KPPA hires new general manager

May 17, 2023

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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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.