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SERVING MANITOBA FARMERS SINCE 1925 | Vol. 73, No. 13 | $1.75 March 26, 2015 manitobacooperator.ca
Manitoba winter wheat OK so far, but fingers crossed for no cold snaps
Glyphosate classified as ‘probably carcinogenic’ Monsanto questions results of report, which also includes diazinon, malathion and parathion
An advisory committee is monitoring conditions to see if the April 10 fertilizer prohibition can be lifted early
AgCanada.com
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he decision by an international group of cancer experts to classify the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide as “probably carcinogenic” has drawn fire from the product’s main maker. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a Francebased arm of the World Health Organization, last Friday released its working group’s evaluations on the cancer-causing potential for glyphosate herbicide and four other organophosphate pesticides — diazinon, malathion, parathion and tetrachlorvinphos. For glyphosate, malathion and diazinon, IARC’s 17-member group found “limited” evidence of cancer sites in humans, but “sufficient” evidence in animals for glyphosate and malathion. The group has classified all
MAFRD has been measuring soil temperatures in four winter wheat fields (see CropChatter post http://cropchatter.com/monitoring-real-timesoil-temperatures-in-mb-winter-wheat-fields/). Plotting soil temperatures against various “hardiness” curves can provide an early indication if there is a concern for winter injury or winterkill. photo: allan dawson
See Glyphosate on page 7 »
By Allan Dawson co-operator staff
Publication Mail Agreement 40069240
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o far, so good sums up the condition of Manitoba’s winter wheat crop, although an extended cold snap could still damage it. In the meantime, an advisory committee was to meet Monday to consider whether to allow farmers to fertilize their fields, including winter wheat, before April 10 when the seasonal fertilizer application prohibition is lifted. If it isn’t, individual farmers can apply to Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship for permission to apply early. Manitoba government regulations prohibit farmers from applying fertilizer and manure to their fields between Nov. 10 and April 10. Soil is normally frozen then so applying fertilizer makes it susceptible to running off following rain or snow-
melts, resulting in more nutrients polluting Lake Winnipeg. But some years the soil freezes later or thaws earlier. To better reflect current soil conditions, last fall the province formed an advisory committee to consider variances to its dates. The committee has representatives from Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), Manitoba Beef Producers, the Canadian Agri-Retailers Association, commercial manure applicators and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. “This committee puts everyone on the same page,” said David Hay, Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship’s acting manager of the water quality management section. “In the past everyone had their own ideas so this was an opportunity for us to establish a very, very timely system to be able to make those changes,” Hay said in an interview.
He said Manitoba Conservation has had “a handful” of farmers ask about fertilizing fields before April 10. Warm weather earlier this month and a lack of snow no doubt have farmers thinking about an early spring.
Early N needed
Agronomists say winter wheat should be fertilized as early as possible. “You absolutely want to get out in the field as soon as you can and get your nitrogen out there because winter wheat responds very quickly to nitrogen,” said Ken Gross, Ducks Unlimited Canada’s winter wheat agronomist. “It sets its yield very early so you want to be out there before it hits the five- or six-leaf stage. But we have lots of time before that happens. There’s really no rush at See WINTER WHEAT on page 6 »
Assiniboine basin initiative needs more supporT » PAGE 20