It was a good week of October weather on the Weekly Crop Report, with temperatures hitting 20 degrees on many days.
There were some colder nights though, with -4 on some, and frosty conditions left behind.
Harvest still made some strong progress, as seen here:
Yield reports are also rolling is, with some variance seen between crops and locations.
In cereals, Spring wheat yield estimates range from 40 to 95 bu/acre. Protein ranges from 10 to 15%. Oat yield estimates range from 110 to 180 bu/acre, and Barley yield estimates range from 80 to 120 bu/acre.
Corn harvest has just started, and the preliminary yield reports range from 140 to 240 bu/acre.
Oilseeds also show yields, with Canola yields ranging from 25 to 65 bu/acre, with averages ranging from 30 to 45 bu/acre.
Flax harvest yields range from 20 to 40 bu/acre. Sunflower harvest has started, and preliminary yield results for black oilseed sunflowers are around 2200 lbs/acre.
Dry bean harvest is approximately 99% complete, with average yields estimated at 1700 to 2000 lbs/acre.
Soybean harvest continues with yields ranging from 35 to 60 bu/acre, and an average of 40 to 45 bu/acre.
In the realms of forage and livestock, corn silage is nearing completion.
At 75% complete, dryland yields are at 6 to 10 tonnes, but high plant moisture and kernel integrity were the concerns raised for this year’s crop.
Pasture growth is very slow as day length shortens and temperatures cool. However, pastures rarely look this well in October due to warm and moist fall. Overall forage and pasture growth is more than last year due to the early season moisture.
Cattle roundup has begun with cattle starting to come off pasture, calves are being weaned and either backgrounded or sold.
Freshly-weaned cattle are passing through auction marts. Producers are feeding cattle with hay on pasture or have moved cattle to stockpiled fields for grazing.
Manure is being spread on fields as producers clean their corrals, and dugouts are mostly full.
Taking things closer to the Northwest region, a good week of October weather to help move harvest progress closer to completion.
Temperatures reached the 20’s by afternoon for most of the week. Overnight temperatures cooled off, with most areas receiving frost. Laurier station recorded the highest daytime and lowest overnight temperature for the region, reporting 27.8°C for the high and -4.4°C for the low.
Spring wheat harvest nears completion at 99% complete. Lodging has made for some slow progress in some fields. The average reported yield is approximately 65-70 bushels/acre, though some fields average less at 40 to 50 bu/acre and some going 80 bu/acre plus.
Canola harvest made good progress again this week and is approximately 92% complete across the region.
Progress nears completion in the Swan Valley and The Pas while Dauphin/Ste. Rose continues behind due to many challenges this spring. Reported yields so far have been quite varied based on crop conditions throughout the season as well as disease pressure, but generally lower than average.
Average yields so far have been approximately 30 to 40 bu/acre.
Soybean harvest is approximately 85% complete across the region and more advanced in the Swan Valley area, while Dauphin/Ste. Rose area continues to be behind. Early reports of yields are 35 to 40 bu/acre and 50 to 55 bu/acre in some higher-yielding fields
With a bit of warmer weather left this week, plenty of fields are expected to wrap up, with lots of progress moving forward.
But until next week, here's wishing all the producers out there a safe, speedy harvest!
