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KPPA hires new general manager

The Keystone Potato Producers Association board has a new general manager.

Susan Ainsworth is replacing Dan Sawatzky effective September 1, 2023.

Sawatzky will be working with Ainsworth over the next few months which will help with a smoother transition.

He says her past experience and exposure within the potato industry make her a perfect choice.

Ainsworth has worked in various roles within the potato industry in Manitoba over the past 26 years and has experience at numerous levels including retail, government, post-secondary education, industry and on-farm.

She has a bachelor of science in agriculture from the University of Manitoba and recently completed a master’s in business administration from the Shannon School of Business at Cape Breton University. 

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Trending Video

Supplemental Nitrogen on Soybeans: Can Early Nitrogen Increase Yield?

Video: Supplemental Nitrogen on Soybeans: Can Early Nitrogen Increase Yield?

Can supplemental nitrogen help soybeans reach higher yield potential? Technical Agronomist Tim Sickman walks through an ongoing trial at the Nutrien Innovation Farm in Owensboro, Kentucky, exploring whether a modest amount of nitrogen applied at planting can support higher-yielding soybean environments.

The trial compares 30 pounds of supplemental nitrogen across both 15- and 30-inch rows, along with treatments that include sulfur and micronutrients. Similar trials conducted in 2024 and 2025 delivered a six- to seven-bushel yield response, prompting the team to expand the research this season.

Early observations show that treated soybeans are slightly taller and averaging about two additional nodes on the main stem. These added nodes could create more opportunities for blooms and pods, but the true results will come at harvest when the team evaluates pod development, seed fill and final yield.

In This Video:

Why high-yield soybeans may need supplemental nitrogen

Results from the 2024 and 2025 trials

Nitrogen treatments in 15- and 30-inch rows

Fertilizer placement and application methods

Differences in plant height and node counts

Potential effects on pod development and yield