Manitoba farmers have two extra days to apply fertilizer this fall.
The province announced today that manure and synthetic fertilizer application is now permitted until Nov. 12.
“Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship advises soil temperatures have not yet reached the freezing point, so the winter nutrient application ban has been delayed,” the government said in a release.
In 2011, the province established regulations where farmers couldn’t apply fertilizer after Nov. 10 or before April 10. The measures were part of broader legislation to protect Manitoba lakes, rivers and streams.
Farmers and Keystone Agricultural Producers opposed the hard deadlines because there are years when it’s possible to apply fertilizer in late November.
The province listened and earlier his year established a system based on soil temperatures, the weather forecast and snow cover. Manitoba Conservation will extend the deadline for several days when conditions are suitable.
For more information on Manitoba’s nutrient application regulations, go to www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/waterstewardship/wqmz/winter_app_nutrients.html.
