Farming decisions always seem to come back to economics, and whether to do a pre-harvest treatment for perennial weed control or harvest management is no exception. But there are many other considerations such as crop type, geographic location, weather and even trade risks that contribute to that decision, says Clark Brenzil, provincial weed specialist with […] Read more
Two good reasons for pre-harvest herbicide
Pre-harvest application can give you better weed control and simplify harvest. But know the residue rules
Linear measuring points to better grass-fed genetics
A Manitoba grass-fed beef producer uses a set of homemade calipers to select the best cattle
As consumers continue to drive demand for grass-fed beef, some producers are rethinking their cattle genetics to select for animals that will be the most productive on forages. Brian Harper has been using linear measuring as part of his beef genetic selection process since 2007, and has seen steady improvements in the quality of his […] Read more
The right amount of nitrogen for soybeans
Between hearing of U.S. farmers adding extra nitrogen, and warnings about choosing fields with low nitrogen for soybeans, it’s easy to get confused
Some western Canadian farmers new to soybeans are understandably a little confused about the issue of whether or not they need to add nitrogen fertilizer to achieve better yields, especially if they are sourcing production information from the U.S. Differences in soils types, conditions and crop rotations mean that U.S. information isn’t necessarily applicable to […] Read more
Researchers looking for greenhouse gas answers on the farm
Agriculture Canada researchers are not only working to identify where most greenhouse gases (GHG) are produced on Canadian beef and dairy operations, but also the greater challenge of finding economical and practical strategies for reducing emissions. Because methane from cow-calf operations and dairy farms is the largest contributor to the overall agriculture GHG picture, the […] Read more
Private crop insurance
Saskatchewan-based Global Ag Risk Solutions is offering Prairie farmers a private option to insure their production costs
How do you like the sound of crop insurance that guarantees a gross margin on your production, covers you when prices tank, provides something that the bank will lend against and gives you the kind of confidence that lets you sleep through the worst thunderstorm of the season? Sounds too good to be true doesn’t […] Read more
Animal welfare remains beef industry priority
Growing consumer interest in where and how livestock is raised is bringing animal welfare issues to the forefront in many different ways. Explaining to non-farming residents and consumers the basics of proper livestock production practices is one part of the challenge, but also researching and adopting improved animal welfare practices is another important part of […] Read more
Do-it-yourself tile drainage
Combine easy-to-use GPS technology with high land prices, and more Manitoba farmers are installing their own tile draining
Tile drainage has become increasingly popular in Manitoba. With only a few installers to go around and costs anywhere from $800 to $1,000 per acre, some adventurous farmers are opting to give it a go themselves. Northern Plains Drainage Systems Inc. of Carman has sold over 50 tile plows to farmers across Western Canada in […] Read more
Next generation biofuels
In this second part of a two-part series on biofuels, Anglela Lovell considers next generation biofuels and the future of biofuels
The petroleum industry is perfectly aware that the golden days of cheap oil aren’t going to last forever. Although there’s still a lot of oil in the world it’s getting harder and costlier to access. Most of the really good pure oil, called sweet crude, which is easily refined into products, keeping production costs down, […] Read more
New crops and climates drive crop insurance changes
Soybean coverage is expanded in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Alberta adds more weather stations to monitor corn heat units and Manitoba curbs winter wheat re-seeding benefits
As anyone who has ever bought insurance knows, it’s an exercise in “pay and pray” — that is, pray that you won’t need it. Crop insurance is certainly no different but, as climates change and localized weather patterns become predictably more unpredictable, few farmers these days can afford to be without it. That’s certainly true in Manitoba, where […] Read more
Understanding biofuels
In the first of a two-part series, Angela Lovell cuts through the biofuel business confusion
Ethanol, biodiesel, cellulosic, second generation, next generation — even the terms associated with biofuels are confusing, so it’s hardly surprising that a lot of people aren’t too clear about what biofuels are, what they can be made from, how they are made and how likely it is that biofuels are going to end up in […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
