Farmers anxious to start seeding

Apr 25, 2022

The chair of the Manitoba Crop Alliance says farmers are anxious to get out in the field this spring.

"Compared to last year, obviously no two years are the same, last year might have been maybe a little more on average early because I think some guys were already starting to go at this time last year," commented Robert Misko. "We're looking at probably I think pretty well anywhere across the province, you're looking at least a month before we're getting started, so that's mid-May, which isn't excessively late but it definitely makes you have that wonder how's fall going to come along because you're definitely getting into a later seeding. That's provided the weather starts to cooperate because with temperatures in the single digits for the next two weeks, it's not going to speed up that melting process any."

Misko says the first crops that normally get planted are crops like peas and wheat which can handle a light spring frost.

He talked about soil moisture conditions.

"I think the optimism is definitely out there that maybe we won't be as bad off as we were last year with the drought. That snow and that extra moisture is definitely going to have some effect. It's got to be building up. I don't think we've completely rebuilt our reserves, but at least we've got a good start. You don't have to go to terribly far to the west and there's still some areas out there that are pretty dry. They didn't get a lot of snow and they don't really have any cover right now either."

Misko reminds farmers that it's important to seek help if they are feeling stressed out this spring.

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Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.