ALBERTA
South
Canola advancing
Warm temperatures have advanced the canola crop, but most fields remain in the flowering stage. Cabbage seedpod weevil numbers are above economic thresholds on a number of fields. First cut haying is nearly complete and yields are above average.
Central
Warm weather helping
Crops are excellent as warm weather aided plant development. Most crops are 10 days to two weeks behind normal development and producers are hoping their crops reach maturity prior to the first frost. Sclerotinia has been reported in canola fields.
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Northwest
Rain welcome
Rain provided a boost and crops now look good to excellent across the region. Bertha armyworms are present but numbers are below economic thresholds. The first cut of the hay crop has been baled and hay yields are average.
Northeast
Crops under water
Fields near St. Paul and Cold Lake are under water and crops are yellowing. Canola is podding and cereals are heading out. Pasture conditions are excellent and hay yields are above average. Hay quality is a concern because of excess moisture.
Peace &B.C.
Dryness persists
Isolated showers were reported. Dry soil conditions persist in the region. Wheat has turned whitish and many crops have deteriorated beyond saving. Combining will likely start in a couple of weeks because crops have developed prematurely.
MANITOBA
Southwest
Leaf disease a problem
Most of the wheat is in the dough stage but cutting remains two weeks away. Leaf diseases continue to pressure cereal crops. First cut of hay is complete and second cut has begun. Hay quality is average to above average.
Central &Red River Valley
Swathing begins
Swathing has begun on a few early-seeded canola fields. Blackleg is widespread and a patch of hot weather could increase the severity of the disease and decrease canola yields. Aphids are present in soybean fields but numbers are low. The winter wheat harvest is underway but there are quality concerns due to high levels of fusarium head blight.
Eastern
Soybeans thrive
Soybean crops have tolerated the excess moisture and plants are vigorous.
Producers are struggling to harvest their hay crop because of excess moisture. A few farmers are cutting for a second time.
Interlake
Canola under pressure
Canola crops in the north will probably remain short and thin because of excess moisture. Further south, the crop is looking much healthier and a few fields are beginning to change colour. Soybean crops are rated good to excellent. Hay harvest is progressing on tame hay fields but has been more difficult on native hay because of water in low lying areas.
Northwest
Drowned crops a bust
Warm weather in the last week of July aided crop development but it’s probably too late for drowned out canola fields near Dauphin. Further north in Swan River, canola fields look more promising and most of the crop has finished flowering. Wheat is in the late milk to early dough stage.
SASKATCHEWAN
Southwest
Crop progressing
Wheat is heading and 68 percent of spring wheat is rated good, with 17 percent rated fair. Durum is 70 percent good and 16 percent fair. Nearly 80 percent of the hay crop is cut and 84 percent is rated good to excellent. Many farmers are using rakes to cure the swath.
Southeast
Region receives rain
Most of the region received rain in late July and hail was reported near Frobisher and Stoughton. Crops are advancing, although leaf diseases are hindering crop development. Canola is rated at 51 percent good and 27 percent fair. Pasture conditions are good to excellent.
West-Central
Wheat midge appears
Wheat midge numbers are substantial in certain areas and producers are controlling them with insecticides. Crops remain one to two weeks behind normal development. Peas and lentils are almost done flowering, with 90 percent of peas rated good to excellent and 84 percent of lentils rated good to excellent.
East-Central
Development varies
Thunderstorms dumped 53 millimetres of rain near Quill Lake and Leroy, with golf-ball size hail reported near Leroy. Crop stages vary widely because planting occurred over a two-month period. Many crops have flowered prematurely because of moisture stress.
Northwest
Ripening begins
Barley and canola crops are beginning to ripen and most crops look good. Canola is rated 41 percent excellent and 41 percent good. Barley is 34 percent excellent and 44 percent good. Rain in the second half of July has lowered hay quality. However, hay yields look good.
Northeast
Raining adding up
The Tisdale area received nearly 100 mm of rain, and 70 mm fell on Arborfield, where witnesses reported hail the size of a toonie. Sixty-three percent of hay has been cut and 83 percent is rated as good. Canola is almost done flowering, but the crop is 33 percent fair and 29 percent poor.
Throughout the province, most crops are still two to three weeks behind normal. Eighty-three percent of winter wheat is rated as good to excellent while 77 percent of spring wheat, and 71 percent of canola are rated as fair to good.
