ARBORG, Man. – Farmers in Manitoba’s Interlake region are watching the skies hoping for more rain.
Some of them, like Les Jacobson at Arborg, have seen less than 25 millimetres of rain this spring. Pastures and forage crops in his area are suffering.
The dry weather seemed to arouse the greatest concern in the northern part of the region. When interviewed June 4, Jacobson said even the broadleaf weeds in crops in his area are less aggressive than normal.
The dry weather is unusual for a region that typically can count on abundant moisture. Because of the dry conditions, some farmers finished their seeding before the May long weekend.
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“The germination isn’t bad,” said Jacobson, describing the growth of cereal and oilseed crops, “but the forage crops are taking a hit.”
The Interlake is sandwiched between Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg. The region includes cropland, marginal pastureland and forest.
Provincial crops specialist Gerald Huebner said the northern and western areas of the Interlake are the driest parts of the region. Ashern, Fisher Branch and Arborg are among the places most affected.
Because of the dry weather, Huebner said hay yields in the Ashern area could fall to 50 to 70 percent of normal.
“Is it an emergency yet? No, I don’t think so, but it is serious.”
Dry conditions and warm soils proved ideal for cutworms and populations flared in some areas, Arborg included. There were instances where cutworm damage forced farmers to replant crops.
Despite the dry spell, Huebner said it would not surprise him if the weather suddenly flipflopped. “Give us two weeks and we may have too much (moisture).”
In a June 9 interview, Eriksdale cattle producer Craig Miller said his farm had received only about 50 mm of rain this spring, which is roughly a quarter of normal.
Still, that was enough to green his pastures for grazing.
“It was getting a little dry,” he said of conditions this spring.
“But we had a little moisture left from last year.”
Relief may be on the way for the region. Environment Canada forecasters predict above average precipitation in the next couple of months across much of the Prairies, including the Interlake.
