Is glyphosate the greatest thing since sliced bread or an agronomic catastrophe waiting to happen? There’s not solid evidence for the latter, but there is some cause for concern, according to a presentation by agronomy expert Bob Hartzler at Ag Days. “Based on my experience in Iowa, where we have 22 million acres of Roundup
Iowa weed scientist wades into glyphosate controversy at Ag Days
Expert says new corn varieties can be planted early
Corn acreage has exploded from nearly nothing 50 years ago to 275,000 acres last year — and you only have to look at yields to see why. Back in 1960, an average crop meant 25 bushels an acre. Today it’s 120, which also is why corn was in the spotlight at Ag Days. Traditional thinking
Quick and easy is the name of the feeding game for Dugald rancher
Ken Vaags would put a short-order cook to shame. The Dugald rancher uses his skidsteer loader and a specially designed self-feeder that controls access to a huge bag of silage. Two rollers operated by a hand crank wind up the top and bottom lips of the bag, while bars in front create a manger that
Cranking out calves beats backgrounding
Production adviser says operations geared towards low-cost, high-volume calf production are better positioned for profits in 2013 than backgrounders
Record-high finishing costs and tight calf supplies mean 2013 will be the “year of the big decision” for ranchers, says production adviser Ray Bittner. “Are you a calf producer or are you a feedlot?” the Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives official asked attendees at the recent Beef and Forage days. Operations that have dependedHorse herd in limbo after controversial seizure in the RM of Lakeview
An RM of Lakeview councillor complains protocols were breached after provincial officials seized a band of semi-feral horses near Langruth
The fate of a herd of horses rounded up in the RM of Lakeview remains in limbo while allegations fly they were improperly seized from their elderly owners. Richard Callander, a local municipal councillor filed an appeal Jan. 21 on behalf of the owners for the return of 10 Morgan-Appaloosa-cross stallions, mares and their offspring,Devloo Roto Mudscraper takes first prize in Inventor’s Showcase
Two farmer-invented solutions for seeding through muck and trash were recognized as top innovations for 2013
Call it the battle of the mud scrapers. Two farmer-invented devices for keeping packer wheels from gumming up in adverse seeding conditions took home the top honours in the Inventor’s Showcase at Ag Days. Winner of the 2013 Top Invention Award, Mark Devloo, said his father originally came up with the design for a rotating,Funding for value-added food processors
The Manitoba Food Processors Association is getting $440,000 in funds to assist with commercializing new products and expand food manufacturing in Manitoba. “Here in Manitoba and across the country, the food-processing industry delivers a lot to the Canadian economy and it deserves our support,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz in announcing the funding at Ag
Bison do double duty on organic farm
Unlike many organic farmers, John Finnie isn’t always scrambling for manure — he has 150 helpers in that task. His herd of Plains bison are a perfect fit on his 1,000-acre certified organic operation near Kenton, northwest of Brandon, he says. “I like to look at them as being a very large piece of machinery,”
Max out yields with shorter-season soybeans
Remember Aug. 22, 2004? For gardeners in the southwest, it is a date that shall live in infamy. And for soybean growers, it’s a reminder that in Manitoba, the first killing frost doesn’t always come in the third week of September. Farmers should keep that in mind when choosing a variety that can be crammed
Farmers ante up for proposed producer-owned nitrogen fertilizer plant
Farmers of North America have raised more than $5 million in the past six weeks for a proposed farmer-owned nitrogen fertilizer plant in Western Canada. The sale of more than 5,000 “risk capital units” (worth $1,000 each) shows there is “overwhelming” support for the project, said Bob Friesen, spokesman for the NFA’s Fertilizer Limited Partnership.
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