“Doesn’t matter what kind of farm it is, but that is the end of the line at that point.” – David Wiens.

Dairy farmers face emptying water wells

Feed and supplement costs, freight, new water sources gouging dairy margins

Some dairy farmers are concerned their wells will run dry as drought persists, says Dairy Farmers of Manitoba (DFM). Nineteen per cent of dairy farmers in a late-July DFM survey said they were worried about their water supply, said DFM chair David Wiens. “One of the comments was that the farm expects to run out

A hawk on a fence post in Saskatchewan’s Qu’Appelle Valley. (Bobloblaw/iStock/Getty Images)

Indigenous-led ag projects get federal funding

Funding to support business planning and other studies

Sixteen projects to help support Indigenous-led food system initiatives will receive $4 million from the federal government. “Our government is working to create a more inclusive agriculture sector that respects the values of Indigenous Peoples,” Agriculture Minister Marie Claude Bibeau said in a statement Friday. “These investments are intended to ensure that Indigenous Peoples have


Water is key to spraying operations, and that’s been in short supply this spring.

Where’s the water?

Water restrictions threw another wrench into spray season for producers in early June

In a spray season that has already seen frost warnings, heat waves and high winds, producers in early June were dealing with yet another problem — lack of water. Water restrictions were making headlines in early June, with some treatment plants reporting worryingly low levels of potable water. Why it matters: High-quality water is in

(MyLand.ag)

AGI to buy into soil microbe breeding firm

Machinery maker to take minority stake in MyLand

A U.S. company ramping up a system to harvest, reproduce and restore beneficial microbes from a field’s own soils, as a way to restore peak fertility, expects to get backing soon from a Canadian farm equipment maker. Winnipeg-based Ag Growth International (AGI) said Monday it has signed a conditional letter of intent with Phoenix-based MyLand


Map from the Canadian Drought Monitor as of May 31, 2021. (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Drought conditions improve in May for some of Prairies, not all

MarketsFarm — Significant precipitation through May relieved drought conditions across parts of the Prairies, while other areas remained significantly dry, according to the latest assessment from the Canadian Drought Monitor as of May 31. This precipitation improved soil moisture conditions for the short-term, decreasing the area of moderate (D1) and severe drought (D2) in central

“It appears as though kind of the worst-case scenario for spring conditions has developed.” – Tyler Fulton, Manitoba Beef Producers.

The dreaded ‘D’ word: drought

Producers eye desiccated fields and dropping dugouts while worriedly watching for rain

When asked how he’s feeling about the season, all Tyler Fulton, president of the Manitoba Beef Producers, can say is “anxious.” He has reason to be. Like most farmers in Manitoba, Fulton is watching his early concern over a looming drought year come into sharp focus. Why it matters: Producers were worried the province was


Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Drought Monitor map for the Prairie provinces as of April 30, 2021. (AAFC)

‘Extreme drought’ expands in Prairies

Southern Manitoba, southeastern Saskatchewan parched

MarketsFarm — The newly released map from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Drought Monitor (CDM) shows the Prairies’ ongoing drought getting worse. According to AAFC’s nationwide map released on Friday, southwestern Manitoba, parts of southern Saskatchewan and the southeast corner of Alberta are under CDM’s classification of Extreme (D3) drought as of April 30. Communities

George Graham said he and other landowners asked Manitoba Hydro to build transmission towers along the property line where it would be less of a hazard to machinery.

Farmer says Manitoba Hydro disregarded safety in placing new lines

If farmers choose to farm public road allowances, it’s their job to take safety precautions says Hydro

A Foxwarren-area farmer says Manitoba Hydro’s high-handed treatment has left his farm less safe and caused him to relinquish leased land he says is now too dangerous to work. “We as citizens need to be aware of Hydro and Hydro lines and avoid contact, but Hydro doesn’t seem to take any interest or responsibility to


Thanks to Jim Lundgren, who farms at Glenora, Man., about 85 km west of Morden, for this photo of his early start to spring tillage on March 20, 2021, owing to the recent absence of snow and/or rain in the area. Not that it’s a race, but is spring fieldwork already underway where you are? If yes, feel free to snap a photo and email us at daveb@fbcpublishing.com. (Photo courtesy Jim Lundgren)

Manitoba soil temperatures allow for spring fertilizer

Winter ban lifted, with cautions

Farmers across Manitoba are now cleared to apply spring fertilizers including livestock manure on their fields, thanks to sufficiently warm soil temperatures, the province said Tuesday. Though the winter nutrient ban has been lifted, the province cautioned producers to “assess current weather conditions and periodically check weather forecasts” if they’re applying anytime between now and

Mid-Plains Implements commits funds to Prairie Innovation Centre

Assiniboine College’s campaign to expand its agriculture training capacity got an influx of cash in late February. “Manitoba’s economy is based in agriculture, and our company deals directly with the needs of agricultural producers,” said Fokko Buurma, owner and sales manager at Mid-Plains Implements. “The Prairie Innovation Centre will ultimately give back to the economy