Seeding To Ramp Up This Week

Manitoba Agriculture & Resource Development has released its first Crop Report of the season.

Cool soils have slowed the start to seeding throughout the middle of April. Most farms are planning on starting seeding this week.

Provincial seeding progress sits at 2% complete which is on par with the four-year average for this time of year.

Conserving existing soil moisture remains top of mind for many farmers.

Many farms are using limited disturbance openers for fertilizer and seeding, where possible.

Eastern Manitoba has adequate seedbed moisture conditions for now, and more broadcast and harrow incorporation of fertilizer is taking place.

Winter cereal survival seems good, across most regions, however regrowth is limited due to cool soil conditions and lack of available moisture.

Fall rye has overwintered better than winter wheat.

Higher diesel and fertilizer prices are squeezing farm profit margins ahead of the midterm elections. Farmers in Iowa and Kansas discuss rising harvest costs, the war in Iran and whether those pressures will change their votes. Peter Tubbs reports on the debate over farm input costs and the differing political responses across the Corn Belt.