Russian winter grain crops suffer

moscow / reuters / Dry conditions during sowing and cold snaps are taking their toll on Russia’s winter grain crop. Russia’s Grain Union says conditions are similar to those last winter, which preceded a fall in the country’s gross grain harvest to just over 70 million tonnes in 2012 from 94 million tonnes in 2011.

Soil moisture looks good: Survey

Newly released results of Manitoba Agriculture’s fall soil moisture survey are good news for Manitoba farmers worried last year’s dry summer could turn into a drought. The soil moisture situation in many parts of Manitoba is normal, and even better than it was last spring, say Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives’ staff. “It’s not



A penny a plant?

Back in the days when being a farm kid spelled work and a penny was still worth five Mojos at the local store, Grandpa had us all out there one hot, July afternoon hand roguing his seed oats for a penny a plant. If some agronomists are correct, it’s looking like farm kids of the


Cranking out calves beats backgrounding

Production adviser says operations geared towards low-cost, high-volume calf 
production are better positioned for profits in 2013 than backgrounders

Record-high finishing costs and tight calf supplies mean 2013 will be the “year of the big decision” for ranchers, says production adviser Ray Bittner. “Are you a calf producer or are you a feedlot?” the Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives official asked attendees at the recent Beef and Forage days. Operations that have depended

Lots went wrong with Manitoba canola in 2012

A lot of last year’s woes came down to the luck of the draw in terms of weather 
and pest and diseases issues, but the big exception to that was blackleg

It was a year to forget for Manitoba canola growers. If you’re keeping a scorecard, the list of problems suffered by growers in 2012 included high weed pressure in fields that were waterlogged in 2011, frost hitting some early-seeded crops, a blistering hot July, insect populations just under the level that warrants spraying, aster yellows


Max out yields with shorter-season soybeans

Remember Aug. 22, 2004? For gardeners in the southwest, it is a date that shall live in infamy. And for soybean growers, it’s a reminder that in Manitoba, the first killing frost doesn’t always come in the third week of September. Farmers should keep that in mind when choosing a variety that can be crammed

Cold winter temperatures naturally control insects in grain

Warm weather during the 2012 grain harvest benefited producers, but it also benefited insects that feed in stored grain, says Brent Elliott, infestation control and sanitation officer at the Canadian Grain Commission. However, cold winter weather can help producers control insects. “Now that winter’s here, producers need to reconsider how they’re managing insects in their


Manitoba farmers need their own plan for soybean fertility

Fertility management for soybeans isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Fertilizer management decisions are often specific to soils, local growing conditions and factors such as the price of inputs, high soybean prices, as well as other crops in the rotation. Dr. Gyles Randall of the University of Minnesota recently shared some insights at the Manitoba Agronomists Conference

Is it time to rethink your phosphorus management?

Farmers may need to rethink their phosphorus management due to the dramatic shift in Manitoba acres towards canola and soybeans at the expense of cereals, an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researcher says. Cynthia Grant, a soil management and fertility specialist with the Brandon Research Centre told the Manitoba Agronomy Conference farmers are growing more crops