Profitability and a strong feed market are boosting winter wheat acres in Manitoba. Stephane Lapointe has been growing winter wheat for more than 20 years but the most recent harvest exceeded his expectations. “2022 was pretty much a record yield for us,” said the Neepawa-area farmer in a Ducks Unlimited Canada media release. “(W)e were
New varieties contribute to rise in winter wheat acres
Higher yields and good prices for feed crops also contribute to boost
Soil health main focus of cover-croppers
Largest look into practice across Prairies at the farm level shows early adopters satisfied with results
Early adopters of various farm practices often provide valuable information. It was farmers like these that, through trial and error, perfected the zero-till system and direct seeding, for example. But they’re all working in isolation, and maybe swapping a few ideas over the internet or at the occasional conference. The University of Manitoba’s Yvonne Lawley
Complex patchwork of global MRLs makes vigilance important
Latest Keep It Clean list highlights trade risks to grain sector
A consortium of commodity organizations is once again reminding growers to be aware of crop protection products and their potential impact on trade. Keep It Clean is a joint initiative of the Canola Council of Canada, the Prairie Oat Growers Association, Cereals Canada and Pulse Canada. It just released the annual list of crop protection
What’s on your spring burnoff checklist?
Set yourself, and your crop, up for success from the get-go
It’s been a long, cool spring and farmers have had extra time for field preparations. Sprayers and seeders are poised and ready for action and, when the temperature hits growing degrees, everything will happen fast. The first happening should be the spring burn-off. “I’m a big fan of burn-off spraying,” said Manitoba Agriculture weed specialist
Do healthy humans make for happy cows?
Study looks to link human well-being with animal welfare outcomes
Meagan King of the University of Manitoba’s Department of Animal Sciences has noted a lot of progress in how cows are kept, particularly dairy cows. Now she’s rounding up data on the welfare of another social species important to the well-being of domestic cattle: their human minders. “We’re so focused on healthy animals and animal
Weed wave expected when warm weather returns
Once it warms up, it’s going to be important to get a good spring burnoff and establish a competitive crop
Unseasonal snowfall and a cool spring may have pushed thoughts of spring weed control down the list of things to think about. But it’s important to get a plan in place now, because when it does warm up, things will happen quickly, said Kim Brown-Livingston, Manitoba’s provincial weed specialist, during an April 19 CropTalk webinar.
Closing the phosphorus loop
Municipal wastewater can be a source of valuable nutrients, says soil scientist
There are two places to mine phosphorus. One is the rock phosphate mines that supply the world with raw materials for phosphorus fertilizer. The other is in agricultural soils where cropping depletes the nutrient, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. “We have a phosphorus problem in agriculture and in society because we rely heavily on
Soil tests seek a non-chemical attraction
Researchers hope to hone in on biological soil testing when it comes to inoculating legumes
Manitoba expat Barney Geddes, an assistant professor with the microbiological sciences program at North Dakota State University, likes to tell health care researchers how important the development of nitrogen fertilizer was. In terms of human lives saved, it’s had a greater impact than all innovations produced by medical science put together. “It’s sort of entertaining,”
Genetic attack cutting edge of sclerotinia fight
Hacking messenger RNA can prevent fungal disease from propagating
Most pesticides work by getting into a cell and disrupting its working parts or pathways. By applying the right chemistry at the right time you can shut down a pathogen’s engine and bring it to a stop. But despite all the available chemistry, sclerotinia always finds a way to keep driving around untouched. Mark Belmonte,
Weed control can’t count on knockout punch
The chemical control era is waning, so adoption of new combinations is very important
Herbicides have been the No. 1 weapon against weeds since the 1940s. They’ve been effective but the last few decades have shown that genetics are a more powerful force than chemistry. Weeds are gaining genetic resistance to herbicides faster than new chemistries can be developed. “In addition to all of these new cases we’re seeing,
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
