Bruce Berry of Almost Urban Vegetables uses composted manure to power his plants.

Winter no barrier to composting

Manure composting has many benefits, including concentrated nutrients, 
reduced volume, no smell and easy transport

Like any recipe, making a good composted manure requires the right ingredients, a proper mixer and some heat. “There are a lot of misconceptions as to what composting actually is, some think that if you have a pile of manure it’s called composting, it really isn’t,” said Mario Tenuta. “So we want to talk to

Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report: Issue 12

Manitoba Crop Report and Crop Weather report: Issue 12

Conditions as of July 20, 2015

Another week of generally good growing conditions continues to advance crops across Manitoba. Localized thunderstorms did result in significant precipitation amounts in some areas of the province, while other areas would still benefit from additional moisture. Disease pressure and insect activity continues to be monitored as the growing season progresses. Click here for the Crop Weather Report for


The new Escarpment Habitat Protection Program is seeking landowners along the Manitoba Escarpment between the border and Riding Mountain National Park to voluntarily preserve their property, or parts of it, in its natural state in return for a one-time payment or tax receipt. The following participated in the program’s announcement July 8 at Alexander Ridge Park on the escarpment west of Miami, Man.: Tatiana Moroz (l), Manitoba Forestry Association, Kristen Malec, Manitoba Forestry Association, Tim Sopuck, CEO, Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation, Murray Seymour, chair, Pembina Valley Conservation District, Candice Bergen, MP Portage Lisgar and minister of state for social development, Roy Wood, chair, La Salle Redboine Conservation District, Justin Reid, manager, La Salle Redboine Conservation District and Cliff Greenfield, manager Pembina Valley Conservation District.

VIDEO: New voluntary program to protect Manitoba Escarpment

Participating landowners can still pasture livestock, produce hay, cut firewood and hunt, 
but they can’t burn, break or drain the land

A new voluntary program will offer financial incentives to encourage landowners to protect and restore the Manitoba Escarpment’s natural cover in perpetuity. The goal is not only to conserve flora and fauna providing esthetic benefits, but improve downstream water quality and reduce flooding and costly damage to infrastructure, Cliff Greenfield, manager of the Pembina Valley

The Keystone Agriculture Producers held its general council meeting on July 8 in Brandon.

Condition of rural roads a major concern at KAP meeting

KAP members say rural road conditions are unacceptable and look to lobby for improvements

Keystone Agriculture Producers debated who should take the title of Manitoba’s worst road as producers gathered here for a general council meeting July 8 and compared notes on the province’s crumbling rural roadways. Improving rural infrastructure was clearly a top priority to the province’s producers following a discussion over resolutions at the KAP general council


Traps to monitor adult moths of bertha armyworm are currently only at levels suggesting low risk of damage.

Manitoba crop insect and disease update

Conditions as of July 14, 2015

Some localized higher populations of armyworms and grasshoppers are present. So scouting is encouraged, although in many cases populations are noticeable but not economical. Armyworms continue to be found in many cereal fields. In many fields they are noticeable but not economical, however some fields have had levels greater than the 4 or more larvae/ft2

 Soybean plant with nematode-filled cysts.

On the lookout for soybean cyst nematodes

But make no mistake, this new destructive pest is coming and farmers 
can learn more about it July 22 at the SMART Soybean Day in Carman


Soybean cyst nematodes haven’t been found in Manitoba yet. That’s the good news. The bad news is it’s only a matter of time until they are, says University of Manitoba soil scientist Mario Tenuta. But early detection will help farmers manage it. The search for the small, soil-borne, worm-like parasites that can dramatically reduce soybean


One of many crops near Roseisle, Man. hit by severe hail June 27.

MASC explains why sometimes it defers hail claims

Assessing loss is easier when the crop is still young or has set seed and harder in between those two stages

As this summer’s hail claims roll in, the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation’s assessment practices are being questioned by farmers who say the agency is too slow to cut a cheque. (MASC) says its spot loss hail insurance program is similar to what private hail insurance companies offer. But at least one Manitoba farmer disputes that

Researchers believe wild boars are more prevalent than many people realize.

Tracking the elusive but destructive wild boar

The highly reclusive wild boar may be responsible for much more 
crop damage than previously thought

Ruth Kost has never seen a wild boar before but she’s hoping that will change after a summer spent tracking the elusive beast. “They don’t like to show themselves,” said the University of Saskatchewan master’s student. “They are kind of reclusive, they avoid people… and they’re very aware of hunting pressures.” But just because you


KAP pleased with expansion of waterway accord

KAP pleased with expansion of waterway accord

Ontario and Alberta have become the first provinces to agree to work with Manitoba and others to improve water health

A Manitoba-made agreement aimed at protecting lakes and waterways has gained two new signatories. Last week, Alberta and Ontario signed on to the Lake Friendly Accord, which already includes many mayors and reeves, as well as the Lake Winnipeg Foundation, Manitoba Hydro, the government of Canada and state of Minnesota. For Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP),

Main Street in Russell, Man.

Small-town growth strategies analyzed

The RDI report includes six municipal case studies

Regional is the new rural, according to a new report released by the Rural Development Institute (RDI) showing the most successful efforts to boost population in rural areas are those most focused across wider regions. Growth Strategies for Rural Communities includes six case studies that explore where municipalities, both losing and gaining in populations have