Moisture-starved pastures have livestock foraging harder for feed, and provincial experts warn that toxic plants could be eaten accidentally.

Drought dangers raise the red flag on toxicity for cattle

Experts are warning livestock producers to look out for toxicity as cattle scramble for feed in the pasture, drought raises nitrate risk and water supplies dwindle

Feed shortage may not be the only threat lurking in Manitoba’s increasingly brown pastures. Manitoba Agriculture livestock specialist Jane Thornton says she would not be surprised by reports of poisoning from toxic plants or other toxicity issues as regular forage runs out. “Producers should look at what they have in their fields for poisonous plants,”

Brian Harper (l) showcases the operation’s high density grazing experiment during a tour last summer on his land north of Brandon.

Brandon farmer wins national TESA award

Circle H Farms near Brandon is the latest national TESA winner

Manitoba has its first national TESA winner of the 21st century. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’s ‘The Environmental Stewardship Award’ was given to Circle H Farms, owned and operated by the Harper family of Brandon, August 15 during the Canadian Beef Industry Conference. That event was held in London, Ont. this year. TESA is for producers


Grasshoppers are on the move. When scouting fields for the insect, Manitoba Agriculture entomologist John Gavloski says be aware sometimes grasshoppers will be mainly on field edges as they move in from ditches.

Grasshoppers are on the move

When scouting, check farther into the field because sometimes the insect is concentrated in field edges


Grasshoppers are on the move looking for green vegetation to eat. The good news is they aren’t much interested in ripe cereal and canola crops, soybeans aren’t their preferred food and corn has so much leaf area it can withstand high populations, says Manitoba Agriculture entomologist John Gavloski. “It’s not an outbreak,” Gavloski said in

On August 25 at Austin, visitors will have a rare opportunity to see vintage combines and swathers in operation alongside the old threshing machines in the museum’s collection. Pictured is an early 1950s Minneapolis-Moline G4 combine pulled by a 1952 Minneapolis-Moline U tractor.

First-ever Western Canada Heritage Harvest this weekend

Rarely operated vintage combines and swathers will be in operation August 25 at the Manitoba Agricultural Museum ground near Austin

This will be a harvest you don’t see every day — or haven’t in decades. Seventy acres of wheat will be harvested with antique threshing machines and vintage combines and swathers spanning six decades at a new growing project for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank on August 25. This is the inaugural Western Canada Heritage Harvest,


Manitoba cattle producers fear they’ll be sending more stock than usual to auction this fall as a feed shortfall looms.

Dry weather forecasts a season of hard choices

With pastures burning up and the forage harvest a fraction of normal, cattle producers are searching for affordable feed alternatives while considering how many cattle they must sell

Mike Duguid knew it would be a tough year for feed in the spring while he was assessing the winterkill in his alfalfa and poor pasture growth on his Interlake farm. “Some of the grasses had windburn and there was no moisture,” the Camp Morton-area producer said. “Lots of grasses require more moisture than southern

Straw shortfalls throw a wrench in feed plans

Straw shortfalls throw a wrench in feed plans

There have been widespread reports of straw shortages, with producers pointing to drought stress on cereals, as well as harvest technologies that pulverize it

Straw is in high demand and short supply in Manitoba. Producers looking to it as an alternative feed source are finding there is little to be had due to drought-shortened cereal crops, crop rotation shifts, and the proliferation of rotary combines. Ray Bittner, provincial livestock specialist in the Interlake, said there is “almost no straw


An antelope in the Parkland region of Manitoba is very rare.

Antelope spotted in the Oakburn area

The animal is considered to be rare on Manitoba prairies

Rumours of an antelope in the Oakburn area last month were confirmed, when Kendra Sitko took several photos of the animal, and Chris Hrysak of the Shoal Lake branch of Sustainable Development added to the confirmation. “Being a Plains animal, it’s extremely rare to see an antelope in our neck of the woods,” he said.

Parklands-area rancher Ben Fox has served as president of Manitoba Beef Producers since February 2017.

Manitoba Beef Producers president resigns to seek federal nomination

Ben Fox is a second farm leader to throw his hat in the ring for Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa

A second prominent farm leader has stepped down to make a bid for federal politics, and for the same party ticket in the same riding. Manitoba Beef Producers president Ben Fox, who ranches near Dauphin, stepped down from his post August 7, announcing his plans to seek the Conservative Party of Canada nomination for MP


A second case of clubroot has been discovered in the R. M. of Lorne according to Manitoba Agriculture’s Aug. 15 Manitoba Insect & Disease Update.

New case of clubroot found in R.M. of Lorne

Manitoba Agriculture is asking farmers to report suspected cases of the soil-borne disease

A new case of clubroot has been found in the Rural Municipality of Lorne, Manitoba Agriculture says in its Aug. 15 Manitoba Insect & Disease Update. That brings the number of clubroot cases in Manitoba canola fields discovered so far this season to nine. “Manitoba Agriculture continues to encourage growers to scout any areas in

Feed shortage looms

Feed shortage looms

Livestock industry warns of short feed supplies due to dry conditions as pastures start to run out of both forage and water

Manitoba livestock producers are bracing for a double hit. They’re facing their second extended feeding season at the same time as forage yields have fallen short. Extension staff are predicting feed shortages in some regions. Herds were already late coming onto pasture this spring after conditions slowed regrowth. Now, herds in Manitoba’s driest areas may