A canola field is burned in the 
RM of Lorne in spring 2020, after a wet fall left an unprecedented number of fields unharvested over the winter.

Left breathless by stubble burning

Farmers urged to be responsible if they’re going to burn

Fewer Manitoba farmers grab the lighter when it comes time to deal with stubble. According to Manitoba agriculture meteorology specialist Timi Ojo, that’s for a good reason. “Burning crop residue is actually not cheap,” he said. “It has quite an impact in terms of loss of organic matter. There is increased potential for soil compaction

Standard choppers are frequently not large enough to spread residue effectively and harrows can create residue clumping, says agronomy consultant Phil Needham.

Excess crop residue a yield-robbing issue on many farms

It’s a problem everywhere — mismatched choppers and harrows that don’t fix the problem, agronomist says

Throughout his travels as a consultant, Phil Needham has noticed producers continue to struggle with residue management to the detriment of crop emergence, plant counts and yield. Many residue management woes come down to two pieces of equipment: harrows and mismatched choppers on combines, said Needham, who operates an agronomy services company in Kentucky. “I


(Dave Bedard photo)

Manitoba to open more Crown lands to haying, grazing

Province now taking requests for permits

Manitoba livestock producers up against dry conditions can now apply for temporary passes to get onto Crown land not normally designated for grazing or haying. The province announced Friday it will make such lands available this year for agricultural use “under certain circumstances.” Permits and land uses will be handled through the Agricultural Crown Lands


Straw being loaded off a field in central Manitoba. 

Feed your straw to the herd or feed the soil instead?

How much of a nutritional dent does baling straw make when that residue could have been chopped and spread?

Livestock producers have been scrambling for their neighbours’ straw, but growers may have been reluctant to let it leave the field. Attractive straw prices went head to head with the desire to chop and spread as growers weighed the balance between a secondary income and the cost of exporting those nutrients rather than working them


Crop residue burning down, but not out

Crop residue burning down, but not out

Dry weather is one reason, but officials say 
there are other factors too

Fall stubble burning in the Red River Valley used to be as common as spring seeding. But smoke wafting into Winnipeg became such a health hazard in the late 1980s and early 1990s the Manitoba government began regulating crop residue burning in 1992. Now burning permit requests from farmers in the 10 rural municipalities near

Yearlings and dry ewes graze on rotational perennials -- grass plants, legumes, and forbs -- at Menoken Farm, a demonstration farm just east of Bismarck, N.D.

Cover crops ‘essential’ to in-field grazing

Confined livestock do little to help build soil health

Got cows? On your cropland? Jay Fuhrer certainly hopes so. The soil health specialist believes cropland and large ruminants are a natural fit. He advocates turning animals out of the barn and onto the land whenever possible. “Soils, plants and animals evolved together,” he told producers gathered in Winnipeg for the annual Dairy Farmers of

Controlled crop residue burning authorizations begin Aug. 1

Manitoba Agriculture reminds producers who choose to burn crop residue that authorization is required from Aug. 1 to Nov. 15. Daily authorizations are issued by 11 a.m. based on weather and smoke dispersion conditions. Night burning continues to be banned year-round. The daily authorization will indicate if burning is permitted or not, and the start


Manitoba Agriculture’s John Heard says many farmers are being forced to 
adjust their fertility strategy after a tough fall.


Farmers adjust fertility plans after tough fall

There’s still plenty of opportunity to get nitrogen on if you missed the fall application window

While spring banding of fertilizer has become more popular recently, there’s still plenty of growers putting it down in the fall. That is, unless they run into a season like last year. Many farmers throughout Manitoba struggled to just get the crop off, never mind getting their fall work done. Now they’re left with the

Crop residue burning authorizations begin Aug. 1

Crop residue burning authorizations begin Aug. 1

Failure to follow the regulations could result in fines of up to $50,000

Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (MAFRD) reminds producers who choose to burn crop residue that authorization is required between Aug. 1 and Nov. 15. Authorizations are issued daily by 11 a.m. based on weather, moisture and favourable smoke dispersion conditions.  Night burning is banned year-round. Producers may also require a burning permit, if located