Ag News

The recent rains have helped to improve crop and pasture conditions, with most areas reporting 100 per cent of normal precipitation since May 1st. The central and northern parts of the Interlake and Eastern regions have accumulated less than 100 per cent of the 30-year average.

Dennis Lange puts together Manitoba's Weekly Crop Report and says the rain has helped to move things along nicely.

The quest for a magic formula that transforms a commodity with very little value into a commodity with a much greater value has been underway since currency trade replaced the barter of goods and services. The Brother’s Grimm published a fable in the early 1800’s of a little man that spun straw into gold. One of the goals of many alchemists’ was to turn iron ore into gold. While the cow is not traditionally considered a mythical creature, she is capable of converting low value commodities such as straw, into a commodity of greater value, beef.

Canola producers will want to monitor crop emergence closely for any signs of flea beetle damage. 

The insect overwinters as an adult and wakes up hungry, with activity increasing as the temperature warms up. 

Canola Council of Canada Agronomist Keith Gabert says the insects can cause a lot of damage in a short period of time, which is why scouting the crop on a regular basis is so important.

The key is to stay ahead of the insect by getting a good emergence and stand establishment with five to eight plants per square foot up and growing vigorously.

Premier Danielle Smith sent the below letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding the steep economic impacts of potential rail and port strikes:

The Canadian Cattle Youth Council nominations are closing this Friday (May17).

The Council aims to help prepare beef cattle farmer and ranchers from the ages 18 to 40 for future leadership roles through professional development.

Brodie Haugan, Chair of Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) explains what it all entails.

The first crop report of the season shows 18 per cent of the provincial crop is in the ground, which is ahead of both the five and ten-year averages of 12 per cent. 

Seeding of most crops is now underway with the Peace, Central and Southern Regions being the most advanced.

Provincially,  61 per cent of the potatoes are in, followed by 46 per cent of the durum 38 per cent of the peas and lentils, 35 per cent of the mustard, 32 per cent of the corn and 23 per cent of the spring wheat.

Last Thursday, Canada's Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan requested clarity from the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) on whether or not the movement of propane qualifies as an essential service that would have to be maintained during a labour disruption.

CN Rails Assistant Vice President of Grain, David Przednowek says, as a result of that request, there can be no labour disruption before the Industrial Relations Board issues a decision.

Seeding progress has been delayed across the province with the recent rains

Pulse and Soybean Specialist Dennis Lange puts together the weekly report and says timing of the rain was ideal.

"In the last week, just based on the weather report, rainfall levels were anywhere from four mm all the way up to 37 mm across the province. It has delayed the seeding over the last week. So we haven't moved a whole lot we're sitting at about four per cent complete. "

Provincially, 12 per cent of the crop is in, that's behind the five year average (2019-2023) of 23 per cent. Seeding is most advanced in the southwest at 23 percent, followed by the southeast at 16 per cent, the northwest at eight per cent and the west-central region at five per cent

The recent rainfall has been a welcome sight in many areas with amounts varying across the province, the most rainfall recorded in the Moose Jaw area at 103 mm.

Spring seeding is off to a good start across the Prairies, but producers are being reminded to monitor the crop closely for weed, disease and insect concerns. 

Dr. Meghan Vankosky, a research scientist with a focus on entamology at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, says its important that farmers scout their crops on a regular basis.