There are some unusual crop combinations springing up southwest of Melita. Experimental intercrops are among the Westman Agricultural Diversification Organization (WADO) projects this year, including flax intercropped with soybeans and hemp intercropped with legumes. Pea-canola, an emerging combination already used on some Manitoba farms, and the already established wheat-legume mix are also under the microscope,
Pushing the boundaries of intercropping
Flax and soybeans is just one combination under investigation
Recovering pigs being moved to other barns
Though pigs survived latest PEDV outbreak, officials concerned about disease spread
Manitoba hog farmers whose barns are affected by the ongoing porcine epidemic diarrhea (PEDv) outbreak are running out of space to put the surviving pigs. Five unaffected barns recently had to receive pigs from locations battling the virus due to space constraints, Dr. Glen Duizer of Manitoba’s chief veterinary office said last week. While the
4-H’ers dig into soil health policy and education
Soil health was a repeat topic as 4-H members from around the world turned their attention to sustainable agriculture and food security
It’s time to think about what lies below our feet. That was the message delegates from 35 countries received from multiple speakers at the recent Global 4-H Summit in Ottawa. Soil health emerged from several workshops during the third day of the July 11-14 conference, themed around sustainable agriculture and food security. Syngenta Canada, also
To till or not to till? For soybeans that’s the question
The Westman Agricultural Diversification Organization is testing out planting dates and pre-seed tillage systems in its latest round of soybean experiments
Conventional wisdom says to break out the harrow before planting soybeans, the better to expose black earth and warm the soil, but new research is putting that assumption to the test. Dr. Yvonne Lawley of the University of Manitoba is measuring the effect of seeding date and different tillage systems on soybeans through several regions
Expanded staff to put hog disease in the crosshairs
Manitoba Pork says it hopes to fill the new swine health programs manager by early fall
Manitoba Pork hopes revisiting its disease management and prevention programming will help the industry dodge the next disease threat. The council will be expanding staff to include a swine health programs manager as part of the process, chair George Matheson said during a recent interview with industry-run broadcast “Farmscape.” The new hire will take on
Goss’s wilt makes its first appearance of the year
Goss’s wilt in corn and Phytophthora root rot in soybeans have been among the pathogens noted in the provincial disease and insect updates
Reports of Goss’s wilt in corn are early, but not surprising, according to Holly Derksen, field crop pathologist with Manitoba Agriculture. One infection was reported near Austin, followed by reports of the disease near Morden. “Which is not surprising at all,” Derksen said. “We have it everywhere every year, but especially in the Morden, Altona,
4-H kitchen heats up at Manitoba Summer Fair
Junior and intermediate cooks had already proved themselves with regional wins by the time they donned their aprons at the provincial championships in Brandon
Ffion and Nia Devonald are award-winning chefs, and they aren’t even in high school yet. The pair — and their herb and tomato rendition of the grilled cheese sandwich — took the junior title during the inaugural 4-H Manitoba Food Challenge Provincial Championship June 10 in Brandon. “We’ve baked with our family for a while,
Aphid-borne virus found in Manitoba oat fields
The virus, and its associated chlorosis and premature maturation, has been noted in several oat fields
Oat fields in central Manitoba are fighting off barley yellow dwarf virus. “We see it from year to year,” Manitoba Agriculture field crop pathologist Holly Derksen said. “I think this is probably the most severe that I’ve seen it in fields, but that being said, it’s historically been present in Manitoba and in varying levels.”
Hemp industry looks to overcome growing pains
Hemp yields have jumped as agronomy and varieties improve, but now processors are on the hunt for new markets to deal with oversupply risk
Hemp is no longer a complete novelty — but it isn’t exactly mainstream either. It occupies the somewhat risky middle ground of being better established, but still niche. There’s plenty of interest in growing it, but that capacity could swamp markets that are still developing. Market research by Manitoba Harvest, one of the province’s major
Producers explore the ABCs of do-it-yourself soil health tests
The Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives has a few ways of determining potential problems that have nothing to do with a lab
The science behind soil health might be complex, but most of the tests showcased during the latest Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives workshop could be done with equipment bought from a dollar store. “We have the ability to really investigate the soil ourselves,” Marla Riekman, land management specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, said. “You can use