“We can’t simply look at a water sample and determine whether or not it’s safe for our animals to drink,” Waldner said at a webinar hosted by the BCRC on Feb. 18.

Testing and timing matter

According to the 2022-2023 Canadian Cow-Calf Survey, 38 per cent of producers had tested their water at least once in the previous three years, Waldner said. Sixty-two per cent had not tested at all.

But routine lab testing is essential, especially with surface water sources that concentrate salts as summer wears on, Waldner said.

Government monitoring in southern Saskatchewan has shown sulfate levels in dugouts climbing sharply through the grazing season as evaporation concentrates minerals.

“If we were just to have sampled these dugouts at the beginning of the grazing season, we would have potentially been misled into thinking we had perfectly safe water for the entire grazing season,” Waldner said.

High total dissolved solids (TDS), particularly sulfates, are a growing concern in much of Western Canada. Sulfates can contribute to polio in cattle under extreme conditions and interfere with copper absorption even at lower levels.

Repeated drought cycles have worsened the problem, Waldner said.

On-site screening tools

Producers don’t necessarily need to send samples to a lab every week. Electrical conductivity (EC) meters, available online for about $35, can provide quick screening.

“Basically, the higher the electrical conductivity is, the higher the TDS,” Waldner said, noting EC values above 2,000 indicate it’s time to send a sample for full lab analysis.

Sulfate levels remain the key number to watch.

Water with a lot of sulfates doesn’t always make cattle eat less, but it does cause problems inside their stomachs. It creates more harmful gas and lowers the amount of copper in their bodies, which isn’t good for their health.

Copper deficiency is already widespread across Western Canada. The issue is often compounded by sulfur in water tying up already-limited copper in forage, Waldner said.

“We do have strong evidence of an association between low serum copper and high open rates in cows, two to three years old, especially,” she added.

Free choice versus controlled supplementation

While most producers rely on free-choice mineral, intake can be uneven.

In one Alberta study, only 61 per cent of cows visited a mineral feeder even once over a six-day period.

“If the serum sample is coming back deficient, that cow is deficient,” Waldner said, adding that when fine-tuning mineral programs, liver biopsies may be needed to get an accurate picture.

Water and feed must be considered together, she added.

“If we want to look at total impacts on animal health, we can’t just look at water and isolation.”

Trial by drought

For rancher Karla Hicks and her family near Parkbeg, Sask., water management has become central to their grazing plan.

They ranch within Palliser’s Triangle, an area known for low precipitation and high evaporation. After 2017, conditions deteriorated quickly. By 2021, drought and high-sulfate water were taking a visible toll.

“We had diarrhea, flickering eyes, neurological symptoms and pneumonia, symptoms without pneumonia. We had some cattle walking in circles,” Hicks said.

Weaning weights dropped sharply over successive years. Water tests from some dugouts came back with total dissolved solids in the high teens.

The family began testing routinely and watching for natural indicators.

“Are we seeing wildlife tracks? Are we seeing any wildlife at all? Because wildlife is way smarter than our cows are, and wildlife won’t drink out of bad water,” Hicks said.

They purchased an excavator and water truck, installed solar pumping systems and eventually expanded from 10 to 32 dugouts across their grazing system.

Solar systems required constant monitoring, especially during smoky conditions that reduced panel output.

“The thing that we learned right away, especially on this set of cows, was some cows just have a taste for bad water. They’re stupid, and you can’t help them,” Hicks said.

In 2023, despite improved moisture, reproductive losses surfaced. After preg-checking a group of cows, Hicks said open rates were far higher than expected.

“We had realized, even in 2022, we had six-year-old home-raised cows that had never calved on green grass,” she said.

She believes years of stress, from drought, poor water and limited forage, pushed cows into survival mode.

The family made the decision to keep most of the open cows rather than sell. Calving the following year was strong.

“We bet the ranch on keeping those cows, and it paid off this year, thank goodness,” Hicks said.

Planning ahead

Today, Hicks tests water whenever cattle move into a field and regularly through the grazing season. A handheld EC meter rides in the glove box.

With dugouts strategically placed and monitoring part of daily chores, water management now drives grazing decisions, she said.

The post Droughts spur a rethink on watering cattle appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Wildlife concerns

Incoming president Arvid Nottveit said wildlife pressures have become a dominant issue for producers across the province.

“The elk population just really exploded, and we have to work with producers to mitigate the effects of that,” he said.

A provincial report from back in 2011 put Manitoba’s elk population as stable around 6,500 animals.

The 2023 big game survey, meanwhile, estimated elk numbers around Manitoba’s Porcupine Mountains, Duck Mountains and Turtle Moutains. The survey reported a minimum 107 in the Porcupine Moutain surveyed region, 625 in the southwestern region around the Turtle Mountains and 1,158 in the Duck Mountains.

That survey covered only patches of the province, however, and did not include major elk region Riding Mountain National Park. The Government of Canada estimates about 1,800 elk in the national park.

WHY IT MATTERS: Manitoba beef producers are pushing for real fixes on elk, predation and Crown lands while bracing for trade uncertainty and tighter margins behind today’s strong cattle prices.

Predation from wolves and bears is another hot button issue. Wild boars are also becoming more of a problem as their populations continue to grow in Manitoba, Nottveit added.

Last April, the federal and provincial governments launched the Livestock Predation Prevention Program, a permanent successor to the industry-led pilot project that ended in 2023.

Resolutions approved by delegates at MBP’s annual general meeting, held in Brandon on Feb. 11 and 12, include continued lobbying for provincial analysis of elk and deer populations, financial assistance for fencing and compensation for wildlife damage to crops.

Producers are also increasingly concerned about feed losses and herd health impacts tied to wildlife.

Wildlife and disease concerns intersect with broader traceability discussions that have surfaced in recent months. It is important that producers facing disease outbreaks are supported appropriately, Nottveit said.

“I really want to make sure that ranchers that have disease outbreaks on their herds are treated fairly and … it’s as stress-free a situation as can possibly be.”

Past president Matthew Atkinson said wildlife damage, particularly from elk, has also been a major file during his six years on the board.

“Wildlife issues have really dominated, both in terms of the predation on livestock as well as impact on crops, from largely elk, but from wildlife in general,” he said.

Crown lands unsettled

Alongside wildlife advocacy, MBP continues to push for long-term stability on Crown lands.

“We need a long-term, stable plan going forward,” Atkinson said. “We need that to be settled and consistent.”

He acknowledged the file has created divisions within the membership.

“It’s either a major priority or it’s no priority at all,” he said.

Last October, the province extended its rental rate freeze on Crown land forage leases into the 2026 growing season.

Trade uncertainty

Trade uncertainty and the upcoming CUSMA review with the United States and Mexico remain on the radar, though provincial influence is limited.

“It’s a hard thing to negotiate our way through,” Atkinson said. “It’s not a typical negotiation.”

Nottveit highlighted the critical need to sustain robust cross-border cattle movement, given the close integration between the Canadian and U.S. beef industries.

Strong prices, tight margins

Despite high cattle prices, both leaders cautioned that rising input costs continue to squeeze margins.

Atkinson called the current market strength “overdue,” but said producers must use the opportunity wisely.

“It’s time that we start looking at … the tools available to us to make them as profitable as we can and to ensure that we can be profitable when things aren’t at their highs and move ahead from there,” he said.

For Nottveit, the focus in the coming years will be on practical supports that help grow Manitoba’s cow herd, which sits at historic lows.

“There’s a lot of work that can be done still, to make it viable for young people, especially to make a living raising cattle in this beautiful province,” he said.

Note: A previous version of this story mistakenly reported Manitoba’s estimated elk population at 605. The Co-operator regrets the error.

The post Manitoba Beef Producers take aim at elk surge, feed losses from wildlife appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

A global study funded by the University of Guelph’s “Food From Thought” program of 61 unfertilized grassland sites across six continents over 15 years showed fertilization increased pasture biomass by 43 per cent on average.

“(The study showed) it’s hard to predict exactly when and where we are or aren’t going to see a response. The best that we can do is take a pretty good stab at it,” explained Colin Elgie, soil fertility specialist for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, during the Beef is ON fall webinar series.

“And one fertilizer program is not really going to fit every single pasture.”

WHY IT MATTERS: Soil fertility is critical for reducing nutrient loss, increasing yield, and boosting profits, but it starts with soil sampling.

The study revealed that high soil pH, high soil test phosphorus and low species diversity were the main limiting factors to fertilizer response. However, no clear geographical pattern emerged, underscoring the site-specific nature of fertility responses.

“When it comes to site-specific management, the number one step is soil sampling,” Elgie said.

“To me, we’re still not doing enough of it. There are a lot of fields that would benefit from identifying limiting factors that are going on within that field.”

Sampling and technique are crucial for identifying deficient and limiting nutrients, monitoring fertility shifts over time, informing lime decisions and preventing over- and under-fertilization, because pastures rarely have uniform fertility, he advised.

Use the proper tools

He warned against using galvanized metal tools because the zinc can leach into the soil, affecting nutrient analysis. A minimum of 20 cores, taken in a zig-zag pattern across the pasture using stainless steel or plastic tools, clearly and correctly labelled, every four to five years, is needed for an accurate soil assessment and mitigation.

“We want that nutrient-rich zone where the majority of the roots are, the majority of the nutrients are, to really get a good analysis of what’s going on,” Elgie explained, advising a six-inch collection depth.

“That’s also (the depth) where all of our lab tests are calibrated.”

Shallower or deeper core depths will give false high or low results.

Sample the right spots

Additionally, livestock manure areas tend to be concentrated near water, feeders, shade or loafing areas, creating patchy zones of high phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), compared to other areas with much lower levels.

He recommended avoiding those “hot spots” or sampling them separately to obtain better insights for specific management, and accredited soil lab submissions ensure alignment with soil recommendations.

Crop and pasture differences

Compared to row cropping, pasture soil fertility drawdown is slower, but is affected by organic matter (OM) breakdown, soil pH changes due to precipitation and erosion and the addition or removal of nutrients through manure and harvesting or grazing the field.

For example, removing two tons per acre of grass-legume hay removes approximately 80 lbs. N/acre, 22 lbs. P/acre and 90 lbs. K/acre. However, cow-calf stocking at a half pair per acre only removes five lbs. N, 3.4 lbs. P and 0.6 lbs./acre of K.

“We’re actually taking more off the field, but through urine and manure, that nitrogen is returning,” he explained.

“About a quarter to half of that can be lost due to volatilization.”

Additionally, livestock meat and milk production removes about 10 to 30 per cent of ingested phosphorus and potassium from the field.

AgriSuite tools provide bigger picture

Elgie guided producers to use OMAFA’s AgriSuite tools to input soil tests, generate crop-specific nutrient recommendations and estimate nutrient removal under grazing or haying.

The soil test results provide a roadmap for applying the correct product or nutrients based on soil samples, species and stand composition, and for the proper rate to avoid over- or under-application in the right place at the right time, i.e., lime applied as early as possible to ensure the greatest results.

The OM and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) on the soil test results provide a background picture of the soil and its ability to hold, cycle and leach nutrients, along with water capacity, followed by pH, Buffer pH and potassium.

“There’s a lot of different things that we can look at here,” said Elgie, pointing to magnesium, zinc, manganese and boron.

“But what it comes down to is, if you don’t have your phosphorus and potassium in line where you want them, then it really doesn’t matter what you do when it comes to some of our secondary nutrients or micronutrients.”

For example, phosphorus has low availability at pH 4.5 and declines at pH 8, while manganese has high availability at pH 4.5 and tapers off sharply at pH 6 and above.

“For most crops, we’ve got a pretty good range of around six to seven and a half that fits well, keeps those nutrients available as much as possible for that plant to be able to grow and yield healthy,” he shared.

“And it is something that is absolutely critical for crop growth.”

Oats and wheat are tolerant of low pH (under 5.5) and still hit 80 to 90 per cent of their relative yield. In contrast, legumes, alfalfa, sweet and red clover, barley, timothy, and some grasses perform poorly at low pH, improving only once soil pH reaches a neutral level – generally between 5.5 and 6.5 as a minimum target.

Elgie explained that the Ag Index of Lime is critical for lime selection. For example, it shows that Calcitic Lime has a 100 per cent neutralizing value, with Dolomitic at 109 per cent, Spanish River Carbonatite at 81 per cent, Canadian Wollastonite at 60-65 per cent, KaLime at 64 per cent and wood ash at 40-80 per cent. Gypsum has zero neutralizing value. The fineness of lime affects its dissolution rate, with finer powders being more effective; some also contain additional nutrients, such as magnesium and potassium, which may be beneficial given cost and transport considerations.

Elgie compared Lime A at $50/ton and Lime B at $30/ton. Although B seems cheaper, the index showed A has 86 per cent efficacy at 3.5 t/acre, while B has 45 per cent at 6.7 t/acre.

“Not all lime is the same,” said Elgie, recommending applying half now and half in two to three years to reduce costs.

“Lime is such an effective way of amending a soil’s fertility that I would sooner spend $200 in lime than I would on phosphorus or potassium.”

Plant species impact

The final part of the equation is the pasture plant mixture’s impact on soil fertility.

A U of G study, led by Prof. Kim Schneider, tested 19 species and mixtures with no fertilizer, 100 pounds of 19-19-19 (pasture standard), and soil-test-based on OMAFA recommendations over three years.

“If we look at the net profit in each of those same situations: the cost of that fertilizer, the cost of application and the yield that we’re getting out of it – Does it pay to apply those?” he asked.

The results showed that soil-test-based fertility produced the highest yields across all species and mixtures, while the balanced blend consistently applied the nutrients most limited for each crop. Grass-legume mixes showed particularly strong profitability, with test-based fertility outperforming the other treatments.

Elgie encouraged producers to soil test, correct pH, build nutrients through inputs, manure or precision ag bale grazing, and use AgriSuite tools to inform decisions and realize pasture gains.

“Improved pasture fertility can absolutely bring improved yield,” he said. “And improved production, which can absolutely enhance that pasture.

The post Improved fertility key to boosting pasture productivity, specialist says appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Federal agriculture minister Heath MacDonald announced Feb. 25 the change would be implemented for the 2026 program year. Ministers had committed to this change at their meeting in July.

Livestock producers had asked for this to make the program more attractive to that sector.

WHY IT MATTERS: The costs related to feeding grazing animals on rented pasture were not allowable and producers argued they should be.

The federal government said this would provide more equitable support for cow-calf, sheep and goat producers.

MacDonald said the government is committed to effective, responsive programs for all producers.

The post Feed costs on rented pasture now eligible for AgriStability appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Producers got a close look at several of those approaches during a Jan. 12 winter grazing tour at the Bos family farm. Jordan Bos demonstrated how cover crops, straw and silage pile grazing fit into the operation’s winter feeding plan.

Rather than relying heavily on chopped silage, the operation is grazing a mix of feed sources through the winter. These include pea straw, barley straw and hay at roughly 20 pounds of dry matter per head per day.

“Three times a week we come out with a rack of straw and just roll it out for them so they all have access,” Bos said.

WHY IT MATTERS: Experts say that using cover crops, straw and silage grazing can help cattle producers manage winter feed costs, as long as rations are carefully balanced to meet herd nutritional needs.

Cover crops on the Bos farm cost about $35 an acre to establish, with funding support for a water site provided by a local watershed district.

“It’s nice if you can get some funding and cut the cost,” Bos said.

The farm typically fertilizes its corn but not its cover crop.

The tour included a demonstration of the farm’s feed truck and TMR mixer, which they call “Mad Max.” The truck reduces labour during the winter.

“The idea is to use that truck as much as we can for a good part of the winter,” Bos said.

Silage pile grazing in practice

Silage pile grazing was another stop on the tour. Cattle are grazing the pile with minimal waste, Bos said.

“I don’t think they’re wasting much. They’re eating it right down to the dirt,” he said. “It seems to be working good.”

The silage pile is about 70 feet wide, with both sides exposed, providing roughly 140 feet of space for about 300 head. Electric wire is adjusted daily to control access and manage utilization.

“You get pretty good utilization like this,” Bos said. “It’s cheaper than hauling it out.”

The winter feeding system appears to be meeting cattle needs, Bos said.

“The animals seem pretty content and full.”

Importance of feed testing and balanced rations

While alternative feed sources like pea and barley straw can help manage costs when available, provincial livestock and forage extension specialist Kristen Bouchard-Teasdale said that it’s important to ensure proper feed testing and balanced rations.

“Winter feed supplies are our biggest expense in these cattle productions,” she said. “How people feed and what proportions they’re able to mix into their ration is going to be dictated by the quality of the feed ingredients that they have on hand.”

Producers incorporating straw into winter rations need to ensure cattle receive sufficient protein and energy, particularly during extreme cold periods like the one that has been gripping most of Manitoba for the last few weeks.

“Cows can’t eat enough of those fibrous feeds, like the pea straw and the barley straw, to be able to meet those energy requirements in particular,” she said.

That’s why feed testing is so critical for developing effective winter feeding strategies, she added.

“Get your feed tested, know how much you have of something and exactly what’s in it, and then you have that information. It makes it much easier to be able to change your strategy if need be,” Bouchard-Teasdale said.

The post Winter grazing strategies offer cost relief for Manitoba cattle producer appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

The Manitoba harvest advanced six points at 56 per cent completed. Some of the progress was due to the start of the soybean and silage corn harvests. Soybean combining operations began in the central and eastern regions with three per cent finished. Meanwhile, the central and Interlake regions began taking silage corn off the ground, completing 12 per cent of the province’s harvest.

The spring wheat was 93 per cent complete, followed by barley at 89 per cent and oats at 84 per cent. Canola was 45 per cent combined.

While some areas received less than one millimetre of precipitation, Ethelbert in the northwest region saw 109.1 mm, which triggered a local state of emergency due to overland flooding and washed-out roads. All regions saw at least 37 mm during the week. Despite the rainfall, soil conditions were dry to very dry in large parts of the Interlake as well as in localized areas in other regions. Wet conditions were present in areas of the province’s other regions.

Spring wheat yields averaged 60 bu./ac. with some fields reported at 70 bu./ac. Oats yielded 110 to 130 bu./ac. and barley was at 65 to 110 bu./ac. Most corn was in the R5 (dent) stage.

Canola yields ranged from 26 to 60 bu./ac. with an average of 45. Flax was in the brown capsule stage and sunflowers ranged from the R8 to R9 growth stages with most being desiccated.

Dry beans were in the R7 and R8 growth stages and harvest has started in the earliest-seeded fields. Most soybeans were also in the R7 and R8 stages with much of their harvest to be completed in two weeks.

Moist and warm conditions aided fall grazing and pasture growth, but the rainfall has caused challenges in harvesting native hay and greenfeed. Manure spreading has started on some fields.

Producers have started weaning and marketing their calves, while cattle on pasture were in good condition despite some fly pressure. Pastures were in excellent condition with some producers in the Interlake and southwest supplementing out on pasture. Winter feed supplies were mixed across Manitoba as some producers look for more while others are selling surplus amounts.

The post Manitoba Crop Report: Harvest reaches 56 per cent appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Rain delayed harvest progress throughout much of Manitoba, with Kane in the central region receiving the most at nearly 78 millimetres, while Poplarfield in the Interlake got four.

Harvest progress

The weekly provincial crop report said combining of winter wheat and fall rye is 100 per cent complete. The winter wheat yielded 50 to 80 bushels per acre and the fall rye ranged from 60 to 100.

Of the other reported crops being combined around the province:

• Field peas 99 per cent done, yielding 30 to 75 bu./ac.

• Spring wheat 79 per cent harvested, yielding 50 to more than 60 bu./ac.

• Barley 77 per cent finished, yielding 60 to 70 bu./ac.

• Oats 63 per cent complete, yielding 100 to 150 bu./ac.

• Canola 18 per cent finished, yielding 30 to 60 bu./ac.

Of those Manitoba crops yet to see their harvests get underway, the corn was in the R5 (dent) stage, flax reached the brown capsule stage, and the majority of sunflowers have finished flowering. Also, the dry beans are in the R8 to R9 growth stages and most soybeans are at R6 to R7.

Manitoba Ag reported spring wheat conditions have remained very firm at 80 to 90 per cent good to excellent, with fair ratings holding at 10 to 20 per cent.

Forages, pastures

With the recent frosts, producers are cautioned to watch for elevated levels of nitrates in greenfeed, crop silage still standing or in cereal regrowth.

Rainy cool weather slowed regrowth on pastures and hay lands with the frost delaying it even more. Cattle producers continued to make their way through their second cut of hay, with poor yields. Dairy producers were working on their third cut, with yields better than their second cut.

Pastures across Manitoba are reported to be in good shape with cattle remaining on them. However, rivers and dugout water levels are quite low.

The post Manitoba farmers focused on harvesting appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Conservative MP John Barlow, who is the shadow minister for agriculture, called for the measure in a Thursday press release, saying populations of Richardson’s ground squirrels (gophers) have been out of control on farms and rural municipalities since the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) cancelled the registration of the poison in 2020.

Why it matters: Richardson’s ground squirrels, or gophers, can cause significant damage to pastures and hayland.

The PMRA re-evaluated the pesticide and said it posed risks to non-target animals like birds. Bans on the sale, and eventually use of strychnine came in following years.

“Farmers and rural municipalities across the Prairies have been sounding the alarm about the devastating agricultural impacts of uncontrolled (gopher) populations,” said Barlow, via the release. “The loss of strychnine has led to widespread infestations, with municipalities reporting severe damage to cropland and pastureland.”

Recently, the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) asked federal ministers to reinstate strychnine under emergency use provisions.

According to the statement, Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation paid $10.6 million in gopher-related claims in 2024.

Alternative products, such as zinc phosphide, exist for gopher control, but many say they aren’t as effective.

The post Conservatives call for approval of emergency strychnine use appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

The southwest led the way at 39 per cent harvest, followed by the southeast at 33 per cent. Further back are the east-central at 16 per cent, the northeast at 13 per cent, the northwest at 12 per cent and the west-central at 10 per cent.

Cereals, oilseeds, pulses

Among the cereals, winter wheat was 85 per cent harvest and fall rye was at 79 per cent. Triticale was next at 34 per cent combined, then barley at 31 per cent, durum at 29 per cent, spring with at 14 per cent, oats at 12 per cent with canaryseed at five per cent.

Soybeans led the oilseeds at 11 per cent combined, followed by mustard at 10 per cent and canola at four per cent.

The pulses saw field peas at 73 per cent done, lentils at 59 per cent and chickpeas at 13 per cent.

Topsoil moisture levels

The Piapot area in southwest Saskatchewan topped the province with the most rain at 25 millimetres.

The ag department said cropland topsoil moisture was at two per cent surplus, 67 per cent adequate, 29 per cent short and two per cent very short.

Hayland topsoil moisture registered at two per cent surplus, 55 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and seven per cent very short.

As for pasture topsoil moisture, levels were three per cent surplus, 51 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and nine per cent very short.

The main causes of crop damage during the week were strong winds and dry conditions, with a high risk of fire. Minor damages were caused by grasshoppers and bertha armyworms.

The post Saskatchewan harvest advances, but behind five-year pace appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Combining reached 29 per cent completion, the province’s weekly crop report said. The winter wheat and fall rye harvests were 99 per cent complete, while field peas were at 95 per cent. Barley and spring wheat were at 65 and 59 per cent, respectively, while oats were at 41 per cent. Canola was 10 per cent combined.

The most rainfall was recorded at Kane in the central region at 60.3 millimetres, with Dominion City in the east and Newdale in the southwest receiving 31.2 and 30.9 mm, respectively. Several areas across Manitoba received no rainfall.

Total precipitation accumulations this season were below 60 per cent compared to the 30-year average in the Interlake and parts of the Northwest and Eastern regions. Parts of the Southwest have accumulated higher than normal precipitation levels since May 1.

Spring wheat conditions ranged from 80 to 90 per cent good to excellent, while producing 50 to 60 bushels per acre. Winter wheat yields ranged from 50 to 80 bu./ac., while fall rye was at 60 to 110. Barley was at 60 to 70 bu./ac., while oats were at 100 to 150. Most corn was in the R5 (dent) stage of growth.

Canola yields were from 45 to 60 bu./ac. as swathing and desiccation were ongoing. Flax was in the brown capsule stage and most sunflowers have completed flowering. Avian Control, a bird repellent, received emergency registration in sunflowers to reduce damage by blackbirds. However, the treatment, which can be applied up to the day of harvest, can cause damage such as leaf discolouration.

Field pea yields ranged from 30 to 75 bu./ac., averaging approximately 60 bu./ac. Dry beans were in the R7 and R8 stages, while most soybeans were in the R5 and R6 stages.

Warm weather and improved moisture conditions in some areas allowed pastures to regrow, providing extra grazing days for livestock. Second cut harvest yields for beef producers were below-average and dairies were on their third cut, which were seeing higher yields than the second cut. Slough hay and straw yields appeared to be average. Silage corn harvest is set to begin in two weeks as most corn were in the dent stage.

Cattle on pasture were in good condition while producers monitor for foot rot, fly pressure and pneumonia. Water levels were mixed, causing some producers to move cattle or haul water. Winter feed supplies were also mixed with some producers sourcing additional feed and others with a surplus selling their own.

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