Manitoba’s nutrient application deadline has been extended to Nov. 18.
The province’s sustainable development department said Monday the move, which allows fall fertilizer applications through to the end of Nov. 17, is possible because soil temperatures, due to an extremely mild first half of November, have yet to reach the freezing point.
The restrictions are designed to ensure nutrients aren’t applied to frozen ground and thereby reduce the potential for surface water contamination through nutrient loading, which can cause algal blooms, the province said in a news release. The deadline last week was extended to Nov. 15.
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At this time, nutrient application is allowed but certain conditions must be met:
- nutrients can only be surface applied if they are immediately incorporated; and
- nutrients should not be applied in instances where the weather outlook is unfavourable, such as if snow or an appreciable amount of rainfall is expected that would result in run-off.
The standard ban on winter nutrient application begins Nov. 10 and ends at midnight on April 10. Decisions about variations are based on actual soil temperatures, the presence of snow cover and the long-term weather forecast. When a variance is authorized, it applies to forms of nutrients such as livestock manure and inorganic fertilizer.
The process for varying nutrient application dates was developed in consultation with the Keystone Agricultural Producers, the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers and the commercial manure applicator industry.
Additional information on winter spreading restrictions and the conditions necessary for a variance are online at manitoba.ca/nutrientdates.
