MANITOBA
SOUTHWEST
Heat helped wet fields
Heat and warmth did wonders for crops that were seeded in the saturated southwest.
Heat dried the soil, allowing crops a better chance at normal development.
It also propelled crops forward, catching up some of the distance that they had fallen behind normal development.
The heat wave stressed crops such as canola, which were in the flowering stage.
However, the return of cool temperatures late in the week allowed most crops to avoid serious damage.
Read Also
Hazy conditions, clear decisions: How wildfire smoke affects spraying and crops on the Prairies
As wildfire smoke becomes more common on the Prairies, understanding its effects on herbicide performance and crop development can help farmers make better-informed spraying decisions and avoid costly delays.
Early seeded cereals are in the flag leaf to heading stage. Farmers are spraying for weeds, bugs and diseases.
Canola has suffered with the heat, while broadcast canola is suffering from poor root development.
Hay and forage are good.
NORTHWEST
Canola escapes heat wave damage
Hot and dry weather continued, and the heat wave advanced crops across the region.
Most local canola is ending or past the flowering stage, so the worst of the heat did not cause major problems.
Cereals around Roblin are heading and flowering and are in generally excellent condition.
Eastern parts of the region are suffering from saturated fields, with spotty development, scattered maturities and agronomic and weed problems.
Canola was still mostly flowering when the heat wave hit.
Farmers are still attempting to spray in the wet areas.
Most haying is complete in dry areas. Quality and yields are good.
CENTRAL
Varied crop maturity causing problems
Dry and warm weather allowed crops to race forward, although the heat wave struck canola in a vulnerable stage.
Thin and sandy soil is drying out, which is a problem in some areas.
Maturities of all crops vary dramatically, which makes it difficult to decide when to spray.
High humidity is causing disease problems and making it hard for farmers to control them.
Diamondback moth counts are high and farmers are watching.
Hay has had good yields but poor quality because of late cutting.
Pastures are good except for those that drowned.
EASTERN
Fusarium risk high
Heat and dryness saw crops advance well.
Early seeded wheat is in the early heading stages. Many crops are still flowering and are being sprayed with fungicides because of the high fusarium risk caused by the humidity.
True armyworm outbreaks in the Whitemouth-Elma area have caused farmers to spray.
Canola crops are flowering, which has caused anxiety because of the high heat that struck and stayed for days. Sclerotinia is a worry for many.
Soybeans are flowering.
Flax crops are in a wide range of states, with some disease pressure. Septoria brown spot is appearing, as is bacterial blight.
Hay is fair to good.
INTERLAKE
Crops weaken under heat stress
Heat has stressed crops that have often struggled this season. Poor root development and dryness have combined to weaken plants under the pressure of the heat wave.
Winter wheat crops are in the milky dough stages and charged ahead with the heat.
Oats are fighting with green foxtail flushes.
There are some signs of diamondback moths, but not enough to justify spraying.
The heat and dryness helped with the hay cut. Yields and quality are good.
SASKATCHEWAN
SOUTH
Humidity plagues haying
Heat and humidity are concerns in the southeast, where excess moisture has been a problem throughout the growing season. Haying and crop development are both affected by the conditions.
High humidity is keeping hay from drying. About 60 percent has been cut and 37 percent has been baled or silaged.
Eighty-eight percent is rated good to excellent quality. Yields range from 1.5 tons per acre of wild hay to 2.3 tons per acre of alfalfa/brome in the southeast and from 1.3 tons per acre of wild hay to two tons of alfalfa brome in the southwest on dry land.
Greenfeed yields in the west are 2.6 tons on dry land and six tons on irrigated land.
Crops are in generally good condition with an average of 83 percent of fall cereals and 64 percent of spring cereals rated good to excellent.
Only 50 percent of oilseed crops and 35 percent of pulses rate that well in the east while western crops are more than 80 percent good to excellent.
The majority of crop damage is due to disease and insects.
CENTRAL
Hay quality strong
Hot weather has dried out some of the excess moisture in eastern regions but also damaged canola flowers.
Crops in eastern areas are still about two weeks behind.
Heavy rain delayed haying in the west.
Fall crops are 85 percent good to excellent, while spring cereals are rated 83 percent. Oilseeds and pulses are also doing well, rated 85 percent and 90 percent good to excellent, respectively.
About 70 percent of the hay has been cut and 43 percent of it put into silage or baled. The quality is strong, with 91 percent rated good to excellent. Yields range from 1.2 tons per acre of wild hay to 1.8 tons of alfalfa and two tons of greenfeed in eastern regions, and 0.9 tons of wild hay to 1.8 tons of alfalfa and greenfeed on dryland fields in the west.
Farmers throughout the central region report damage from flooding, insects and disease.
NORTH
Crops in good shape
Significant hail damage was reported in the east, and heavy rain is causing problems for producers trying to hay.
The rain and humidity is threatening hay quality in the west where only 25 percent of the hay is cut and seven percent is baled or put into silage. Just 67 percent is rated good to excellent, compared to 92 percent in the east.
Eastern producers have cut three-quarters of the hay crop and 37 percent is baled or put up as silage.
Yields are comparable throughout the region with about one ton per acre for wild hay to 1.5 tons for alfalfa and 1.9 tons for greenfeed.
Most of the crops are in good to excellent condition, with 89 percent of fall cereals and 85 percent of spring cereals rated as such. Oilseeds are about 78 percent and pulses, 83 percent.
Producers are spraying for wheat midge and sclerotinia in canola. Flooding, wind, hail and insects continue to be the main causes of crop damage.
ALBERTA
SOUTH
Sun boosts crops
Hot sunny weather has given crops the boost they needed, and most areas had rainfall of five to 60 millimetres.
Most crops are rated as good to excellent, although thunderstorms and hail were reported, with most damage occurring n the Rosemary-Duchess area.
Spring cereals are in the late boot to head emergence stages. Oilseeds and pulses are flowering and more than 10 percent are podding.
Wheat stripe rust has been reported in winter wheat fields.
First cut haying is underway, with 78 percent of irrigated and 54 percent of dryland fields complete.
Yields are very good and pastures are in good to excellent condition.
CENTRAL
Crops progress
Thunderstorms, heavy rain and hailstorms have caused damage that is still being assessed.
Storms appear to have been spotty.
Moisture reserves are mostly good to excellent, with a few low-lying areas being excessive.
Crop development is still about a week behind normal but warmer temperatures up to 30 C are advancing crops.
The east-central region has received adequate rain and could use more. Most canola is flowering and some cereals are starting to head.
Haying and silage operations have been hampered by rain over the past two weeks, with 40 percent now complete.
Although yields are very good, there is concern rain has reduced the quality of hay that was in windrows.
Pasture is rated as good to excellent.
NORTHEAST
Cereals behind
Rainfall of 25 to 60 mm has fallen in most of the region with some localities reporting heavy amounts of 150 to 250 mm, leaving standing water in some fields. Hail in the Lamont, Millet and Chipman areas caused extensive crop damage.
Cereal crop development remains behind normal, with wheat being the most advanced and just starting to head. The majority of cereals are in good to excellent condition.
Canola development is varied, with the majority in flower, and is rated at 77 percent in good to excellent condition.
Fungicide spraying to prevent sclerotinia in canola and leaf diseases in cereal crops is underway. Heavy rain has delayed haying, but pastures are rated as fair to excellent.
NORTHWEST
Rain stressing crops
Heavy rain throughout most of the region ranged from 64 to more than 140 mm.
A small amount of hail damage has been reported.
Cereal crop development is still behind normal.
Spring wheat is most advanced, with one-half head emergence being common. Most canola is in bloom and a small amount is podding.
Many crops are stressed from the excessive moisture, with flooded areas reported in some fields. About half the crops are rated as good to excellent.
Haying has been delayed by rain and quality has been reduced on cut fields.
Pastures are fair to excellent.
PEACE RIVER
Grasshoppers prompt spraying
Heavy rain in the south and central parts of the region over the past two weeks added 50 to 120 mm of moisture to the heavy precipitation previously received. The northern region, which has been dry, received 25 to 38 mm of rain during the past week.
Earlier drought stressed crops are now troubled with excess moisture in some low lying areas. About half the crops are rated as good to excellent.
Grasshoppers are moderate to severe in the northern and western districts and some spraying has been done. Lygus bugs have been spotted on canola.
Haying has been delayed but pastures are in excellent shape.
