Governments support crop health projects through research and innovation

Feb 14, 2025

The governments of Canada and Manitoba are providing $4.7 million in grant funding under the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to 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, federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced today at CropConnect.

The Research and Innovation Program supports the development of science-based solutions and tools that address known challenges, prepare for potential disruptions and climate threats, and capture emerging opportunities in the agriculture and agri-food sector. The program provides funding to eligible applicants for research and capacity building projects aimed at promoting the agriculture sector's growth and sustainability, helping to put Manitoba at the forefront of sustainable agriculture research.

Funding will support 36 projects across Manitoba, including:

Manitoba Crop Alliance: research how crop residues influence soil, water, and carbon and weed populations.
University of Manitoba: creation of genomic selection models to improve the efficiency of winter wheat breeding.
Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers: identify resistance sources for soybeans root rot and assess the impact of inoculation strategies.
Agriculture and Agri-food Canada: development of molecular markers to breed improved oat varieties.

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Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.