Lack Of Snow, Too Early To Panic

Feb 28, 2018

A local spokesperson for Manitoba Agriculture says it is still too early to know what sort of impact this winter's lack of snow might have on fields in the area. Snowfall is well below normal and without much of a snow base, it is clear that some fields in the southeast have lost some topsoil on windy days.

Earl Bargen is Farm Production Extension Specialist out of the Steinbach office. He says when it comes to winter wheat, you want snow cover. But right now they are taking a wait and see approach. Lots of snow doesn't guarantee a good crop. Bargen says even with a lot of snow, a heavy rain event in spring that ends up freezing could damage the crop too.

Bargen says the land was obviously dry heading into winter and even though snowfall amounts are below normal, it remains to be seen how this might impact spring moisture conditions.

"That's a wait and see because we can get a bunch of rain and then we are too wet," he says.

And though he would like to see more snow, Bargen says he is not sure if this might limit seeding this spring.

He adds there is soil temperature testing going on right now, with the results available on the Manitoba Agriculture website. Bargen notes he has yet to see any red flags from those results.

Meanwhile, a crowd of approximately 65 gathered in Steinbach last week for the annual Crop Day at the Legion Hall. One of the presenters was Anne Kirk, an Industry Development Specialist for Feed Grains with Manitoba Agriculture. She spoke on management practices for high yielding spring wheat.

Cassandra Tkachuk, is a Production Specialist with Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers. Her topic was on lessons learned from soybean production in 2017.

Harley Siemens is an Exhibit Coordinator for University of Manitoba Farm and Food Discovery Centre. His topic was called, "Real Dirt on Farming." Bargen says he spoke on how to talk with your non-farming family or neighbours about challenges in the industry.

Dr. Paul Bullock is Professor and Head of the Department of Soil Science at University of Manitoba. He spoke on climate change and the implications for prairie crops.

And finally, Mike Jubinville, President of ProFarmer Canada was there to speak on the market outlook for 2018.

Source : Steinbachonline

Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.