University News

Fall-Seeded Cereals Looking Better than Ever in Manitoba

Gary Martens - University of Manitoba — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

University News for May 18, 2012

A plant science instructor with the University of Manitoba reports fall-seeded cereal crops have never looked better in Manitoba.

The 2012 growing season has been characterized by an unusually early spring melt followed by higher than normal heat units and lower than normal amounts of rainfall.

Gary Martens, a plant science instructor with the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, observes we've had more heat accumulation than normal - 580 growing degree days to date - which typically happens by the first of June so we're close to two weeks ahead in terms of heat units.

Clip-Gary Martens-University of Manitoba:
I have never seen winter wheat look so good.

It is uniform, it is dark green, it's beautiful so if the moisture is going to be there then we could have a really good winter wheat crop.

I have some fall rye on my own farm and I just noticed yesterday it's starting to head.

That's is the earliest I've ever seen fall rye heading on May the 17th.

I think probably there's more than average numbers of winter wheat seeded last fall.

One of the reasons for that was, especially in the south west, they could not put a crop in in 2011 because it was so wet so then to salvage the year they put in a fall crop in the fall of 2011 so it's there now.

Martens acknowledges right now the soil throughout southern and central Manitoba is dry so moisture will be the biggest factor impacting yield potentials this year but if we have adequate moisture, yield potentials could be realized.

He says if the weather continues nice and warm like it is and especially if we have a little bit of a moisture deficit, then by the middle of July we would be into harvesting our winter wheat.

For UniversityNews.Org, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

*University News is produced by Wonderworks Canada

Internationally Educated Agrologist Program to Receive Faculty Endowment Fund Support

Dr. Martin Scanlon - University of Manitoba — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

University News for May 17, 2012

The University of Manitoba's Internationally Educated Agrologist Program will be among the recipients of funding allocated through the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences 2012 endowment fund competition.

The University of Manitoba's Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Endowment Fund was created to make available support to those associated with the faculty who have ideas that will complement the faculty's academic goals but that might not qualify for funding through other avenues.

Dr. Martin Scanlon, the acting associate dean research with the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences says this year 34 projects will share a total of $96,000 including partial support for the University's Internationally Educated Agrologist Program.

Clip-Dr. Martin Scanlon-University of Manitoba:
That's one I think that was just recently highlighted in the Western Producer where we're looking at people from abroad who come and work for instance say at one of the meat processing plants who's academic qualifications say from Germany or the Philippines wouldn't be actually recognized in them coming here into Manitoba.

It's a way of doing courses on the side that allows those academic qualifications from abroad to be legitimized here in Manitoba so that then they can advance their career either in the company that they're working for currently or allow them to apply for jobs in other companies where their skills might be more matched with the company needs.

An individual must be a registered member of the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists in order to be licensed to legally practice the profession of agrology in Manitoba and the Internationally Educated Agrologist Program provides a process whereby internationally-educated agrologists can meet the minimum knowledge requirements of the MIA in order to qualify for the Professional Agrologist designation in Manitoba.

For UniversityNews.Org, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

*University News is produced by Wonderworks Canada

2012 Endowment Fund Supported Projects to Benefit Students

Dr. Martin Scanlon - University of Manitoba — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

University News for May 16, 2012

The University of Manitoba says projects funded under the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences 2012 endowment fund competition will directly benefit students.

Approximately $96,000 have been allocated through the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences 2012 Endowment Fund Competition to support 34 projects proposed by academic and support staff, students and alumni of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.

Acting associate dean research Dr. Martin Scanlon says in reviewing funding applications, the selection committee looks for proposals that will improve the faculty's ability to recruit students or enhance the learning experience of students.

Clip-Dr. Martin Scanlon-University of Manitoba:
It tends to be very student-focused so I think the primary one is, is this project going to be of great benefit to the majority of students in the faculty.

It's very much focused on enhancing the student experience.

Even though most of the applicants to the competition would be faculty members our primary criterion is, is this serving a large number of students so teaching tools like upgrades in software might be something that would be deemed useful.

Typically academics, if they're upgrading equipment for laboratory sections they will apply to the endowment fund to get funds for that.

There will also be, for students, a lot of funds will go to travel for competitions or field trips.

I'd say the vast majority of funds are dispersed that way to initiatives that will support the education of our students either in the classroom or outside of the classroom.

Dr. Scanlon notes a number of proposals that didn't meet funding criteria were denied and, as a result, a portion of this year's funding pool has been returned for allocation next year.

For UniversityNews.Org, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

*University News is produced by Wonderworks Canada

Increased Pork Demand Key to Improved Live Hog Prices

Dr. Ronald Plain - University of Missouri — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

University News for May 14, 2012

An agricultural economist with the University of Missouri says demand for pork in both the domestic and export markets will be a key factor influencing live hog prices moving forward.

Typically, in late April and May, as temperatures rise slowing hog growth and consumer demand for pork increases due to barbecue season, we see a very fast run-up in live hog prices but that hasn't happened this year and, contrary to normal seasonal cycles, prices are actually lower than they were six weeks ago.

Dr. Ron Plain, an agricultural economics professor with the University of Missouri, says combined with the lower hog prices we've seen a softening of both domestic and export demand for pork.

Clip-Dr. Ron Plain-University of Missouri:
On the domestic market the big thing is of course the economy and how much money people have in their pockets.

The economic situation in the United States has been one in which we're growing but very slowly.

The number of people with jobs has not increased very much since the end of the recession a few years back so that's worrisome.

And then the export situation is huge.

We export over 20 percent of the pork we produce here in the United States each month and it looks like that's getting soft.

China bought a lot of U.S. pork last year and it looks like they've got their production up here in 2012 and hog prices are dropping and that kind of situation means China is not going to be importing very much pork.

That's a real concern that if exports slow down at the same time domestic demand is soft, we could see some very disappointing hog prices this year.

Dr. Plain adds there is concern that increased feed supplies following the 2012 harvest will push down feed costs triggering an expansion of the U.S. breeding herd.

If so, he says that will mean more hogs on the market in 2013 and unless we get some better demand that could be a tough situation.

For UniversityNews.Org, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

*University News is produced by Wonderworks Canada

Butterfly Populations in Decline in Southern Manitoba

Dr. Terry Galloway - University of Manitoba — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

University News for May 11, 2012

An entomologist with the University of Manitoba says disturbance of habitat has reduced the population of many species of butterflies across southern Manitoba.

Light winter snow cover followed by an early spring melt has contributed to an early emergence of butterfly species that overwinter as adults.

Several species, including red admiral butterflies and morning cloak butterflies, have been active for several weeks.

Dr. Terry Galloway, an entomology professor with the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, says people always look forward to arrival of butterflies in the spring and plant butterfly gardens and so forth to attract them but, generally speaking, populations of many butterfly species across southern Manitoba have declined.

Clip-Dr. Terry Galloway-University of Manitoba:
A lot of our species of butterflies depend on native habitat.

They often have very specific food plants that their caterpillars feed on.

The one that people are familiar with is the monarch butterfly for example that feeds on milkweed and each one of the different butterfly species feeds on a very specific range of host plants.

As we disturb the habitat, as the habitat is developed for housing or if that habitat is developed for agriculture that habitat suddenly is no longer suitable for the survival of some of these butterfly species.

So just because of the reduction of the available habitat for these butterflies I suspect that overall populations of many species have declined.

Some of the other introduced species, like the cabbage white butterfly for example, in some years is really quite high as a result of its ability to feed on some of the various crucifers and so forth including canola.

Dr. Galloway says some butterflies are favored by human activity but others are in decline as a result of human activity and disturbance in the habitat.

He says some of these butterflies are now being listed as threatened or endangered because more and more their habitat and range are becoming very much limited.

For UniversityNews.Org, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

*University News is produced by Wonderworks Canada

Strong Demand Reported for School of Agriculture Graduates

Michele Rogalsky - University of Manitoba — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

University News for May 10, 2012

The director of the University of Manitoba's School of Agriculture reports demand among employers for graduates of the University of Manitoba's two-year agriculture diploma program remains strong.

The University of Manitoba's School of Agriculture administers and delivers the two-year agriculture diploma program as well as a variety of short courses on behalf of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.

Last month the school held its 105th graduation ceremony.

School of Agriculture director Michele Rogalsky says a survey of this year's graduates shows the vast majority have already secured employment.

Clip-Michele Rogalsky-University of Manitoba:
47 of them received diplomas this year.

That's a bit of a smaller class.

Our first year class though a lot larger.

We're expecting we potentially could have over 70 grads next year.

We're still accepting applications for the fall and we're hoping that we'll have over 80 students in the program.

We're just right now looking at the admission applications and we anticipate that we'll have to stop taking admissions in another month or so and that we should reach our target of having over 80 students in the program.

We've surveyed the 47 grads and all but three of them had secured employment and employment in the agribusiness area.

Those that haven't secured it, some of it was based on availability in the location where they were moving to.

The highest number of jobs appear to be in the sales and service in the cropping sector.

For more on the University of Manitoba's School of Agriculture visit the school's website at umanitoba.ca/afs/school or contact the diploma program's academic advisor at (204) 474-6066.

Rogalsky says now is the time to enquire because it is uncertain how much longer applications will be open.

For UniversityNews.Org, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

*University News is produced by Wonderworks Canada

School of Agriculture's Student Body Gains Diversity

Michele Rogalsky - University of Manitoba — Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

University News for May 9, 2012

The director of the University of Manitoba's School of Agriculture says the school's student body is becoming much more diverse.

The University of Manitoba's School of Agriculture administers and delivers the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences' two-year agriculture diploma program as well as a variety of short courses.

During its 105th Diploma Graduation Ceremony last month, 47 graduates received their diplomas.

School of Agriculture director Michele Rogalsky says we're seeing a more diverse student body.

Clip-Michele Rogalsky-University of Manitoba:
I think the Ag Diploma program has had a strong history of training farmers and farm managers and most of our alumni, many of them are practicing farmers here in Manitoba.

Also the school has had a history I think of providing good training for rural and agricultural leaders.

You'll note many of our alumni hold many leadership positions here in the province.

Our graduates, two thirds of them indicate that their plan sometime in the future is to farm but only about 20 percent of the grads right now are actually going home to farms on a full-time basis.

Most of them are securing employment off the farm to support and help them either build some equity or help transition into that farming area.

We're seeing also an increase in students who haven't come from the farm.

We had a few students from Winnipeg graduate this year and they've indicated the reason they're taking the Ag Diploma program is they're aware of the careers in agri-business.

We're also seeing a few international students.

Another group that we're seeing is students who might be looking at doing a degree in the future but also recognize the value of a diploma program because it's so practical and there's an opportunity, if they are a strong student, that they can credit two years of their diploma towards two years of a degree program.

Rogalsky says a survey of this year's grads shows all but three have already secured employment.

She notes applications are now being accepted for next fall.

For UniversityNews.Org, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

*University News is produced by Wonderworks Canada

Early Spring Increases Risk of Build-up of Disease-Carrying Mosquito Populations

Dr. Terry Galloway - University of Manitoba — Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

University News for May 8, 2012

An entomologist with the University of Manitoba warns this year's early spring melt is giving the species of mosquito responsible for the transmission of West Nile virus and Western equine encephalitis virus an additional opportunity to build populations.

Light winter snow cover followed by an early spring melt has contributed to an early emergence of mosquitoes that overwinter as adults.

Dr. Terry Galloway, an entomologist with the University of Manitoba, says as a result of the warm weather these are the species that emerged very early this year and while most of these species can be a bit of a nuisance, they don't tend to be present in large numbers.

Clip-Dr. Terry Galloway-University of Manitoba:
Probably of greatest concern is Culex tarsalis.

It's one of the species that is involved with the transmission of the virus that causes the West Nile virus that it transmits and the virus that causes Western equine encephalitis.

Because it overwinters as an adult it already starts to emerge with the warm weather and, depending on the weather between now and through the rest of the summer, their numbers can build up substantially.

They're one of the primary vectors of West Nile virus and Western equine encephalitis virus and they tend to be pathogens that show up in humans at least a little bit later in the season.

There are really active surveillance programs which are undertaken to monitor not only the numbers of these mosquitoes which are present in the field and what trends are evident there but they also look at the presence of the virus and if there are any needs for concern, the public usually gets adequate warning.

Dr. Galloway says because the pathogens are transmitted through the bites of the mosquitoes, anything you can do to minimize their bites, including avoiding times of peak activity of mosquitoes, wearing adequate protective clothing or the use of repellents, will reduce the risk.

For UniversityNews.Org, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

*University News is produced by Wonderworks Canada

Early Spring Results in Early Emergence of Ticks

Dr. Terry Galloway - University of Manitoba — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

University News for May 7, 2012

An entomologist with the University of Manitoba is advising the public to be vigilant for the presence of the tick that can carry the pathogen responsible for Lyme disease.

Light winter snow cover followed by an early spring has contributed to an early emergence of ticks including the common wood tick and the adult blacklegged tick, the tick capable of carrying the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease and anaplasmosis.

Dr. Terry Galloway, an entomology professor with the University of Manitoba, says ticks have become active exceptionally early and have been active for several weeks.

Clip-Dr. Terry Galloway-University of Manitoba:
The wood tick has a fairly typical pattern for each year.

As soon as the snow starts to disappear on warm days, adult ticks start to quest for hosts on the grass and so forth and this was just an absolutely amazing year.

We were getting reports around the city of Winnipeg of wood ticks being collected at the end of February.

The blacklegged tick, or the deer ticks, they're a little bit different in the sense that the adults that we see in the spring, they're active at the same time as the wood ticks.

As soon as the snow has gone or in snow-free south facing slopes, they start to move up onto the vegetation and we can pick those up but we think that most of the adult deer ticks that are active this time of the year are the ones that didn't feed last fall.

Typically what we see in Manitoba is that the peak of activity in adult blacklegged ticks is from the very end of September through until there is snow on the ground so October is really the peak month for those.

And that's at a time when people don't think so much about ticks so they're quite different in that respect from the wood tick.

Those adult ticks in the fall, the ones that don't feed, they're the ones that are showing up really early this spring and that's the one that people should be particularly vigilant over.

Dr. Galloway says after attaching to a host, it takes over 24 hours for the tick to begin transmitting the bacteria so removing ticks within that period will minimize the risk of infection.

For UniversityNews.Org, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

*University News is produced by Wonderworks Canada

Environmental Concerns and Rising Gas Prices Stimulate Interest in Cellulosic Ethanol

Dr. David Levin - University of Manitoba — Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

University News for May 4, 2012

A researcher with the University of Manitoba says concerns over the environment and rising fuel costs are stimulating increased interest in the use of cellulosic ethanol as an alternative to gasoline.

Research aimed at harnessing bacteria to produce ethanol from waste cellulose is among the body of work featured in the Manitoba made film "Drive For Free: The Alternative Fuel Revolution".

Dr. David Levin, an associate professor in Biosystems Engineering with the University of Manitoba, says in light of the greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to global climate change and the rising price of petroleum leading to increased gas prices, everyone recognizes the need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Clip-Dr. David Levin-University of Manitoba:
We've hit a very high gas price in the last month or so.

Now it's going down but it will continue to go up and down on an upward trajectory.

They say that within a few years a barrel of oil might be back up to 150 dollars and that's going to affect everybody's ability to drive around with gas in their tank.

Reducing the dependence on gasoline means using a biofuel like ethanol to mix with the gasoline, either as a mix like five or ten percent ethanol or in Brazil they use 25 percent ethanol.

In fact in Brazil they have engines that are flexible and can use 100 percent ethanol one day or 100 percent gasoline the next day and everything else in between depending on what's available so that helps a lot so making ethanol is important as a way of reducing our dependence on gasoline.

Also when you mix it with gasoline it increases the octane level and it combusts more cleanly so it produces less pollutants, less carbon dioxide, less nitrous oxides and sulfur oxides so it's good for the environment.

Dr. Levin acknowledges cellulosic ethanol is not yet competitive with grain-based ethanol or petroleum-based fuels but he predicts as oil prices rise, the economic viability of cellulosic ethanol will become more realistic.

For UniversityNews.Org, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

*University News is produced by Wonderworks Canada