Seeding is completed in most areas of Manitoba, although additional acres are being planted in regions that have had excess moisture and some reseeding is occurring, according to the latest weekly provincial crop report on Tuesday.
Herbicide applications are ongoing, and some insecticide applications have been required for flea beetles.
Growth stage of spring cereals ranges from 3 to 5 leaf stage and tillering to flag leaf, with corn ranging from V2 to V6. The most advanced canola is now bolting, and sunflowers are at the V3 to V4 growth stage. The most advanced flax is in growth stage 4, the start of leaf spiral.
Most pea fields are in the 6 to 8 node stage, while the most advanced soybeans are in the second trifoliate stage. Dry beans are in the first trifoliate stage.
Hay and pasture fields are rapidly growing with good moisture conditions, but warmer weather will aid in faster growth.
Most cattle are on pasture and are making the most of strong pasture growth due to the moist soil conditions.
Southwest:
The past week brought windy and rainy conditions. Rainfall varied across the area, with most regions receiving between 20 to 35 mm, while Russell and St-Lazare areas reported 50 mm or more. Many fields in northern areas have standing water in low-lying areas, and some regions experienced hail. The Brandon, Carberry and Virden areas saw some property and crop damage due to strong winds over the weekend. Daytime temperatures reached highs of 25°C, while nighttime temperatures remained cool. These cooler temperatures have slowed the emergence and growth of warm-season crops. The persistent winds have made spraying challenging. Aerial spraying options are being considered due to the wet field conditions and limited herbicide timing.
Northwest:
A couple of days with warmer, dry weather allowed for some seeding and spraying operations to take place. Midweek overnight temperatures were cool, with Inglis station dipping to 0°C. Saturday brought hot temperatures to most of the region, but more heat is needed for crop growth. Sunday brought cooler temperatures along with intense, damaging winds. Fork River station recorded wind speeds of 101 km/hour.
Seeding was able to take place in areas that dried up enough; however, there are still patches of fields that are too wet for seeding. Accumulated precipitation for the week has kept some areas saturated. There is evidence of moisture stress in some crops that are in standing water.
Central:
The week was windy with scattered thunderstorms. Some of these storms were accompanied by hail events and high winds, which resulted in some damage to crops and properties. Planting wrapped up this week, and some fields were reseeded ahead of the crop insurance deadlines. In many areas, the high winds allowed soils to dry sufficiently for planting and other field operations to take place. Strong winds resulted in blowing soil obscuring visibility at times. There is some water in low spots, with crops undergoing visible water stress. The cooler temperatures are slowing crop growth, and many crops are more advanced developmentally than they may at first appear given their height.
Eastern:
Rainfall accumulations ranged from less than 10 mm to over 20 mm with the bulk of the rain falling on Sunday as part of severe thunderstorms. Rain and strong winds created field access challenges and hampered spraying efforts. While standing water in fields appeared to be receding, the weekend rainfall meant standing water became more noticeable again. Spring cereals along with some field pea, flax and corn crops continued to display yellowing in low areas.
Seeding conditions were not ideal but most producers wrapped up their seeding or decided to leave unseeded acres and switch to herbicide application. Some seeding may continue this week ahead of the final MASC deadlines, but herbicide application has become the focus for most operations. Producers are trying to spray crops before they grow out of herbicide stage, as well as weed growth stage. Herbicide efficacy could be reduced on fields where herbicide application has been delayed.
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