Sustainable agriculture Archives - Page 6 of 37

Doing the math on intercropping

Rocket science starts to look easy when farmers delve into the complexity of this system

By Alexis Stockford November 29, 2018

On the surface intercropping is a simple idea — grow two crops together in one field and take advantage of the synergies that result. Proponents say it helps build the farm’s bottom line and soil health while lowering dependence on expensive inputs. But underneath that simple idea is an array of complicated decisions and compounding

Elie-area farmer Alex Boersch has been inspired by nutrition farming techniques and is now trying them out on his family farm. In the background is specialized equipment the farm now uses for solubilizing and mixing dry fertilizers or soil conditioners such as humates.

Crops, Local news, Other

‘Nutrition farming’ techniques key to Elie farm operation

Alex Boersch sees potential in the soil-building approach to make farming more profitable, sustainable and even more fun

By Lorraine Stevenson November 28, 2018

An Elie-area farm family didn’t know exactly what they were in for when they signed up for a short course on ‘nutrition farming’ a couple of years back. But the Boerschs, who farm a 5,000-acre commercial grain farm, figured there had to be something to it. Their son, Alex, who’d recently left his grain trading

Livestock integration will likely feature heavily when the MFGA regenerative agriculture conference comes to Brandon  November 27-28.

Forages, Local news

Regenerative agriculture gets ready for the spotlight in Brandon

The Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association is gearing up for its regenerative agriculture conference later this month

By Alexis Stockford November 14, 2018

An upcoming conference in Brandon will examine how to build up land, rather than just harvesting from it. The Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association is preparing for its first-ever regenerative agriculture conference Nov. 27 and 28, with the theme “Adapting to Today’s Food and Farming World.” MFGA says it’s hoping a lineup of producer testimony

A tour attendee takes a closer look at quinoa variety trials near Melita.

Crops, Local news

To the bin or bust: quinoa a risky proposition

Producers find new challenges with the South American transplant

By Alexis Stockford October 3, 2018

Five years after planting his first quinoa crop, Ryan Pengelly of Tamarack Farms near Erickson has tasted success and failure. He’s placed his direct-marketed product on retail shelves and in farmers’ market stalls. He’s also experienced total crop failures other years. Pengelly, like other producers pioneering quinoa in Manitoba, is looking for agronomic answers in

Manitoba Agriculture soil management specialist Marla Riekman wants farmers to consider “tillage rotation.”

Crops, Local news

Consider tillage rotation for improved soil management

High-speed, aggressive tillage can erode fields, especially in hilly terrain

By Allan Dawson September 13, 2018

There’s crop rotation, herbicide rotation and now Marla Riekman is advocating for tillage rotation. “There is the idea of rotational tillage where you can use some of your tillage options and use them in the most appropriate spots in your crop rotation,” Manitoba Agriculture’s soil management specialist said in an interview Sept. 7. Riekman isn’t

Manitoba Agriculture’s Marla Riekman digs into the soil strata below the Canada-Manitoba  Crop Diversification Centre potato site near Carberry Aug. 14.

Crops

Tips for growing ’taters

Growing potatoes requires disturbing the soil, so how does that mesh with soil conservation efforts? According to provincial experts, it can

By Alexis Stockford September 4, 2018

Soil advocates want potato growers to bump soil management up their priority list. Marla Riekman, soil management specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, pitched soil management principles to growers and agronomists at Carberry’s Canada-Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre potato tour Aug. 14. Erosion risk The root crop, by its nature, involves disturbing soil, something that soil health advocates

News, Other

Made-in-Canada sustainability approach gains support

The ALL initiative is endorsed at the G20 ag ministers' meeting for putting research into fields

By Alex Binkley August 29, 2018

The world needs more Canada — at least when it comes to a sustainable agriculture initiative that’s garnered global attention. The Canadian-led initiative called Agroecosystems Living Labs (ALL) shows how to raise food sustainably in the face of climate change. It has been endorsed at the annual meeting of G20 agriculture ministers. ALL brings scientists,

A farm in Switzerland. (Funky-data/iStock/Getty Images)

Swiss government urges voters to reject more state help for farmers

By GFM Network News August 21, 2018

Zurich | Reuters — The Swiss government urged voters on Tuesday to reject more help for farmers and other proposals for agriculture in a referendum next month, saying they would send food prices rocketing and hurt the economy. Switzerland will two hold referendums on Sept. 23 — one on giving more state support to farmers

4-H members get a first-hand look at Ryan Boyd’s swath grazing system Oct. 21, 2017, during the Manitoba 4-H Council Senior Members Event.

News

Can Canada have its cake and eat it too on exports?

There are challenges ahead if Canada wants to meet the Barton Report’s export targets without natural resources picking up the tab

By Alexis Stockford July 9, 2018

If Canada wants to grow its agriculture exports sustainably in the coming years, it’s going to need more farmers like Forrest-area producer Ryan Boyd. In recent years he’s tested new intercrop mixes and cover crops, hosted field and pasture tours, showcased a solar watering system and shared his forays into swath and high density grazing.

Yvonne Lawley (l) presenting tillage research to growers at a field meeting last summer.

Crops, Oilseeds

Soybeans raise tillage issues

As the low-residue crop creeps into new areas, new techniques are needed

By Gord Gilmour April 16, 2018

Agriculture researcher Yvonne Lawley doesn’t want Manitoba farmers to rethink soybeans — she wants them to consider techniques to incorporate them into their production system more safely. The University of Manitoba professor says the crop’s earned a reputation as a soil buster, and at times that’s warranted. But they also bring a lot to the

Daily Network News

Women who fed a nation

U.S. grains: Soybeans rise on China demand hopes; corn and wheat rebound

U.S. livestock: Hogs rebound, cattle hit upward limits

Tag Archives Sustainable agriculture