Variable Manitoba Weather Brings Relief, Harvest Delays

Manitoba saw a mix of beneficial rainfall and severe weather over the past week, bringing relief to crops in some areas while delaying harvest in others.  

Isolated storms swept through the southern portion of the province, delivering between about 6 mm and more than 145 mm of rain, according to the weekly provincial crop report released Tuesday.  

The highest total was recorded at Ethelbert, while three tornadoes — causing minimal damage — were confirmed near Dugald, Birds Hill, and Grande-Clairiere. Much of the Northwest, Southwest, and southern Interlake received over 30 mm of precipitation, helping boost seasonal totals closer to or above historical norms in some areas. 

Harvest is underway for winter wheat and fall rye, with spring cereals advancing from soft to hard dough stages. Canola development varies widely, with early fields podded and late crops just finishing bloom. Flax and sunflowers continue to mature. 

In the Southwest, recent rains have aided pod fill in canola and longer-season crops, though hail damaged fields near Boissevain and Ninette. Harvest has slowed but is progressing on winter cereals. 

The Northwest faced warm, smoky conditions and heavy rains that caused lodging in some cereals. Harvest is paused while fields dry. Pea harvest has begun, and canola is mostly podded, but high heat has caused sunscald and pod abortion in some fields. 

The Central Region saw mixed rainfall, boosting corn and soybean development. Harvest is well underway, with winter wheat and fall rye harvested over the past week, as well as the earliest spring cereals and peas. Most producers are preparing for harvest to commence within the next one to two weeks. Some spring wheat and barley fields are showing moisture stress and plant death from early root issues.