Ag News

The governments of Canada and Manitoba have teamed up to announce joint funding to support crop health in the province.

In a press release, the two levels of government indicated that they are providing $4.7 million in grant funding under the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership (Sustainable CAP). Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn says the money will support 36 projects, including several that benefit the future of crop health in Manitoba, under the Research and Innovation Program over the next three years.

Tariffs are set to have a big impact on commodities, with the grain crops across Canada especially feeling the pinch.

With 25 per cent tariffs being put on both sides of the border following the US's original tariffs that came into effect at midnight, prices are expected to rise across the board.

Kyle Larkin, the Executive Director at Grain Growers Canada, says the tariffs will be devastating on both sides of the border.

Jill Verwey of Portage la Prairie has ascended to a prominent national role in Canadian agriculture, being named as the first vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) during its recent annual general meeting in Ottawa. Verwey, a seasoned farmer specializing in cash crops, beef, and dairy, also serves as the president of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), Manitoba's leading farm policy organization.

Nine new projects have been funded under the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) 2024 call for proposals.

BCRC funding to the nine projects totals $1.43 million. Each project brings funding from other sources, leveraging producer funding with over $3.1 million.  

Funding decisions are made by the BCRC's producer council based on priorities identified in the Canadian Beef Research and Technology Transfer Strategy.  

Brandon University is proud to announce that Dr. Bryan Cassone has been awarded the Research Manitoba Innovation Proof-of-Concept Grant for his pioneering project on soybean disease diagnostics.

Dr. Cassone, alongside co-investigators Dr. Baljeet Singh from Assiniboine College and Dr. Chris LeMoine from BU, is developing an innovative molecular-based tool for the rapid and accurate detection of root and stem diseases in soybean crops.

With many producers in Western Canada getting ready for spring seeding and focusing on their seeded acres, it can be easy to overlook those areas that aren’t farmed. Native areas such as shelterbelts, road allowances, and wetlands provide water and nutrient capture for your crop and are key homes for animals and insects that not only benefit agriculture, but the ecosystem as a whole. Dr. Shathi Akhter, research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, talks about the importance of these areas not just from an environmental standpoint, but from an agriculture one as well. 

The Prairie Watershed On-Farm Climate Action Project (PWCP) is expanding, and it's good news for farmers in Manitoba. The project, which has been helping farmers reduce their environmental footprint since 2022, is getting a significant boost from the Canadian government.

Lynda Nicol, Executive Director of the Manitoba Association of Watersheds (MAW), explains how phase one of the program has been a huge success.

Producers looking to keep their stands well-maintained may want to look at other methods such as introducing legumes in order to keep those fit.

Range Management Extension Specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Lynnae Ylinja talks about some of the benefits those can have for crops.

Last week members of Manitoba Beef Producers voted in favor of implementing mandatory livestock inspection with a strong majority vote at their Annual General Meeting in Winnipeg.

Manitoba's neighbors to the west have had mandatory livestock inspection for quite a number of years, but our cattle producers were skeptical about receiving value for the investment.  However, with healthy markets and the increase of cattle theft and fraud over the past few years, having this legislation in place makes sense.

As prairie farmers prepare for the upcoming growing season, entomologist John Gavloski with Manitoba Agriculture is urging them to keep a close eye on flea beetles, an insect that continues to pose challenges for canola growers.

“Flea beetles have been a chronic test for a long time, and I would say just bank on the fact that they're going to be there in high levels,” 

He eXplained that ideal growing conditions could minimize the need for foliar spraying, but if cooler weather lingers and delays plant development, flea beetles could become a much bigger problem.