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The first harvest reports have begun rolling on the weekly Manitoba crop report.
Precipitation in some areas has certainly slowed the dry-down times, noticeably in the northwest, as we were the only location that saw rain across the entire area.
All other regions were generally dryer, with many locations staying dry the entire week.
Some of the earliest harvested crop numbers are in for fall rye and winter wheat and have begun in spring wheat, barley, and peas.
Early yield reports range from 90 to 120 bu/acre for fall rye, and 40 to 110 bu/acre for winter wheat in the central and eastern regions. These areas also have some of the higher harvest completion averages so far.
Most spring wheat has hit maturity, though some later-seeded crops sit closer to the soft dough stages.
Most corn fields range from the silking to milk growth stages, with the latest fields at tassel. harvest has also begun on barley.
In oil seeds, crops are beginning to ripen for the most part. Canola is almost entirely podded, with earliest fields evening seeing swathing and pre-harvest applications.
The earliest seeded sunflowers have completed flowering and reached R6 (seed development), with later seeded fields ranging from late R4 to R5.9, and Most flax fields range from growth stage 10 to 11.
Field peas have seen the start of pre-harvest application, and even some harvesting taking place. Soybeans still range heavily but mostly sit in the Full pod stage.
Cereal silage is about half done and yields look average to above average. Yields in the northwest region are reported to be 8 tons/acre, but high humidity and heavy morning dew are causing issues in drying.
The general lack of moisture in the province slowed pasture growth, but it has also reduced the amount of area that causing foot rot from the excess water.
Dugouts are at roughly 80% capacity, and water supplies are holding steady.
The Northwest Region seemed to break away from the provincial trend last week, as most locations were warm and dry in Manitoba.
A cooler and wet week was seen in most of the region, with warmer conditions towards the weekend. Most areas received precipitation with The Pas station receiving the least at 3 mm and Rorketon receiving the most at 43 mm.
Winter wheat and fall rye crops are moving towards grain ripening, and Spring wheat is in the dough development stage, with most of the crop in the soft and hard dough stages.
Later seeded fields continue to catch up. Some advanced fields have received pre-harvest glyphosate.
Most field peas are in the R5 to R6 stage with the remainder of the crop closely behind. Earliest fields have reached the stage of desiccation with harvest beginning on a few fields.
The majority of the canola crop has completed flowering. Some later seeded crops in the Dauphin area continue to wrap up flowering.
Soybeans are in the R3 to R5 stage and looking good. The recent heat has helped advance the crops quickly, and recent rain helped with pod fill. Crops in the Dauphin region are at younger developmental stages.
That wraps up this week's look at the Manitoba Crop Report. As we move into the harvest season, here's hoping everyone has a safe and fruitful season.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
The Portage la Prairie RCMP are searching for a man wanted on multiple charges.
Jozef James Spence, 25 is described as 6 ft 2, 160 lbs with short black hair and brown eyes. he is also considered to be armed and dangerous.
Spence is wanted by the Portage RCMP on multiple offences including Breaking and Entering, Possess Weapon Contrary to Order, Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle, and Flight from Police.
If anyone has any information on his whereabouts or can assist in his apprehension, please call the Portage la Prairie RCMP at 204-857-4445, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
A spokesman for Premier Wab Kinew says the province will give an update on its plan for cellphone use in the classroom later this week.
Manitoba became the only western Canadian province that has not introduced plans to restrict cellphones in schools following Saskatchewan's decision last week to ban the use of the devices in the upcoming school year.
Saskatchewan's policy applies to all kindergarten to Grade 12 classrooms, and followed announcements in Alberta, B.C., Quebec, Ontario, and Nova Scotia.
The bans are designed to reduce distractions and help students focus in class.
Manitoba's education department says right now it is up to individual school divisions to develop and enforce technology use policies in their schools.
But in a statement, the department said it is talking to stakeholders "to ensure that provincial curriculum and use-of-technology guidelines are updated to be responsive to current technology-use patterns."
Some school divisions have already imposed their own cellphone bans, including Manitoba's francophone schools division - which includes Laurier's Ecole Jours de Plaines - which banned cellphones last year in all of its schools.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
cent of Manitobans want the government to extend its fuel tax cut.
The province initially cut the 14 cent per litre provincial fuel tax on gasoline and diesel for six months on Jan. 1. The government extended the cut for three more months in April. The cut is now set to expire at the end of September.
The poll also showed that 68 per cent of Manitobans would support scrapping the fuel tax for good.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says a two-vehicle family that fills up a minivan and a light-duty pick-up truck every two weeks will have saved at least $440 by the end of September, adding that extending the cut for an additional six months would save that family $720.
CTF Prairie Director Gage Haubrich says Manitobans clearly want to keep saving money, adding Premier Wab Kinew needs to listen to his residents and extend the fuel tax savings even longer.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
A 19-year-old girl from Saskatchewan is dead following a single off-road vehicle collision.
Russell RCMP received word around 1:10 am on Sunday of a rollover in the Kilman Cottage area, located in the RM of Riding Mountain West.
The investigation determined that a side-by-side, with three people inside of it, lost control and rolled.
A female from Killaly, Saskatchewan, was ejected from the ATV and pronounced dead at the scene.
The 19-year-old driver from Langenberg and another 19-year-old male passenger, from Churchbridge were uninjured.
The driver was arrested and charged with Impaired Driving Causing Death.
He was later released from police custody and is scheduled to appear in Russell court on October 23.
Mounties believe none of the occupants were wearing seatbelts or helmets at the time of the collision.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
A Canadian Labour Board ruling has made it very possible for a full rail shutdown to take place by August 22nd.
The possible work stoppage comes just as newly harvested Canadian grain will be looking to move to export positions.
Grain Growers of Canada issued a statement, noting “With the start of the harvest season, it is critical that grain farmers continue to be able to market their grain to support their livelihoods, uphold Canada’s trade reputation, and address both domestic and international food demand,”
According to the Teamsters Union, The main sticking points in negotiations are concessions on issues about crew scheduling, rail safety, and fatigue management.
At this point, The union and railways agreed last week to restart contract talks with the aid of a government mediator.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
The City of dauphin has issued a fresh update on the Main Street Reconstruction project.
Beginning immediately, Main Street South at Whitmore Avenue will be reduced to single-lane traffic. Please follow the posted detour signs. Traffic will continue to be able to use the newly constructed service roads.
all properties along main street south will still be accessible through the service roads. Road crossings at PTH 5a from riverside road are open and in use.
keep an eye out for signage and flag people as construction continues.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
Dauphin's Manitoba Hydro office on Whitmore Avenue is hosting a Manitoba Summer Games Customer Appreciation BBQ tomorrow.
The event begins at 11 am, with the public invited to join them for a hot dog, chips, and drinks.
Manitoba Hydro is the title sponsor of the Manitoba Games, which are taking place all of this week in Dauphin and surrounding areas.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
One person is dead after two watercraft collided Saturday afternoon on the Whitemud River, just North of Road 81 North in the RM of Westlake-Gladstone.
Amaranth and Portage la Prairie RCMP responded to a call around 4:25 Saturday of a collision between a Southbound Sea-Doo and a Northbound boat.
The two occupants of the Sea-Doo were taken by the boat to a nearby campground where they were met by EMS officials.
The 39-year-old female passenger on the Sea-Doo was pronounced dead at the scene, while the 31-year-old male operator was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Both people on the Sea-Doo hailed from Portage la Prairie.
No injuries were reported to any of the five people on the boat.
Amaranth RCMP continue to investigate.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Richard Ross will spend a little more than four additional years in jail after pleading guilty to his role in a New Year's Eve armed robbery on the Ebb & Flow First Nation.
The 30-year-old from Silver Ridge pleaded guilty in Dauphin court last Thursday to charges of robbery, aggravated assault, and possession of a prohibited firearm without a licence.
He was sentenced to five years in jail, but had that reduced to 1,543 days once time already served was taken into account.
He was also given a 20-year weapon prohibition, a DNA order, and he must forfeit all of the seized items.
Other charges originally laid against him were stayed by the crown.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Several Dauphin area families who had loved ones involved in the June 2023 bus crash near Carberry attended a special ceremony in that community yesterday.
A memorial remembering the 25 people on the bus that day was unveiled in Day Lily Park.
The monument also pays tribute to the First Responders who answered the call on that day.
Premier Wab Kinew was in attendance at the ceremony, and stated that the first responders embodied "the best of us".
Back in June during the monument unveiling in Dauphin, Kinew stated that the province would award those who responded to the crash with the order of the Buffalo Hunt - which is the highest honour that the premier can bestow.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson