The corn harvest in southeastern Manitoba has just gotten under way and many farmers are looking for drying weather.

That according to Brian Dueck of Seine River Seed Farm. He says no more than 10% to 15% of grain corn is off the field yet. He notes the cool cloudy weather we have had over the last few days is not helping with moisture.

“The moisture levels are quite high we need some either drying weather or some good frost to bring our moisture levels down. In between like this when it is cloudy it doesn't dry much, in a week it only brings it down a point or two.”

Earl Bargen the Provincial Farm Production Adviser for ManitobaEarl Bargen is the Provincial Farm Production Adviser for Steinbach. He says many farmers finished up with soybeans then moved into their corn to see what moisture levels are like. He notes it is really field by field but many people are waiting.

“They take it off wet anyway, but the drier they can get it means less money they are going to have to spend running it through the dryer and the less natural gas they are going to have to burn to dry that grain, so I think it is like most crops, we get a big rain or a shower two, three, four, five tenths, it just puts a halt on things.”

Dueck says warm windy days would be ideal but a hard frost would also be beneficial to corn farmers.

“If we don't get warm weather and we get decent cool weather without snow that would be when guys will really start pushing it. I would expect within the next week, if the forecast doesn't change much, there will be a lot of guys getting a good portion of it done.”