Fast-growing cattails sequester phosphorus. Harvesting them might be good for the environment, and better yet — it might be good for your bottom line
Harvesting cattails from the ditches, low spots and sloughs on your farm, could one day lower your fertilizer and energy costs. At least that’s the aim of a research study in Manitoba that’s focused on reducing the nutrient loading to Lake Winnipeg. The major study is being conducted at Netley-Libau Marsh by the International Institute […] Read morePotential for benefits from cattails
Touring Cigi’s facilities
The Canadian International Grain Institute (Cigi) occupies several floors of 303 Main Street in Winnipeg. Here’s a quick virtual tour. The Pilot Flour Mill On the 11th floor is a Buhler commercial flour mill, scaled down and outfitted with the latest technology that allows it to provide a full commercial evaluation of the milling characteristics […] Read more
Cigi: Learning to Live in the Spotlight
Your wheat and barley dollars are now directly funding the Canadian International Grains Institute. Find out what Cigi is doing for you
After surveying farmers this past May the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) discovered that many weren’t all that familiar with the Winnipeg based organisation and knew very little about what it does. That’s hardly surprising because for the past forty years Cigi has primarily played a support role in providing technical marketing services to the Canadian Wheat […] Read moreNew online grain marketing resource
There is a new alternative for Western Canadian farmers looking for new markets for their grain. Farmlead.com promises to help facilitate connections between buyers and sellers. Farmlead.com is the brainchild of Brennan Turner, who based its design on similar programs currently being used successfully in Australia. The online resource allows buyers and sellers of a […] Read more
Manitoba’s outstanding young farmers
Creativity, attention to detail and teamwork are the main reasons Dustin and Laura Williams are holding the title of Manitoba’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2012. Dustin is a fifth generation farmer who, after completing the agricultural diploma program at the University of Manitoba, came back to farm full time with his wife Laura in 2001. The Williams […] Read more
Selling grain to the U.S.
Some farmers selling to the U.S. prefer to use a broker, others go it alone. Try these tips to help with both of these approaches
Whether you choose to go with an established grain broker or try to sell direct to a U.S. buyer, there are a few things it’s probably best to know in advance as you develop a successful marketing strategy for your wheat and barley. 3 basic tips First, a few basic tips for farmers considering selling […] Read moreTake-all in durum
White heads in spring wheat, durum and winter wheat crops across the Prairies this season have led some farmers to send in samples for testing, suspecting that the cause might be take-all disease. No positive samples The cause of white heads in wheat can be a number of things including common root rot, aster yellows, […] Read more
Damaged crops more susceptible to Goss’s wilt
The bacterial disease Goss’s wilt has become more prevalent in Manitoba corn fields, but its severity is depends on local weather conditions
Goss’s wilt is a bacterial disease which causes leaf and vascular blight. It can result in severely wilted plants and significant yield loss. Plants damaged by hail, wind or sand-blasting are susceptible to infection by the bacteria, which overwinters in corn stubble. Wet weather and high humidity favour development of the disease. “The severity varies […] Read moreFeed shortages
Some short supplies in Western Canada, and U.S. cattle producers are also looking to buy Canadian hay
Feed shortages may be on the minds of some cattle producers this year, but it will most likely depend on where they live. Good supplies in Saskatchewan Shortages are not much on the minds of Saskatchewan producers at the moment, with the Saskatchewan Forage Council (SFC) reporting 2012 has been another good year, thanks to […] Read moreTiming critical for fall herbicide application
Choosing the right application window for pre- and post-harvest weed control can be a guessing game. Follow this guide to fall application timing and cool-weather spraying
As fall progresses, post- harvest herbicide application becomes a bit trickier. Effectiveness will be influenced by factors such as temperature, target weeds, the amount of frost damage and the products being used. Timing is critical. “One of the primary challenges with a post-harvest herbicide application is whether you are going to have enough time for re-growth after harvest,” says […] Read moreCyber-Savvy Farmer
