Hay yields are 1.4 to 2.1 tonnes per acre for dry land alfalfa, 1.3 to 2.0 for alfalfa/brome, 1.8 to 3.4 for dryland greenfeed and 1.1 to 1.7 for other tame hay.
Most of the crop damage in the northeast was caused by high winds that lodged some crops and moved canola swaths around.
In the northwest, the damage was mostly due to disease and insects, mainly grasshoppers and bertha armyworms.
Warm weather has significantly helped advance maturity in the northwest, where most crops are still behind normal development.
MANITOBA
SOUTHWEST
Crops maturing well
Occasional showers and cool days mixed in with hot ones helped crops mature quickly and well.
Winter wheat and fall rye are well advanced in harvesting, with breaks for rain, and yields are average to above average.
Early season cereals have been turning, but only a few crops have been swathed or combined.
Early canola is being swathed, but later crops are still days or weeks away.
Farmers in some areas are managing bertha armyworm and diamondback moth larvae.
Some second cutting of hay is occurring.
Pastures need more rain.
NORTHWEST
Canola swathing begins
Intermittent showers allowed crops to progress in the face of general dryness, but any fields that missed the light rainfalls are stressed.
Early canola is being swathed. Early cereals are maturing fast, but still not ready to swath.
Hail and lodging have been reported.
Diamondback moths, bertha armyworms and sclerotinia threaten crops.
Hay yield and quality are excellent, with the second cut well advanced.
Crops are looking parched in areas that had to reseed forages because of drowning.
CENTRAL
More rain needed
Rainfall is varied, with Pilot Mound getting 45 mm but most areas 15 to 25 mm. Most farmers need another rain to complete maturity.
Winter wheat and fall rye are still being harvested, with yields of 65 to 80 bu. per acre wheat and around 40 for rye.
The earliest cereals are being combined, with spring wheat yields of 40 to 55 bu. per acre.
Canola crops are more varied, with early fields yielding 15 to 50 bu. per acre. Oat yields are 60 to 85 bu. per acre and barley is scoring 80.
Late crops still need time and a rain to finish ripening, which makes them vulnerable to the lygus bugs, bertha armyworms and diamondback moths that have appeared.
However, friendly insects are controlling soybean aphids, and little spraying is needed.
EASTERN
Protein levels high
The drought continues, although late week rain helped douse tinder-dry fields.
High protein levels are reported in early spring cereals. Fusarium is not a problem.
Yields of 45 to 55 bu. per acre are common for spring wheat and oats is getting 85 to 100 bu.
Winter wheat yields are 40 to 100 bu. per acre.
Canola is being swathed but little has been combined.
Most flax crops are ripe. Lygus bugs are a big concern.
INTERLAKE
Spraying for insects
Rain fell in parts of the region but also hail.
Swathing of spring wheat, canola and oats is beginning.
Farmers are applying glyphosate to dry down crops.
Spraying is controlling the diamondback moth and soybean aphid threat.
The forage seed harvest is continuing, with the timothy harvest completed. Timothy looks good.
ALBERTA
SOUTH
Harvest gets underway
Continued warm weather has hastened crop development.
Swathing of dryland and irrigated crops is underway and some combining has begun of early cereals and peas.
Aphids have been reported in some wheat crops, but proximity to harvest will limit spraying options. Some spraying of lygus bugs.
Sweet corn is now being harvested in the central and east regions, as well as some potato crops.
Work on the second cut of hay is well underway.
Temperatures around 4 C have farmers worrying about frost.
CENTRAL
Moisture reserves good
Spotty hail has been reported around Calgary.
Drowned areas in the south-central region are as high as 15 to 20 percent based on infrared photos.
Moisture reserves remain good. More than 95 percent of spring wheat, canola, oats and dry peas are in good to excellent condition. First cut hay is nearly complete, but showers have hindered progress.
NORTHEAST
Crops need more heat
Scattered hail was reported in the north and south-central areas with significant damage from Barrhead to Vermilion.
Canola is about two weeks away from swathing. Crops remain behind normal development for this time of year and require more heat.
Yields are expected to be above average if crops reach maturity before frost.
Weather continues to hinder haying operations. Hay quality is in the poor to good range.
NORTHWEST
Average yields likely
Spotty hail reported.
Heat is needed to get crops to maturity.
Most cereal crops and canola rated in the fair to good range. Average yields are anticipated if crops reach maturity.
Showers continue to hinder haying operations, but tame hay and pasture conditions continue to be rated as excellent.
PEACE
Hoppers a problem
Spraying for bertha armyworms reported in areas around La Crete and Fort Vermilion.
The canola crop is progressing well, with swathing three weeks to one month away.
The bulk of the spring wheat crop is rated as fair to good. Estimated yields are average.
Grasshoppers and lygus bugs are a moderate to severe problem in the northern and western parts of the region.
First-cut haying is slowly progressing, with a wide range of quality levels reported.
Tame hay and pasture growth are excellent.
