Manitoba’s latest crop report cites a lack a significant rainfall as a primary concern for the province’s crops.
Sporadic showers across Manitoba over the last week made little contribution to crop moisture maintenance. Cereal crops are reported to be in the four-leaf to full-flag leaf stage. Crops have shown rapid development and remain in good condition except later planted fields with uneven and thin stands due to dry topsoil. Corn has advanced rapidly with the recent heat and most of the fields are at the V5 to V8 stage. Canola has advanced rapidly beyond its vulnerable growth stages in most regions except for later planted fields. Soybean development was rapid during the last week with the warm weather. Iron deficiency chlorosis has been observed in most regions. Hay and pasture growth has slowed and is showing signs of moisture stress. Hay yields will most likely be down from last year.
Rain was sporadic across the province from June 12-18, with the San Clara area in northwest Manitoba the only region that saw significant rainfall during the past week. Soil moisture levels are also variable throughout agro-Manitoba with most of the province showing optimal to dry to the 30 cm depth. Some areas of the Central, Interlake, and Northwest regions are showing very dry conditions.
Some of the key finding for crops include:
Cereals
- Corn has advanced rapidly with the recent heat and most of the fields are at the V5 to V8 stage. Rain is needed to help it progress.
- Spring cereal fields ranged from four leaf to full flag leaf. Crops have shown rapid development and remain in good condition except the later planted fields with uneven and thin stands due to dry topsoil.
- Fall rye growth stage ranged from milk to soft dough. Winter wheat crops ranged from flowering to milk stage. Winter cereals remained in good to excellent condition.
Oilseeds
- Canola ranged from two leaf to flowering on the earliest seeded fields. Producers continued to monitor fields for flea beetles, but few fields received insecticide applications. Canola has advanced rapidly beyond its vulnerable growth stages. In lower rainfall areas, growers remained concerned about canola emergence and thin, uneven stands, particularly for later seeded crop.
- Sunflower growth ranged from the V6 to V10 stage with the crop demonstrating rapid growth and good to excellent condition.
- Most flax crops are at growth stage 5 (stem extension) and the crop is expected to advance rapidly given the growing conditions.
Pulses and soybeans
- The field pea crop ranged from the eighth node to early flower. Producers and agronomists are assessing the need for fungicide applications as field peas continued to advance rapidly in the warm temperatures. The crop remains in good to excellent condition, but growers are concerned about adequate soil moisture supply for the crop going forward.
- Soybean growth stage ranged from first to fifth trifoliate. Crop growth and development was rapid in the warm weather. Iron deficiency chlorosis has been observed in most regions.
- Dry beans are at the first to third trifoliate stage. Overall, emergence across the province is acceptable. There are a few reports of producers spraying for cutworms.
