Say it’s been about a month and a half since your canola has been in the ground. Do you know if you’re on track toward an even plant stand and optimum yield, or do you still have some work to do? A new online tool can help producers find out by entering a few numbers […] Read more
Count your canola for best results
Online tool helps producers assess plant stands and minimize seed loss
Tips to conserve soil moisture and manage weeds this spring
Plus, where tillage fits in and how and when it could be used
Although it has only been on most farmers’ radars for the last couple of decades, no-till production has become a modern-day success story, with well over half of Canadian farmland now being farmed under its practices. However, no till relies heavily on herbicides to manage weeds and retain soil moisture. And with key herbicides like […] Read more
Beneficial insects play key roles on Prairie farms
The benefits of beneficials are many and varied, some parasitize or feed on crop pests while others can pollinate crops and improve seed set
A growing number of crop producers are recognizing the role of beneficial insects on their farms. It seems like just about every crop pest has a natural enemy that can keep their populations at bay, while many crops have beneficials that aid their growth and sustainability. Stuart Lawrence, Dean Hubbard and Ian Steppler are three […] Read more
‘Take time to account for time’ and other spraying advice
Tom Wolf and Ian Epp offer tips for in-crop spray applications in canola
February may seem early to think about a spraying strategy for the coming growing season but doing so now may pay off later in weed kill and crop yield. This is the take-home message from a 2021 Manitoba Canola Growers webinar on in-crop spraying, hosted by Jay Whetter of the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) […] Read more
Nitrogen fertilizer requirements for dry beans: new emerging guidelines
Research indicates Manitoba growers may be applying too much nitrogen — assess nodules and/or start on-farm trials
If you’re a dry bean grower in Manitoba, you may be spending too much on supplemental nitrogen even when staying within the province’s recommendations, says Kristen MacMillan, a research agronomist for the University of Manitoba’s department of plant science. A five-site-year study conducted by MacMillan revealed using no nitrogen fertilizer on pinto and navy beans […] Read more
Latest recommendations on soybean management in Manitoba
Optimum seeding depths and seeding windows, fungicide efficacy and whether to intercrop or relay crop — or not
If you plant soybeans in Manitoba, you may have wondered about seeding in late spring, ideal seeding depth, fungicide efficacy and other facets of soybean production in recent years. Kristen MacMillan, a research agronomist for the University of Manitoba’s department of plant science, has the answers to several important soybean production questions, on which soybean […] Read more
The dos (and one don’t) of on-farm ag waste management
Cleanfarms offers tips to manage plastics and other farm waste
Most farmers today recognize the necessity of managing agricultural waste such as empty containers, bags and baler twine — they don’t want to throw it in a ditch to deal with later because that time may never come. On the other hand, it’s one of many things that need to be dealt with on a […] Read more
Bag it up, ship it out, move on
The programs available to farmers to safely — and easily — dispose of ag waste with Cleanfarms
Keeping a clean farmyard is an easy sell for most producers. Even if it’s something individual farmers may struggle with, it’s still a goal for most growers wishing to be good neighbours and set an example for their industry. However, keeping a clean farm doesn’t stop at the farm gate. In recent years, recycling end-of-life […] Read more
Insect pests to watch for in 2021
Provincial experts discuss top pest threats for your region and offer tips for scouting
It’s easy for farmers to get “scouted out.” Between crop diseases, destructive crop insects and simply checking for yield and growth stage, scouting can be a full-time job in and of itself. Knowing what to focus on can help. Experts across the Prairies are weighing in on the most likely insect threats for the 2021 […] Read more
Stopping the spread of wild oats
There’s a fresh focus on the decades-old problem of herbicide-resistant wild oats
There are a number of things from the 1970s few people wish to see return: leisure suits, avocado-coloured bathroom fixtures and platform shoes may come to mind. But if you’re a crop farmer, there’s a more serious threat from that era making a comeback — wild oats. Sixty-nine per cent of wild oats across the […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
