Agri-Coaches Corner/Crop Report

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Published: August 5, 2004

MANITOBA

  • Winter wheat around Neepawa and throughout central Manitoba looks good. Some of the flag leaves are showing signs of leaf spot.
  • Other crops are also looking good and cereals yields should be above average.
  • Canola is good in central regions. Some fields are patchy but have recovered well in the past few weeks.
  • Some areas need more moisture to finish crops and maintain lush growth.
  • Pasture conditions and hay yields are excellent with most producers getting three times as much feed as last year.
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  • Overall, insect pressure is well below economic thresholds.
  • Crops are late in many areas and need a frost-free August.

SASKATCHEWAN

  • Saskatchewan crops look promising although more heat needed.
  • Canola yields in particular may be down slightly due to a cold, wet growing season and lack of heat.
  • Flax beginning to bloom and yields should be above average.
  • Pea crops look excellent in most areas.
  • Cereals are fully headed and fungicide spraying is under way in some areas.
  • South and east of Regina, 10-20 percent of cropland is drowned out.
  • Lodging is common in the northeast and northwest and many areas had localized storms with high winds, heavy rains and some hail.
  • Winter wheat in the southwest is in the soft dough stage and looks excellent. Early-seeded cereals are just starting to form kernels. Late-seeded cereals heading out and have been more affected by extreme heat in mid-July.

ALBERTA

  • Cereal crops are progressing well in southern Alberta and some early-seeded barley and winter wheat should be ready for harvest in the next week.
  • Grasshopper populations are increasing.
  • Haying is well under way. Timothy is being cut and the second cut of alfalfa is not far off.
  • Some early-seeded canola should be ready to harvest in the next two to three weeks although some pods have shrunk due to hot weather.
  • Crops throughout central Alberta look good but more moisture is needed to finish some south of Calgary.
  • Canola yields should be well above average, especially in central regions, although high temperatures last week caused some heat blasting.
  • Areas south of Taber were hit hard by a large hailstorm that caused 100 percent damage in many crops.
  • Silage has been averaging eight to 10 tonnes per acre in Strathmore area.
  • Pastures need more moisture.
  • Pea harvest could begin in the next week or two.
  • Cereals and oilseeds in the Peace country are generally good.
  • Some crops are starting to turn due to drought.
  • Insect pressure is still minimal.

Conditions as of July 30

Agri-Coaches are professional, independent agronomists that are part of The Agri-Trend Network. For more information call 877-Croplan or visit www.agritrend.com.

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