Manitoba farmers ‘itching’ to start seeding, optimistic despite dry winter

Jake Ayre, vice president with Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) said right now, there is enough moisture to grow crops, but only time will tell.

Winter in parts of Manitoba was a little parched, but farmers say they’re feeling sunny about the seeding season.

“With the beautiful weather we’ve been having here in Manitoba, farmers are definitely itching to get out in the fields,” said Jake Ayre, vice-president with Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP).

He said right now, there is enough moisture to grow crops, but only time will tell.

“When you get to those 30-, 35-degree days, is there enough residual soil moisture that the plants can put those roots down deep, and access some of it?” he said.

A good rain would not be rued, the Minto, Man., farmer said, but no matter what, producers will be putting seed in the ground.

“You’re going to try and have that best opportunity to grow a crop, whether it’s for cash, for revenue, for animal feed,” Ayre said.

There are typically two units used for setting crops in dirt, he said — either a seeder or planter.

A seeder is usually used for crops like wheat, barley, oats, canola and flax, Ayre said. “There’s an air fan that blows through pipes, and a meter that’s either electric or hydraulic that springs at a certain revolution per minute, and that equates your rate. Pounds to an acre,” he said.