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Weather impacts combining in Manitoba

Sep 26, 2024 | 3:31 PM

Heavy rain slowed the harvest in Manitoba this past week.

Manitoba Agriculture released its weekly crop report and pulse, and soybean specialist Dennis Lange said the weather interrupted the harvest.

“Monday and into Tuesday areas in the southern part of the province around Winkler-Morden going up toward Morris received excessive amounts of moisture,” Lange said. “They were looking anywhere from four to six inches and other areas have been receiving rainfall throughout the week as well here and there.”

Harvest is roughly 58 percent complete around the province. Lange said farmers have been making good progress combing different types of crops.

“Spring wheat and barley are both sitting at about 90 per cent complete around the province. Oats are sitting at about 88 per cent and canola is at about 55 per cent. That’s a little bit further behind but most of that canola is in the northwest region that still has to go yet,” he said.

The northwest region didn’t get the excessive rainfall that hit the southern part of the central region last week. Lange said yield reports show great variability.

“When you’re looking at spring wheat yields, anywhere from 60 to 90 bushels per acre, an average of 70 in that central and eastern region,” he said. “Northern Interlake region, they were definitely lower there, 25 to 55 bushels per acre in some of these areas just because of the season they had. Some had a delayed start and not a great growing season for them.”

Oats range anywhere from 80 to 180 bushels an acre and barley is at 90 to 116 bushels an acre.

In the east there’s more wheat grading a number two quality versus a number one quality this year, a bit more fusarium here and there and some are oats light. Lange said during a critical time in the summer getting hot weather caused heat blasting and a little bit of lighter oats in some areas.

“But there’s also been some good heavy oats this year so it’s going to be a bit of a mixed bag there,” he said.

With warm weather in the forecast for the rest of this week, Lange said he expects the soybean harvest to get going in the next few days followed by sunflowers and corn.

alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

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