Farmers across Manitoba prepare for harvest season
Posted August 9, 2024 2:33 pm.
Last Updated August 10, 2024 10:51 am.
The latest crop report from the province shows some crops are starting to harvest, as others begin to ripen as harvest season approaches.
“It is coming up quickly. Quicker than we expected,” said Brett Ostberg, the vice president of Terra Trigo Farms.
Ostberg of Terra Trigo Farms in Dominion City — roughly 90 km south of Winnipeg — is preparing for harvest, hoping to have an average season.
“It won’t be as good as last year, but I think we are really looking for a solid average this year,” said Ostberg.
“The early rains really reduced the yield a little bit, but after that, it’s been pretty good. It was kind of hot there through flowering so that also hits the yield a little bit too, but I think overall we will be okay, we will be happy.”
After a slow start in the spring, farmer David Hamblin, in Morris, Manitoba, says they are pretty much on par as to where they should be at this time of year.
“It looks like a lot of those early season crops, the cereals, the canola should be off in the month of August and then wait for the corn and beans in September,” said Hamblin.
Like Ostberg, Hamblin says this will be an average harvest year.
“I would say the early, early cereals look like they could be the best we have had in a while. The canola is a bit of wildcard. No one is sure what to expect, but I think it will be average. Then some of the beans and corn will be average to below average if I would have to guess now, just that cool weather hurt it.”
While the province has been experiencing drier weather, moisture levels remain strong.
“Most areas could use a bit of a shower. I have been talking to a few producers over the last few days and we have been out looking at soybean fields for staging as well for disease surveys and most areas could use a bit of a shower now to help build some of those late season crops,” said Dennis Lange, Provincial Pulse and Soybean Specialist, Editor, Provincial Crop Report.
Lange says overall, crops across the province are progressing well.
