Mother Nature Delivered Some Heat

Mother Nature Delivered Some Heat

Hot, dry conditions prevailed across the prairies last week which helped advance crop development. In Manitoba, swathing is generally well underway with approximately 60 to 75% of the crop already cut in most areas, but some parts of the northwest and Interlake region are still just beginning. Combining of earliest fields has begun in the central and southwest regions (up to 15% complete) with average to above average yield and good quality reported to date. In southern Saskatchewan, about 75% of the canola has been swathed with harvest progress decreasing  moving into central (about 20 to 40% swathed) and northern (about 10 to 20% swathed) areas. In southwest Saskatchewan and southern Alberta, swathing is nearing completion with approximately 15% of the crop combined. Preliminary yield reports on dryland indicate that yields are lower than expected (crop’s potential looked better than it actually is). Swathing of canola in central and northern Alberta is variable with some areas just getting started and others up to 50 to 75% already cut. The Peace Region of Alberta is about 60% swathed and close to 100% of the crop has been cut in the BC Peace. Harvest management continues to be challenging due to the variable stages within fields.

The latest crop report from Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture is available at:
http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/crprpt090831
The latest crop report from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development is available at:
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/sdd4191#2009
The following maps show growing degree days accumulating across western Canada this growing season: http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prtgdd_e.htm