Researchers at the University of Manitoba are evaluating some promising alternative options based on early research and results by farmers and agronomists. During the 2021 growing season, a few farmers and agronomists in Western Canada shared on social media their observation that flea beetle damage was lower when canola was direct seeded into rye cover crops.

To read the full story, please visit the Top Crop Manager article.

The first one is discussing oat protein, here is a blurb from the article:

Oats are well positioned to compete with dairy protein and soy, which dominate the market for protein supplements, bars and other foods.

Oats are gluten-free, they have a neutral taste and the protein may lower cholesterol.

“(And) it’s a very functional protein. It could be added to a lot of food products,” Joseph said.

“Once they figure out the other commercializing (details), it will open up a lot of opportunity for oat protein.”

Read the full article here

The second article features the importance of winter wheat as a “crop cover” deadlines, here is an expert from the article:

Changing a seeding deadline by a whole month was not trivial. Insurance underwriters thrive on data: weather, crop variety, soil, seeding dates, seeding equipment and more.

To get it, researchers backed by the University of Manitoba, Western Ag, Bayer Crop Sciences, Ducks Unlimited, Ag Canada and a host of other partners went out to get muddy collecting data on winter wheat seeding dates.

University of Manitoba agronomist Yvonne Lawley led the project.

Read the full article here