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fertilizing a field in Manitoba
Crops, Local news

Winter fertilizer prohibition lifted early, but can return if weather turns bad

The new policy considers soil conditions, not just the date

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The Manitoba government’s winter prohibition on applying fertilizer and manure was lifted April 1 because of thawed soils — 10 days earlier than the normal date of April 11 — just in time for what could be an early spring if the weather co-operates. The news was welcomed by Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), which has
young boy with science project
Local news

Young scientists on the rise

The province’s young minds demonstrate their insights 
into some of today’s most pressing issues in science

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Students from across southwestern Manitoba put their scientific talents and innovative thoughts on display at the recent Western Manitoba Science Fair at the Westman Communications Place in Brandon. The regional fair has been in operation since 1969 and hosts students from Grades 1 through 12 who earned the top recognition at their school’s science fair.
soil
Crops, Opinion

Editorial: They brought in plows?

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When a consortium of Canadian non-government organizations funded by the Canadian government arrived in the Benishangul-Gumuz state in Western Ethiopia five years ago, their primary goal was to help smallholder farmers boost productivity and food security. They came in with “modern” farming methods. In this context, that meant oxen and plows, showing farmers how to
snake-oil salesman
Crops, Local news

The statistics prove it — higher yields with Manitoba maple syrup

It’s now easier than ever to sell snake oil, says University of Manitoba 
soil scientist Don Flaten

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It’s easier than ever to sell snake oil as a fertilizer, supplement or replacement, so for farmers it’s “buyer beware,” warns Don Flaten, a professor of soil science at the University of Manitoba. “It’s what I’d call the Wild West,” Flaten told agronomists attending an Agvise Laboratories meeting here March 18. “With the Wild West
Don Flaten
Crops, Local news

VIDEO: The difference between ‘snake oil’ and crop products that work

Don Flaten, University of Manitoba professor and soil scientist says, "Does the product have a reliable track record of making farmers money?"

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Since 2013 new fertilizers and plant products can be sold in Canada without first having to prove they work. University of Manitoba professor and soil scientist Don Flaten speaks to Manitoba Co-operator reporter Allan Dawson about distinguishing between an efficacious product and snake oil. Stay tuned for Allan Dawson’s companion article in the upcoming April 2,
The Manitoba Canola Growers Association hosted the third annual CanoLAB at Brandon Assiniboine Community College last week. Area producers and agronomists worked through a number of hands-on workshops to sharpen their canola production proficiencies.  
photo:
Local news, Oilseeds

Exploring canola diagnostics, diseases and deficiencies

CanoLAB participants get a hands-on demonstration 
of the most recent production practices

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Canola and crop production experts provided area producers and agronomists with a one-day, hands-on workshop last week, providing an opportunity to sharpen their production practices for the coming growing season. “We hope that workshops like this will assist the province’s producers and agronomists as they look for ways to innovate and meet market demands. A
Zambian farmer Wilfred Hamakumba and his wife Irene, have embraced herbicides as part of their conservation agriculture management. Over the past several years, the farm’s yields have more than doubled, their crops are more diversified and their farm has expanded in size. Irene is particularly pleased with their spraying program, saying it takes a lot less labour than weeding.
Crops, International news

Can conservation agriculture save Africa’s soils?

Adoption rates are 
slow, but it may be the continent’s best — 
and last — hope

By
It was the end of a very long day. We had travelled to remote areas on bad roads, walked barefoot across a flooding creek and hiked nearly an hour both ways to reach one of the three farmers we were scheduled to visit. We were on the trail of conservation agriculture (CA) success stories, and
man in corn field
Crops, International news

Grow less maize and produce more food

Boosting yield allows seeding less maize as ‘insurance,’ and adding more profitable and nutritious crops to the rotation

By
Christian Thierfelder strides into a plot of maize, reaches down, and scratches through the mulch with his fingers to grab a clump of soil. Holding it up, the senior agronomist with CIMMYT’s Harare field station lets it crumble through his fingers — it is moist but not muddy, and the decaying plant material gives it
NASA rocket launch
Did you know?

Blast off to better soil moisture measures

A NASA satellite to measure water in Earth’s soil has gone into orbit

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An unmanned Delta 2 rocket lifted off from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California Jan. 31 carrying a NASA satellite to measure moisture in the top layer of the Earth’s soil, data to be used in weather forecasting and tracking of global climate change. Soil moisture is a variable that binds together all of
Jeff Penner
Crops, Local news

VIDEO: V-Wing ditcher has multiple uses

Manitoba Ag Days Inventor's Showcase: Hi-Tec Ag invention designed to help reduce soil erosion

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Described as a “landscaping machine,” the V-Wing can profile your land to help improve water flow. By making a wider channel that is less deep than conventional methods, it promotes a slower water flow rate to help reduce soil erosion. The V-Wing can also be used to move snow and for rural road maintenance. Hi-Tec Ag is located

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