Manitoba Ag Days 2013 is literally where the “Ag Year begins” for many of the 12,000-plus visitors a day who come to check out the latest equipment and products, learn something new and meet with friends and acquaintances they may not have seen for a while. “One of the really great things about Ag Days
Let the Ag Year begin
Know thy enemy: Researchers keen to learn more about aster yellows after 2012 outbreak
Very little is known about the disease or the factors that contribute to outbreaks and their severity
Last year not only produced the biggest outbreak of aster yellows in Manitoba in five years, but also demonstrated how little is known about the disease and the factors that contribute to its appearance and severity. The disease is mainly transmitted by aster leafhoppers, which arrive in the spring on winds from the southern U.S.Practise zero tolerance to avoid resistant weeds
If Canadian farmers want to avoid the fate of their U.S. counterparts struggling with glyphosate-resistant weeds such as kochia, waterhemp, and common and giant ragweed, then they’d better practise zero tolerance, says an American weed scientist. “That means no survival rate and no weed seed production,” researcher Jeff Stachler told attendees at the Manitoba Agronomists
Ingenious inventions attract the crowds
From wireless grain storage monitoring to fertilizer lump busters, the Inventor’s Showcase at Manitoba Ag Days is sure to have something of interest to everyone. And just about everyone visits this popular feature. “We have 16 exhibitors in the Inventor’s Showcase this year,” says Jonothon Roskos, Manitoba Ag Days general manager. “It’s always a big
Don’t forget your map — there are 500-plus exhibits
One of the most read pages in the Manitoba Ag Days program is the Ag Days map. With more than 500 exhibits under one roof, it’s an essential aid for navigating the show and making sure nothing is missed. Farm equipment is always a crowd pleaser and Ag Days features displays from just about every
Expert says think of a smartphone as a computer in your coveralls
\Smartphone usage across Canada continues to rise and now has a 40 per cent share of the mobile phone market, according to a a recent Ipsos Reid poll. And farmers are just as likely as anyone to be carrying an iPhone, BlackBerry or Android as anyone else these days. But many just aren’t making full
Manitoba farmers need their own plan for soybean fertility
Fertility management for soybeans isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Fertilizer management decisions are often specific to soils, local growing conditions and factors such as the price of inputs, high soybean prices, as well as other crops in the rotation. Dr. Gyles Randall of the University of Minnesota recently shared some insights at the Manitoba Agronomists Conference
Is it time to rethink your phosphorus management?
Farmers may need to rethink their phosphorus management due to the dramatic shift in Manitoba acres towards canola and soybeans at the expense of cereals, an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researcher says. Cynthia Grant, a soil management and fertility specialist with the Brandon Research Centre told the Manitoba Agronomy Conference farmers are growing more crops
Making connections at Ag Days
It’s a lot quieter at the Ag Days office these days, thanks in large part to technology. “We don’t have as many people paging the office,” says Ag Days webmaster Tom Tolton. “We used to have message boards up and lots of people paging, but today they all have cellphones to communicate with each other.”
New Big Iron is more efficient and environmentally friendly
Ag Days is a signature venue for agricultural equipment manufacturers and is the place where Prairie farmers often get a first peek at new products. A lot of the Big Iron on display for 2012 will be showcasing not just equipment, but some new, factory-installed technology to help make farmers more efficient and environmentally friendly.
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
