Planting across Manitoba progressed during the week ended June 16 despite cool, wet and windy weather, including small tornadoes.

Manitoba Crop Report: Planting progresses despite wild weather

Canola Council urges flea beetle vigilance
The annual fight with flea beetles pressure is about to begin for Prairie producers
Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Canola Council of Canada agronomist and insect management lead Keith Gabert is warning producers about flea beetles. “The biggest challenge with flea beetles is we just don’t know,” he said. “We really can’t predict this particular insect pest, which is really humbling because it’s our No. 1 insect pest.” To help producers […] Read more

France revamps pesticide reduction plan in wake of farmer unrest
Paris | Reuters – France unveiled on Monday a revised plan to halve pesticide use in the European Union’s biggest agricultural producer, pledging to adopt an EU indicator and boost research into alternatives in a nod to grievances voiced in farmer protests this year. Why it’s important Environmental regulation was one of the main factors […] Read more

Schoepp: For sale signs of the times
Should farms consider ecological diversity as a risk management tool?
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s spring and the time of year that farmland often changes hands. The “for sale” sign signals an end to trial and triumph and always invites curious conversations. This spring, there is an increase of sales in certain sectors. Sales driven by land stress and owners’ inability to financially weather another storm. Tree fruits and […] Read more

Cutworms already causing problems in some parts of province
The best way to control cutworms is to scout
Reading Time: < 1 minute Even though the weather is cold, cutworms have already been active in the province, said Shelley Barkley, a field scout with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation. There have been reports of cutworms in winter wheat in the southeast corner of Alberta, as well as in a field of 2023 seeded forage in the Calgary area. Cutworms […] Read more

How to get the most out of canola crops when moisture is scarce
Is it possible to obtain more yield with less available moisture? You have a number of variables within your control
Reading Time: 4 minutes Trevor Hadwen says recent snowfall in many parts of the Prairies is welcome, but is a “drop in the bucket” when it comes to rebuilding soil moisture reserves. The agroclimate specialist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s National Agroclimate Information Service in Regina says a lot of the winter precipitation to date has been lost to […] Read more

Alberta company deploys worm army to improve soils
Annelida Soil Solutions won an innovation award for its soil amendment based on worm castings
Reading Time: 4 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – An Alberta company wants to turn poop from about 80 million worms into a natural superfood for the soil. “Essentially, what we’re doing is using Mother Nature and creating a soil microbiome through our technology,” said Jamie DePape, co-founder and director of sales for Annelida Soil Solutions Ltd. “And it might sound […] Read more

Prepping for the 2024 canola crop
Planning for crop stresses now will set growers up for success when it is time to act: agronomists
Reading Time: 5 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Winter isn’t exactly prime time to scout for insects, diseases and weeds, but last year’s pests may provide a baseline to help prepare for the next canola crop, agronomists say. “Review the challenges you had last year and have a plan in place as to how you’re going to handle them this […] Read more

Ag chem maker FMC looks to sell non-core assets
Reuters — Crop protection products maker FMC Corp. has launched a strategic review of its non-core assets, including a potential sale of its non-crop business. A slowdown in demand for herbicide and pesticides as well as excess inventories had resulted in large destocking in South America, denting the U.S.-based company’s earnings for much of the […] Read more

Prairie Forecast Update: Warmer air not in the cards
Issued Oct. 29, covering Oct. 29 to Nov. 1
The forecast for this period has been playing out pretty close to what the weather models were predicting, but with a few small differences. For Alberta, the forecasted upper ridge does not look like it will get nearly as strong as originally forecasted as a strong northwesterly flow helps to flatten the ridge. This means […] Read more