WINNIPEG, June 5 (CNS) – Seeding operations in Manitoba are roughly 95 percent complete, according to the latest provincial crop report.
Annual crops are developing and growing well with the warmer weather conditions, the report said. Herbicide applications are underway but the windy weather is making things difficult.
Strong southerly winds were reported during the week ended June 5. This caused some soil to drift onto fields with poor cover.
• A storm in the south central part of the province brought rainfall of up to 75 mm in some locations. Many farmers agree that a moderate rainfall would be beneficial to improve topsoil moisture.
Read Also
Government to invest in biofuel production
The federal government will invest $370 million in a new biofuel production incentive.
Flea beetles have been a pest in the early going along with some infestations of diamondback moths.
Hay and pastures are growing but could use a good rain. Haying is expected to start this week for high quality hay. Livestock water supplies are considered adequate, the report said.
• The southwest region saw virtually no rain during the week. Hot, dry winds continue to be a problem for many fields. Winter wheat is in the flag leaf to early heading stage and most fall rye fields are heading. Overall seeding is 95 to 97 percent complete.
• The northwest region is around 90 percent complete but growers in certain regions have had extreme difficulty due to poor weather. Seeding is less the five percent complete in the Pas and soil moisture conditions in the Roblin area are quite dry. There are reports of spraying for flea beetle damage in some canola fields in the Swan River Valley.
• Temperatures reached 30 to 35 Celsius in the central region last Friday, allowing for rapid crop growth. Seeding is essentially complete, with only a few fields left to be planted, the report said. A few fields of canola were reseeded due to poor emergence and flea beetle damage.
• The eastern region could also do with some more rain. Last week saw showers of just two to 10 millimetres. Emerged crops are growing rapidly but some of the later seeded crops need rain to help them germinate. Some cutworm damage was reported in spring wheat, canola, corn and sunflowers.
• Cereal crops in the Interlake region are in the three to five leaf stage and tillering. Herbicide spraying is well underway along with pesticide spraying aimed at flea beetles. Strong winds this past week and dry soil surfaces with little crop cover resulted in soil erosion on some fields. Rain later in the week helped to reduce this somewhat, according to the report.
