Organic producers got some expert advice on composting during a July 21 field tour near Boissevain
Organic farmers may want to refine that manure before spreading it. Dale Overton, CEO of Overton Environmental Enterprises, urges organic farmers to add a composting step to their fertility programs, something he says will provide better long-term organic matter gain, fight off weeds and save money on fertilizer. Overton’s arguments echo advice from provincial Agriculture […] Read more
True North Foods is already Manitoba’s only federally certified slaughter option for beef. Now, it says USDA approval is imminent
True North Foods in Carman might be days away from federal certification in the U.S. Owner and operator, Calvin Vaags, says they are expecting their USDA certification for beef to be finalized any day now. The milestone would open up the American market for the facility, which is currently the only CFIA certified slaughter plant […] Read more
Bill Campbell has been appointed president until KAP’s next regular elections
*[UPDATED: Aug. 13, 2018] Former Keystone Agricultural Producers vice-president Bill Campbell has moved to the head of the table. The Minto-area producer has been appointed KAP’s next president, replacing Dan Mazier, who left the organization to pursue politics. “I’m really enthusiastic about it,” the fourth-generation farmer said. “I’m encouraged. I really, strongly believe in the KAP […] Read more
Producers may be chomping to get the crop off the field, but experts say an early desiccant application in canola might mean loss of quality
Don’t jump the gun on canola desiccation. The growing number of farmers who are straight cutting canola are once again pondering the right time to cut off their growing season, a decision that Canola Council of Canada agronomist Angela Brackenreed says is always difficult, even for experienced producers. Lionel Kaskiw, farm production adviser with Manitoba […] Read more
How much of your rotation is still in cereals? If it’s less than 50 per cent, you may be short
When it comes to getting cereals into the ground Manitoba seems to be coming up short. Provincial specialists say at least half a farm’s arable acres should be planted to these crops, but that’s rarely the case these days. According to MASC data, less than 40 per cent of crop acres in Manitoba were planted […] Read more
Research centres are building on their knowledge base through the trial-and-error approach
There are signs of both success and failure amongst the intercrop plots at Melita’s Westman Agricultural Diversification Organization. Some look great. Others are nothing but bare soil where nothing established. In others the crops aren’t playing well together and underseeded legumes are set to overtake the crop they were supposed to support. That’s just fine […] Read more
Manitoba producers had no insurance for their intercropped acres until this year, but a new program from MASC has changed that
This year was the first that Manitoba farmers could properly insure intercropped acres with Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation. MASC introduced novel crops insurance this year for, “crops not currently covered by the AgriInsurance program due to the relatively small number of acres grown and/or lack of data or information available,” a category that includes intercrops, […] Read more
Lack of moisture has also meant lack of nodules and poor nitrogen fixation for some soybean fields, leading some to consider a mid-season fertilizer pass
More soybean fields are trying to shake off the impact of a dry spring on nitrogen uptake this year. Laryssa Stevenson, western production specialist with the Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers, told a SMART field day here last week that she has heard of more growers struggling with nitrogen deficiency this summer, which she blames […] Read more
A University of Manitoba researcher thinks there should be more attention paid to soybean seeding depth
Soybean growers may have been tempted to dig deep for seeding this year, but University of Manitoba researcher Kristen MacMillan says the data may not back up that practice. The Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers puts ideal seed depth between three-quarters of an inch and an inch and a half below the soil surface. Dry […] Read more
Hemp growers will soon clear the legal hurdles keeping them from the nutraceutical market, but they may face an uphill climb from the field
A regulatory roadblock is about to disappear for hemp growers, but plenty of obstacles remain to capturing the nutraceutical market. Until now they’ve been required to destroy parts of the plant that might have otherwise been harvested, but new regulations from Health Canada will be arriving along with cannabis legalization this fall. They will then […] Read more
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