Spring 2026 brought record-breaking rainfall and severe winds to parts of Manitoba. In the aftermath of the season’s storms, producers across the province were faced with tough decisions about crop management and insurance.
In response to this, EMILI invited the community to Innovation Farms powered by
AgExpert in mid-August for a panel discussion about the influence of the season’s weather, and what crop management may look like on affected fields in the coming years.
The panel included representatives from Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA), Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), and Keystone Potato Producers Association (KPPA).
Facing excess water and fields affected by wind, producers had to rethink their crop management decisions this year. At the outset of the discussion, Susan Ainsworth, general manager of Keystone Potato Producers Association, described the 2026 growing season as a roller coaster.
“There were some management decisions that had to change immediately when any of those weather events were happening,” Ainsworth said.
She explained that potato producers typically split-apply nitrogen to their crop, rather than applying it all at once, and that they rely on slow-release nitrogen products or fertigation.
“If you get 10 inches of rain, you’re probably not going to be running your pivot to apply some additional nitrogen. We did have some growers need to change plans part way through, and in some cases had to fly on granular product, which is not ideal.”
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