Originally published on May 14, 2024 on Manitoba Co-operator

By Manitoba Agriculture

Rapid seeding has progressed across the province this past week and is now at 30 per cent complete. Producers have focused on planting corn (60 per cent complete), cereals (58 per cent complete) and peas (72 per cent complete). Canola planting has just started with 6 per cent of the acres being planted. Producers are planting a variety of crops based on soil and weather conditions. Soil temperatures were adequately warm and the seeding of more sensitive crop types such as soybeans has begun. Soybean planting is at 15 per cent completion.

Weeds are quickly appearing in fields including kochia, volunteer canola and wheat, flixweed, fleabane, foxtail barley, redroot pigweed, lamb’s quarters, thistles, and dandelions. Growers are encouraged to scout and use burn-off products to control weeds and use PRE-emergent products with residual control.

Cereals

  • Winter cereal fertilizer applications are complete with field survival at 85-95% and only a few fields terminated. Winter cereal stands were growing rapidly and tillering in the warm temperatures with fields greening up dramatically.
  • Spring wheat and barley are sitting at 58 per cent complete across the province with the Central region being the most advanced at 80 per cent complete. Early planted fields have started to emerge.
  • Grain corn planting is 60 per cent complete.

Oilseeds

  • Canola planting is at 6 per cent completion across the province.
  • Sunflower planting is at 13 per cent completion across the province.

Pulses and Soybeans

  • Field pea planting is at 72 per cent completion across the province.
  • Soybean planting is at 15 per cent completion across the province with the Central region at 30 per cent.

Forages and Livestock

Forages
Recent rains have helped stimulate pasture growth and the landscape is greening up nicely. Hay fields are in good shape, although icy conditions experienced this winter may have taken their toll on alfalfa plants in some locations. Those producers experiencing substantial winterkill are planting annual crops such as corn and sudan grass to offset the potential loss in feed production. Fertilization of hay and pasture acres is nearly complete.

Hay and feed supplies are normal, but there will be limited feed carryover. Pastures and alfalfa are quickly greening up and will make use of the current availability of moisture. Fertilization and manure applications of hay stands are continuing.

Livestock
Several beef cattle operations have made the move to pasture, particularly in the south-east corner of the province. Others located farther north, continue to hold animals in winter feeding areas or on sacrifice pastures to allow the grass more time for growth.

Pasture water supplies are being replenished with the recent rains and are now closer to average. Annual cereals and mixes for feed are seeded and beginning to emerge. Corn planning for silage is just starting. Pastures and hay land are greening up nicely, with dugouts at 95 per cent capacity.

Many producers have adequate feed to last their cattle until summer turnout but will have minimal to no carryover feed.

Regional Comments

Southwest
Significant rainfall occurred early in the week in the Southwest region. Sinclair and Pierson areas received 40 mm of rain, while most other areas on the south and north sides of the region received 20-30 mm. The slow rain replenished subsoil moisture and did not run off, resulting in very little ponding. During the past week, daytime temperatures ranged from 25 to 30 C, while minimum overnight temperatures ranged from 6.2 to -0.8 C, with daily averages around 11.5 to 13.5 C. The high temperatures provided farmers with a good opportunity to make progress in seeding.

Cereal seeding is 30 to 40 per cent complete, and some early-seeded crops are emerging well. Soybeans are 5-7  per cent complete. Pea seeding is 60 per cent complete. Farmers are transitioning to soybean, oat, and corn for the moment as soil temperatures rise. Some acres of grain corn are planted, with forage corn likely to follow. Most farms are conducting burn-offs and using tank mix partners for resistant kochia.

Winter wheat and fall rye are advancing well. Some broadcast fertilizer applications are occurring to cover corn acres with high rates. Hayland is being fertilized, as well as top dressing of winter wheat. There are no insect pests at this stage, but winter annuals like wild oats are emerging.

Northwest
Precipitation in parts of the Northwest region at the start the week were followed by warm temperatures and high winds to help dry fields. The weather allowed for field preparation, fertilizing, and seeding. Weeds and volunteers are actively growing, however pre-seed herbicide applications were a challenge due to high winds.

Wildfires sparked in the far north have created smoky conditions in The Pas. Moisture is adequate, however there are fields that are holding water and need good drying conditions.

Field pea seeding continues with progress at 65-70 per cent complete, with Roblin/Swan River being more advanced. Earliest seeded field peas have germinated and are just beginning to emerge.

Spring wheat seeding progressed nicely across the region. Progress varies with some operations completed while others are just starting. Overall progress is approximately 65 per cent complete. Earliest seeded wheat has emerged.

Canola seeding has begun across the region except for The Pas. Soybean seeding is underway in the Swan River and Dauphin area.

Winter wheat and fall rye crops are looking good, with a small amount of winterkill.

Central
The week was mostly dry, warm, and windy allowing for much activity to take place. Most of the region received less than 5 mm rainfall, however the southwest part of the region received much more, with Cartwright (32.4 mm), Clearwater (21.7 mm) and Baldur (19.7 mm) receiving the most. Temperatures were warmer, with highs for the week between 26 and 31 C degrees and no frost reported overnight. Over the weekend, smoke from forest fires located around Flin Flon and The Pas drifted across the Central region reducing visibility and air quality.

Seeding has progressed with spring wheat, barley and oats is at 80 per cent complete. Much of the early seeded cereals are at the one to two leaf stage. Field peas are at 90 per cent, soybeans at 30 per cent and canola at 15 per cent complete in the Central region. Sunflower seeding progress is at 25 per cent complete. The proportion of each crop seeded varies greatly at the local level across the region, with percentage of crops in the ground generally lower in the north of the Central region, and higher in the south.

Weeds are quickly appearing in fields including kochia, volunteer canola and wheat, flixweed, fleabane, foxtail barley, redroot pigweed, lamb’s quarters, thistles and dandelions.

Striped flea beetles have been active for a few weeks and cruciferous flea beetles have recently emerged. Small numbers of diamondback moths have been found in monitoring traps across the Central region.

Eastern
Rainfall accumulations across the Eastern region last week ranged from none to slightly over 10 mm with most areas experiencing less than 5 mm of rainfall. Daytime and nighttime temperatures last week were above normal reaching a peak of 30 C on Saturday. However, temperatures rapidly dropped to below seasonal on Sunday and Monday with nighttime lows close to freezing.

Producers made rapid progress on seeding and field work activities. Field accessibility improved dramatically, and seedbed moisture levels were sufficient to excellent at seeding depth. Soil temperatures were adequately warm and the seeding of more sensitive crop types such as soybeans has begun.

Winter cereal fertilizer applications are complete with field survival at 95 per cent and only a few fields terminated. Winter cereal stands are growing rapidly and tillering in the warm temperatures with fields greening up dramatically as compared to the previous week.

Overall, spring seeding is around 40 per cent complete with approximately 70 per cent of spring wheat and oat acres in the ground. Some very early seeded wheat has emerged and is in the one to two leaf stage. As well, about 55 per cent of corn acres has been planted with most producers concentrating on getting their corn and cereal acres in first.

The limited acres of field peas grown in the region were also seeded last week. Approximately 15 per cent of soybean acres, 20 per cent of sunflower acres and 5 per cent of canola acres were planted across the region. If the weather allows, this week will see a big push by producers on soybean and sunflower acres with canola acres following close behind. Rain in the forecast may delay seeding.

Interlake
Wet and rainy weather continued during the week in most parts of the Interlake region. Rainfall amounts varied from 5 to 30 mm depending on location. Strong winds over the weekend helped to dry fields.

Corn seeding is approximately 50 per cent complete, field peas at 35 per cent and spring cereals at 25 per cent across the region. Seeding progress is further advanced in the south Interlake with corn seeding estimated at 60 per cent, soybeans at 15 per cent, peas at 40 per cent and spring cereals at 40 per cent. With soil conditions improving, more seeding progress is expected in the northern parts of the Interlake.

Top dressing of alfalfa, hay, and forage grasses is occurring. Winter cereal fertilizer applications are ongoing. Winter wheat and fall rye fields are well established across the Interlake region with high survival rates. Fertilizer application progress in the Arborg area is about 10 per cent complete. Field operations including tillage, harrowing and herbicide application on established alfalfa seed fields are ongoing in the Northern part of the region.