We are looking for farmers with fields in the Black soil zone of Manitoba and Saskatchewan to participate in an on-farm study. Would you be interested in participating? We want to collect information and samples from fields with different types of management history, ranging from only annual crops, to only perennial crops. We are particularly interested in the "in-between" fields - those that have some diversification or "perennialization" with cover crops, perennials in rotation, or other approaches. For the study, you as the farmer will manage your fields normally and researchers will collect samples in 2025, 2026, and/or 2027. Fields should have at least 10 years of relatively consistent land use or type of rotation and be accessible by all-weather road. Researchers will also interview you about crop management practices such as rotations, fertilizer application, weed and pest management, tillage, and so on. If you are interested in participating or are not sure but would like m
Cool, wet conditions prevailed during May and June in Manitoba, resulting in delayed seeding and slow crop growth at the start of the season. By the end of May, the majority of the province had received more than 150% of normal rainfall. Some areas, like Eden, had even received more than 300% of normal rainfall. The Northwest region experienced a truly challenging spring, with many unseeded acres by crop insurance deadlines. With all this rain, cropping plans needed to change on a dime and this showcased the flexibility of soybeans. Seeding dates for this crop are flexible throughout the month of May and respectable yields can still be achieved into June. In terms of rotation planning, in many fields we can often get away with soybeans-on-soybeans in a pinch, largely since our more challenging soybean diseases aren’t known to occur at great levels in Manitoba. We don’t want to do this every year, but when plans need to change, soybeans have that flexibility. Saturated soil conditions
Ag is a way of life, not just a job, the minister says
Agri-Culture Agriculture is more than a business. It is a way of life and it is made up of people. Farmers are deeply committed to the land, their animals, their families, and their rural communities. At the same time, farming can be one of the world’s most dangerous, risky and stressful occupations. So many factors are outside of one’s control in farming: weather pests high input costs low profit margins volatile markets government policies technological changes lack of a ‘safety net’ to name just a few… When one’s business and way of life is threatened, stress levels can be dramatically high on the farm. Farm Stress A recent national study has found that Canadian farmers are experiencing high levels of stress, burnout, depressive symptoms, and signs of anxiety. They also scored lower on norms of resilience (‘National Survey of Farmers Mental Health’, Dr Andria Jones-Bitton, 2016). At the same time, many farmers are not seeking help for stress or mental health concerns, citing sti
Canadians met our friendly neighbourhood Canadian Canola a year ago through a digitally-led Hello Canola campaign targeting millennials aged 25-49 in densely populated areas of English-speaking Canada. Approximately one in 10 Canadians surveyed recognized the face and recalled the message. That’s a good start. The National Canola Marketing Program (NCMP) is a partnership of SaskCanola, Alberta Canola and Manitoba Canola Growers that was more than five years in the making to secure program approval and funding, and align on a launch plan. “We wanted our grower directors to come to the table ready to let go of the old strategy,” says Jenn Dyck, market development director with Manitoba Canola Growers. “And on top of that, we needed to create a program that provided maximum impact for the budget, which meant important, and sometimes difficult, conversations to set expectations.” Before launching Hello Canola, the NCMP used a Leger omnibus survey of Canadians to establish their baseline
