With parts of the province somewhat behind with first cut, John McGregor, MFGA Extension Support, did a quick survey of some of the MAFRD Forage Specialists.
Click here for a summary of their expertise.

Learn more about how to determine the price of standing hay.

The Manitoba government has declared a provincial state of emergency to allow action that will prevent harm or damage to the safety, health or welfare of Manitobans, and to property and the environment. Keep current with the flood situation in Manitoba with these provincial resource links.   

Read the July 24 Summer Flood Bulletin.

In 2006, alfalfa fields in Manitoba were surveyed for Alfalfa Brown Root Rot (ABRR) and the disease was present but at a very low level.  

The ABRR fungus is slow-growing and prefers cool soil temperatures (less than 15 C). Symptoms may not become visible until after the third winter due to slow disease development. The fungus rots plant roots mostly in the spring and fall and can severely weaken plants and contribute to winter kill. Stunted and dead plants appear in two- to three-year-old stands with brown sunken lesions on taproots. Infected plants may start to grow in the spring, then stop growing and die because the tap root has rotted off. The fungus also causes disease in other perennial forage legumes and winter wheat. 

Because the disease has been present, Vikram Bisht, Pathologist with MAFRD, is planning to survey alfalfa fields in 2014 to see what the prevalence of the disease is in Manitoba and are asking for your assistance in identifying fields. If you have an alfalfa field that shows similar symptoms as shown in the photo, you are asked to contact Vikram at Vikram.Bisht@gov.mb.ca.

For more information on Alfalfa Brown Root Rot click here.