There has been a host of studies on whether deep ripping can fix soil compaction but the results have been inconclusive
Does deep ripping fix soil compaction and improve yields? Despite numerous studies, no one really knows, attendees at the recent Special Crops Symposium in Brandon were told. “Collectively, we haven’t done enough disciplined testing or research yet to sort out whether or not it is profitable in Manitoba,” said John Heard, soil fertility specialist withJury still out on benefits of deep ripping
Resistant weed headaches growing, survey shows
New survey says 43 per cent of farmers now believe they have herbicide-resistant weeds, but the number who report using more than one mode of action is falling
More Canadian farmers are reporting herbicide-resistant weeds, according to a new poll. Nearly two-thirds of the 500 farmers surveyed in a poll conducted for BASF Canada said weeds in their fields are getting tougher to control, and 43 per cent said they suspect they have weeds resistant to herbicides. In a similar poll conducted aNew association formed to regulate tile drainage installers
Post-2011 flood rush to install tile drains led to many costly mistakes, says vice-president of the newly formed Manitoba Agricultural Water Management Association
A boom in tile drainage resulted in slipshod work and prompted the creation of an association dedicated to ensuring such work is done by reputable operators who know what they are doing. “The association along with Water Stewardship is working towards a fair way to ensure that tile installers are both properly trained and certified,”The quest is on to improve rate of canola emergence
Canola seeds may be tiny, but they don’t come cheap. That’s prompted more farmers to use row-crop precision seeders in order to get more bang for their buck. There are many row-crop seeders on the market, but the problem is none of them do a perfect job, said Pipe-stone-area farmer Frank Prince, who offered his
Trouble in your canola crop? There’s an app for that
Canola growers and agronomists have a new online tool for diagnosing problems in their crops. “Often symptoms will look similar for a number of different problems,” said Jay Whetter, communications manager for the Canadian Canola Council. “You’ll go into a field and it will look like something you’ve seen before. You’ll go, ‘I know what
Got bald patches on eroded knolls? Ammonium sulphate may be the cause
If you’ve always assumed canola emerges poorly on eroded knolls because the soil there is poor, think again. Toxicity from ammonium sulphate fertilizer could be the real reason behind those bald patches, especially on Newdale-type soils with high amounts of calcium carbonate in the subsoil zones, according to University of Manitoba student Laryssa Grenkow. “The
There’s cash in that grass
With shrinking inventories pushing prices skyward, forage seed contractors say crops such as perennial ryegrass are a lucrative alternative for farmers wishing to diversify their rotation. “Potentially, it’s the most profitable crop out there,” said Harley Bell, Winnipeg-based product marketing manager with Brett Young. This year’s contract prices are the highest they’ve ever offered amid
Statistics show foreigners not driving farmland prices sky high
Changes to the immigration rules introduced in 2002 have not resulted in a flood of foreign farm buyers
Who is buying up all the farmland in Manitoba? Coffee shop gossip aside, statistics from Citizenship and Immigration Canada show that the vast majority of farmland buyers in Manitoba are not new permanent residents. In fact, there has been barely any interest from abroad in recent years. Gordon Gentles, a Brandon-based realtor specializing in farmTyler and Dorelle Fulton this year’s OYF winners
Birtle-area ranchers and hay exporters Tyler and Dorelle Fulton have been chosen as Manitoba’s 2013 Outstanding Young Farmers. “We’re really excited and energetic about agriculture in Canada, and we’re going to do our best to pass that message on,” said Tyler, shortly after receiving the award from Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Ron Kostyshyn
RM wants answers over horse seizure
The RM of Lakeview is seeking answers from the Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian regarding the recent seizure of 10 horses from a local property owner. The council unanimously approved a motion brought forward by a delegation at its regular meeting last week that raised a number of concerns about the seizure, ranging from
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