Soil Specialist Optimistic About Moisture Levels

Feb 25, 2019

The province's land management specialist is optimistic heading into this upcoming growing season.

Marla Riekman with Manitoba Agriculture says soil moisture levels are looking OK, although there are some dry areas.

She talked about conditions over the past couple of years.

"We got so lucky in 2017, with very little rainfall, that we had so much soil moisture stored up to get us through and limp us through that year and had great yields. Last year we did pretty well, even though we had dry areas. We did get some of that spotty rain in places and that seemed to get us through again but we were really looking to recharge those soils. We've become a little dependent on that soil recharge to get us through some of the dry years. That being said, sometimes it's too wet going into the fall. We are not in that situation at all."

Riekman says the large amount of snow this winter will also help come spring time.

Source : Steinbachonline

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.