Agronomists, industry and government representatives attend the latest 4R Nutrient Stewardship training workshop in Brandon, Man., Feb. 23.

4R Nutrient Stewardship taking more to the web

The 4R Nutrient Stewardship initiative has expanded training modules, 
accreditation and data logging online

Manitoba’s 4R Nutrient Stewardship is heading online. The program, announced in 2013, is a shared undertaking by the Canadian Fertilizer Institute, Manitoba government and the Keystone Agricultural Producers. It aims to balance environmental and agricultural interests. Four years later, the initiative has expanded to encompass education and tracking online. Initially packaged exclusively through day-long accreditation workshops,




eichler

Manitoba crops, livestock branches now under one umbrella

Positions have been eliminated in Manitoba Agriculture, but no cuts: Eichler

Manitoba Agriculture has amalgamated its livestock and crops branches as it looks for cost savings in the department. “First of all, there was no cuts, there were efficiencies found within the department,” said Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler during an unrelated press conference. He also confirmed three director positions have been eliminated, though the individuals who


Mitchell Timmerman speaks at St. Jean Baptist Farm Days.

Retention not needed for tile installation

Tile drainage can increase yields, but increased returns require carefully crunched numbers

Tile drainage installation is on the upswing in Manitoba, but producers need to take a hard look at their operations and evaluate beneficial management practices before making the plunge. “Addressing excess moisture is definitely a worthy pursuit,” Mitchell Timmerman told producers gathered for St. Jean Baptist Farm Days last week. “In this province, we know

Can mouldy feed still be used? And what are the repercussions?

Managing the risks of mouldy feed

According to Manitoba Agriculture, determining if mouldy feed is still acceptable 
is a complex situation that requires a case-by-case analysis and usually feed tests

After a wet summer Manitoba cattle producers are faced with the reality of keeping animals healthy on less-than-ideal feed sources. It’s possible, but Juanita Kopp, a provincial livestock specialist, says producers do need to be aware of the risks and take steps to manage them. “This is one of the topics I get a lot


Manitoba Pool Elevators still going strong

Manitoba Pool Elevators still going strong

Our History: December 1994

Manitoba Pool Elevators was still going strong in 1994 — this ad in our Dec. 1 issue reported member allocations of $3.47 per tonne for 1994 and $1.58 for the following year. Member equity was at $140 million. Canamera Foods, then Canada’s largest oilseed crusher and 50 per cent owned by Manitoba and Saskatchewan Pools,

Robert and Margaret Smith have been running a honeybee operation in the province since 1977 and have been taking advantage of Growing Forward 2’s On-Farm Food Safety and Animal Welfare program since its inception nearly 10 years ago.

On-farm cost-sharing program quickly taken up by producers

Farmers say the program has helped them to keep operations up-to-date and more able to adapt

Manitoba farmers are giving a program aimed at improving on-farm food safety and animal welfare a strong passing grade. Producers who have participated in Growing Forward 2’s On-Farm Food Safety and Animal Welfare say they’d do it again, noting it cost shares improvements that help farmers. “If you have the chance to get involved with


Province extends nutrient application deadline

Producers now have until midnight Nov. 14

Manitoba Sustainable Development advises the winter nutrient application ban has been extended until Nov. 15 as soil temperatures have not yet reached the freezing point. This means nutrients can be applied until midnight Nov. 14. Restrictions are designed to ensure nutrients are not applied when the ground is frozen and to protect the water quality

Not all Manitoba soybeans are in the bin yet, but once they are it’s expected the provincial average yield will set a new record.

Record provincial soybean yield on horizon

As of Oct. 13 an estimated 70 to 75 per cent of Manitoba soybeans had been harvested

When Manitoba’s soybean harvest is all safely in the bin the average yield is expected to be above the 10-year average and will probably set a record. “Overall, fields have been pretty good this year provincially,” Dennis Lange, Manitoba Agriculture’s pulse specialist, said Oct. 13 in an interview. “We are probably looking maybe at 40