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
‘Take time to account for time’ and other spraying advice
Tom Wolf and Ian Epp offer tips for in-crop spray applications in canola
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
Crops and saline soils
Plant something, but choose carefully
When it comes to planting most annual cash crops on saline land, Lyle Cowell does not mince words: stop. “When a cattle farm has a cow that is no longer productive, that cattle farmer will not continue to try to breed that cow. It will be culled,” says the agronomist with Nutrien Ag Solutions in […] Read more
Saskatchewan organic producer wins with chicken manure
Pelletized, cooked manure an organic fertilizer solution
Ask Boyd Charles what he considers his happiest day as a farmer and he’ll probably tell you it was the day he sold his sprayer. “I was tired of giving away most of my profit to the chemical companies,” he says of his decision to become an organic farmer in 1996. He hasn’t looked back. […] Read more
Organic farming veteran offers some truth and tips
Thinking of going organic? Back up a little
There are a number of reasons why farmers might want to try their hand at organic farming. Reports of premiums based on the demand for organic foods might be one. Cutting expensive chemical inputs out of your budget can also be a major incentive. However, if you’re only looking at organic farming through a financial […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
