Farm Aid Highly Political

Why should governments top up crop insurance coverage in a year where there’s a widespread disaster when they wouldn’t likely have the same response if the problem was regional? Amazingly, last week’s annual meeting of federal and provincial agriculture ministers concluded with a detailed program announcement for flooded Prairie farmland. Rarely do governments act so

Getting A Head Start

If you’re thinking about getting a head start on 2011 by sowing winter wheat into some of those empty fields next month, now would be a good time to pick up some flax seed. Provincial agronomists say it’s one of the best options available to farmers looking to artificially create that all-important snow-trapping stubble needed


Greenfeed Crop Insurance Deadline July 15

There’s one more crop option now that the June 20 crop insurance seeding deadline has past – greenfeed. Manitoba farmers have until July 15 to sow greenfeed and get crop insurance coverage, albeit reduced. However, not every crop is eligible for greenfeed. The Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) defines greenfeed as “oats, barley, mixed grain,

Late-Seeding Tips From MAFRI

“Planting when the soil is too wet will lead to soil compaction, which can decrease yield much more than planting a few days later.” – MAFRI The later a crop is seeded the lower its potential yield, but Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) says there are things farmers can do to make the


MASC Explains “Grade Factor” Math

“Probably the biggest part of our problem was we included an example in there.” – DAVID VAN DEYNZE MASC says an example used in a letter to corn growers last fall to help explain changes to how it would calculate insurance claims created confusion that left some farmers feeling misled. “Probably the biggest part of

Valley Residents Fed Up With Red River Flooding

Frustration about constant flooding from the Red River spilled over at an international commission forum on flood solutions for the Red River basin. Local residents voiced aggravation at the economic and emotional toll from spring floods which regularly inundate farmland and cut off communities. Many demanded compensation for the expense, damage and inconvenience caused by


Think Twice Before Ripping Up This Year’s Corn

As tempting as it is to write off and rip up this year’s mouldy corn crop, it’s a decision farmers need to consider carefully. Not only will the outcome affect revenue from this year’s crop, but future crop insurance coverage as well. The Manitoba Agricultural Service Corporation (MASC) says corn can be written off when

Touring The Drought Zone

This will not go down in history as one of the big drought years in Saskatchewan. When everything is tallied, 2009 will not rival years such as 1988 and 2002 for crop-related drought losses. In early July, the drought conditions in west-central and northwest Saskatchewan were steadily worsening. Farm group leaders and opposition politicians were