It’s no surprise that soil tests back in the fall of 2021 revealed record carryover levels of nutrients in areas where we suffered reduced yields due to drought. This residual nitrate-nitrogen can be viewed as “money in the bank” in reducing the needs for expensive purchased nitrogen (N) fertilizer this spring. However, I’ve also heard […] Read more
Stories by Manitoba Agriculture
Excess rain stresses Manitoba crop: provincial crop report
The following is the weekly crop report from Manitoba Agriculture: Weekly Provincial Summary Many areas of Manitoba received significant amounts of rainfall over the weekend, adding to the rainfall already received over the past few weeks. The wet and cool weather conditions continue to impact crops as symptoms of excess moisture stress, including yellowing and […] Read more
Spittlebugs in trefoil cause little damage
This summer, Brent Elliott, an entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture, received many calls about spittlebugs in trefoil. Elliot said the species in Manitoba trefoil fields is the meadow spittlebug, or Philaenus spumarius. Spittlebugs are small, soft bodied insects closely related to leafhoppers. They feed by sucking plant juices, like leafhoppers, but seldom cause economic damage. They […] Read more
Brown stripe can attack grasses in cool, wet fall
In recent years, grasses in Manitoba have fallen victim to various stripe and streak diseases, according to Philip Northover, a plant pathologist with Manitoba Agriculture. Brown stripe and brown leaf streak are caused by the fungus Cercosporidium graminis. The symptoms have been reported on timothy and orchardgrass. Fescues, bluegrasses, bentgrasses and meadow foxtail also could […] Read more
Take measures to manage moisture in hay
The primary goal in forage pro- duction is to preserve quality until it can be fed. Harvest losses can derail a hay producer’s plan for top quality forage. Losses can range from 10 percent for grass hay to 35 percent for legumes. These losses can be avoided by understanding how they occur. Do not rotate […] Read more
Endophytes lurk in grass seed straw
Interest in adding grass seed production residues to cattle rations has been increasing in Manitoba, but a government forage specialist in that province is urging caution. Glenn Friesen said livestock disorders have been observed in parts of Western Canada where turf-type perennial ryegrass and tall fescue residues were fed. These disorders, known as fescue foot […] Read more
Organic rotations stress variety
An organic crops field lab at the University of Manitoba’s Carman research station is providing a long-term site for plot-scale organic field crops research. John Hollinger, an organic business development specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, said the practices used in the field lab are applicable to any conventional or organic grain farm that doesn’t have livestock […] Read more
Foxtail barley problem on the rise on Prairies
Difficult growing conditions in many areas of Western Canada have made some crops less competitive, providing an opening for weeds like foxtail barley to gain a foothold. “We’re seeing a fair amount more of foxtail barley in Manitoba and I imagine it’s the same for a lot of Western Canada. We’re seeing more of it […] Read more
Green alfalfa not bloat safe after frost
With the end of the growing season approaching, many producers may consider grazing their final harvest of alfalfa, but they need to pay careful attention to nitrate toxicity. Frost will not typically cause nitrate toxicity in alfalfa, but it is always recommended to test the crop, especially if background nitrogen levels are high. Nitrate concerns […] Read more
Test forage crops to determine nitrate levels
Nitrates are the most important issue when thinking about harvesting stressed crops for feed, says Glenn Friesen, a forage business development specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. When growing conditions are normal, nitrates are not bad. The building blocks for proteins, they are absorbed by the roots and sent to the leaves where the sun’s energy turns […] Read more
