Excessive moisture in Manitoba from the Victoria Day long weekend might result in more crop insurance claims than frost. “From our perspective the amount of rain and snow that came with this storm is probably as big a concern as the frost itself,” David Van Deynze, Manitoba Agricultural Services Corp.’s manager of claim services, said […] Read more
Dawson: Moisture may trigger more Man. crop claims than frost
Study finds Manitoba ready for soy crushing
The rise of soybeans as a cash crop in and around Manitoba, and the availability of hogs to dine on soy meal, could support Western Canada’s first-ever soybean crushing plant, a new study finds. The feasibility study, run by Winnipeg-based Mercantile Venture Consulting and backed by the federal and Manitoba governments, shows a Manitoba crushing […] Read more
Minnesota bans bird exhibitions over avian flu
Minneapolis | Reuters –– Minnesota officials on Friday banned all bird exhibitions in the state this year, including at the Minnesota State Fair, in response to an outbreak of avian influenza that has affected farms around the Midwest. Exhibitions at fairs, swap meets, exotic sales and petting zoos must not include birds for the rest […] Read more
Former Man. agriculture minister won’t run again
Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger’s first agriculture minister plans to exit the provincial political arena. Stan Struthers, the MLA since 1995 for what’s now the Dauphin riding, and agriculture minister from 2009 to 2011, announced Wednesday he won’t seek re-election when the next provincial vote is held in April 2016. Struthers, a high school principal at […] Read more
Farm business tax credits on tap in Manitoba budget
Expansions and extensions for tax credits of use to Manitoba farmers and small agribusinesses were laid out Thursday in the province’s latest budget. Finance Minister Greg Dewar’s plan calls for an expansion of the province’s small business venture capital tax credit, broadening its list of eligible businesses to include “non-traditional farming” ventures, as well as […] Read more
Drier bias seen on horizon for Manitoba
CNS Canada — Warm and dry weather is allowing for a good start to spring seeding in Manitoba, but that dryness could pose problems down the road as its longer-term outlook is also on the dry side, according to meteorologist Drew Lerner. Temperatures on Thursday in Manitoba were hitting levels more normally seen in the […] Read more
Man. bean area likely to beat StatsCan forecast
CNS Canada — Early indications from Statistics Canada call for a sharp reduction in edible bean plantings in Manitoba, but actual area likely won’t be down by that much on the year, a provincial specialist says. StatsCan’s planting intentions report on Thursday predicted Manitoba farmers intend to plant 75,000 acres of edible beans in 2015, […] Read more
Man. corn planting seen starting last week of April
CNS Canada –– The dry bias to this year’s spring, along with recent warm temperatures, leads one Manitoba agronomist to conclude corn will soon be going into the ground. “By the last week in April… unless some weather shift happens,” said Morgan Cott, agronomist for the Manitoba Corn Growers Association. Excess moisture shortened last year’s […] Read more
Manitoba lifts fertilizing ban early
Manitoba farmers are cleared to apply spring fertilizer and manure on their fields, now that the ban which was supposed to last for another week and a half has been lifted. Soil temperatures across the province have risen to the point that the restriction — otherwise in effect each year between Nov. 10 and the following […] Read more
Minogue: Rebalance your fields’ phosphorus bank accounts
While your crop rotations and your seeding practices have evolved into something your grandfather might not recognize, recommended phosphorous guidelines for Manitoba farmers haven’t changed in more than 20 years. Over the past year, Manitoba soil fertility experts came together to fill this gap. John Heard (Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development), Cindy Grant (Agriculture […] Read more
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