Saskatchewan
North
Harvesting of fall and spring seeded crops is general and at eight percent complete, is ahead of the five-year average. Progress is as follows: winter wheat, 60 percent; fall rye, 62 percent; spring rye, 23 percent; spring wheat, two percent; durum, five percent; barley, nine percent; oats, one percent; canola, nine percent. Of the spring wheat harvested, 56 percent is expected to grade No. 1, which is above average. Rain is staining barley. About one-third of the second hay cut is baled.
Central
Harvest is 14 percent complete in central regions. Progress: winter wheat, 87 percent; fall rye, 98 percent; spring wheat, six percent; durum, four percent; barley, 16 percent; oats, three percent; canola, 17 percent. Of the spring wheat harvested, 84 percent expected to grade No. 1. Staining of barley reported. Insects causing trouble include grasshoppers, diamondback moths, bertha army worms, flea beetles, saw flies and Hessian flies. Wheat midge damage also reported.
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South
Harvest is furthest advanced in the southwest. Overall 15 percent of the southern crop is off: winter wheat and fall rye, both 94 percent; spring rye, 30 percent; spring wheat, nine percent; barley, 19 percent; oats, 14 percent; canola, 21 percent. Of the spring wheat harvested, 85 percent is expected to grade No. 1. Initial protein estimates range from 11 to 17 percent.
Manitoba
Northwest/Interlake
Harvest is eight percent complete. Temperatures in the region have been warm with variable rainfall. Hail hit an area around Swan River. Swathing and harvesting are generally under way, although there is little combining done in the Interlake due to poor drying conditions. Canola is between 50 and 60 percent swathed. The southern part of the region in Ste. Rose, Dauphin and Russell have about 20 percent of the crop combined. Yields are averaging 30-35 bushels an acre for wheat and 50 for barley.
West
Harvest is 15 percent complete and is in full swing with almost all the canola swathed in the southwest region. Cereal yields have been variable depending on seeding date. Field pea harvest is basically complete with above average yields of 30-40 bushels an acre.
Red River Valley
Harvest progress is 10 percent complete. Seasonal temperatures and warm, sunny conditions allowed continued harvesting, although hail was reported in the Holland and Swan Lake areas. Dugald, Beausejour and Steinbach reported an average of 10 millimetres of rain. Harvest continues to gain momentum with the exception of flood affected areas, with yields at average or below average. Earlier seeded canola is being harvested, with yield reports at average to above average. Crops in the Steinbach and Dugald region are most advanced, with barley and wheat 95 percent swathed.
Alberta
Peace
If weather stays dry, the combines could start working in about two weeks. The High Level and Lecrete area is most advanced. Crops look good. Wheat is ripening. Some canola and barley have been swathed. Crop development is patchy because of scattered spring rains that staggered seeding. Many fields weren’t seeded at all, especially on the B.C. side. Lots of spraying in canola for bertha army worm.
Central
Eastern areas are harvesting, with most canola combining complete. Yield and quality look average and disappointing. Western fields have about two weeks to begin harvest. Some reports of harvested peas being immature and green. Lygus bugs are a problem in canola, but there is little bug spraying because many crops are too advanced. There are concerns about weeds around Leduc. Bertha army worms are active in northern regions. Some green mould noticed on barley.
South
Harvest is about two weeks away for most fields, but winter cereals are about half harvested. Recent showers have slowed drying. The Medicine Hat area is further advanced than Lethbridge. So far yields and quality are disappointing because of heat stress. Irrigated crops fared much better. Forage crops yielded well. Peas, beans and corn look promising. Sugar beets are experiencing ideal growing conditions. There are some bugs, but not enough for most producers to spray.
Source: Provincial agriculture departments, Alberta Wheat Pool, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool
