Manitoba farmers looking for more rain to finish the crop

Even with some rainfall over the past seven days, more precipitation will be needed in the weeks ahead.

In its weekly crop report, Manitoba Agriculture reported accumulations from roughly 50 to 70 per cent of the 30-year average across much of the province.

Manitoba Agriculture Oilseed Specialist Sonya Wilson said moisture reserves vary, with the Interlake region being the driest.

“What we saw was some isolated rainfall across Manitoba, and it definitely varied by region,” she said. “The western parts of the southwest and northwest regions received the most rain. It ranged from anywhere from zero, or not receiving anything, to about 41 millimetres over this past week.”

Wilson said rainfall was welcomed by all regions that received it.

“We are seeing in the east, northwest, and Interlake were sitting at a 30-year average from May 1 to July 22, and we are sitting at below 50 per cent of our normal rainfall received, and much of the central and southwest regions are at about less than 70 percent of their typical 30-year average,” she added.

Wilson said the Interlake and west Interlake region have had a few rural municipalities declare agricultural emergencies, especially as related to cattle livestock.

“That would be the RM of St. Laurent and RM of Fisher at this point, and so rainfall is really needed there.”