Manitoba Agriculture reports spring seeding is nearing completion in most regions of the province as a result of this year’s relatively dry weather.
Manitoba Agriculture released its weekly Crop Report yesterday.
Ann Kirk, a Cereal Crop Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, says an estimated 94 percent of the crop is now in the ground throughout Manitoba which, compared to the five year average, is ahead of schedule but right on track with last year as a result of the dry spring which resulted in very few seeding delays.
Moisture conditions have improved throughout most the province. We did see very variable rainfall this past week so all regions of Manitoba did receive rainfall but the amounts were quite variable within each region. For example the rainfall in the Northwest Region the rainfall varied from about one millimeter of rain to upwards of 53 millimeters of rain depending on where farms were situated and it also really depended, within a couple of miles we saw very drastically different amounts of rainfall. So moisture conditions have definitely improved in those areas that saw the higher amounts but most of Manitoba could still use some rain.
Right now at this stage crops are looking quite good in terms of emergence and development. That recent rainfall as well as the warm temperatures that we saw in the last week really accelerated crop development so we have seen accelerated emergence, development as well as the crop growth stages. In terms of a typical year I would imagine we’re fairly average but I don’t have a good estimate on that. Prior to the rainfall some of the seed was sitting dry soil so this really was needed to help get a start on crop emergence.
~ Ann Kirk, Manitoba Agriculture
Kirk notes we are seeing higher amounts of flea beetle activity and there is spraying occurring to control flea beetles throughout most of the province on limited acres.
She says herbicide applications are underway and are expected to become a priority in the coming week.
