No significant rain in the region last week is allowing producers a good opportunity to finish the harvest.
The latest crop report shows precipitation for the past week ranging from 0mm to 15.1mm at Vivian, north of Ste. Anne, Manitoba and 10.6mm at Morris.
Provincial Pulp and Soybean Specialist, and Editor of the Crop Report, Dennis Lange says that the rain that has fallen hasn’t affected the harvest progress at all over the last week.
Lange notes that the provincial harvest is nearing completion.
“Well, right now we're sitting about 93% complete across the province. Cereal crops are pretty much wrapped up. Field peas are wrapped up. Canola sitting at about 98%, and the Northwest region is trailing behind a little bit, sitting at 92%. Soybeans right now are sitting at 93% complete across the province, with the northwest and eastern sitting at 85%, and Interlake sitting at 90, where the central region is sitting at 99% and just a little bit left to go.”
“The dry bean harvest, that's mostly in central and a little bit in Western as well, but we're sitting about 99% complete. They had a really good week of harvest there, and I think pretty much everything's wrapped up. The crops that are still out there, the ones that need a bit more time are the sunflowers, which are sitting at 22% complete, that's across the province with the central region being 35% complete, and grain corn, right now we're sitting at 39% complete across the province with the central region at 50% complete, and the Interlake region at 60% complete.”
When it comes to cattle farmers and forage, Lange says,
“A lot of the forage silage harvest is kind of wrapping up already, and yields are pretty good for the most part this year, anywhere from 75 to 100% complete right now. So, a bit of a range there but wrapping up yields are anywhere from 6 to 10 tons per acre. Yields are reasonable there as well. And for the most part, several beef operations are bringing cattle in for weaning and for fall marketing of calves, and calves are reported to come off pasture in good condition.”
Lange notes the first frost of the season hasn’t affected harvest.
“Overall, it's been a really nice open fall here. So, things are wrapping up, but it's been a pretty good harvest for the most part, fairly dry, few little showers here and there, but nothing that's really affecting the quality of the crops.”
Lange says that some livestock operations continue preparing for winter by applying fertilizer to their fields.
“We've had some good conditions and growers haven't been able to make some good progress and getting some of that fall fertility done this fall, and their fall field done work as well.”
Lange adds that overall, it’s been a pretty good harvest.
“Yields have been variable, but generally fairly good in most areas. And I think farmers are looking forward to wrapping up the season. It's been a long season, and a few challenges here and there, but we're getting through it in good shape.”