Looking to cut down on chemical handling, speed up fills, and switching between crops without full tank rinses? One Saskatchewan farmer is finding that onboard chemical storage with direct injection can make solo spraying safer, faster, and far more efficient. Managing long spraying days across thousands of acres means every minute saved matters, and Carl... Read More
Category: Agronomy
Persistent wildfire smoke is not only reducing visibility and air quality, but it’s also reshaping Western Canada’s summer weather outlook. Meteorologist Matt Makens, of Makens Weather, says sustained smoke and heat in the atmosphere create feedback loops that actively shape weather patterns. The presence of smoke in the atmosphere changes how rainfall develops, as water... Read More
Think sclerotinia won't show up just because it's been dry? Last year proved that even after a string of droughts, one wet window is all this sneaky disease needs to make a comeback. After several years of drought, many Prairie canola growers were caught off guard by sclerotinia in 2024. “Last year… was the first... Read More
How does weather impact the type of weeds farmers see in their fields each spring? 'Every year is different' is a phrase that's often applied to agriculture and warm versus cool spring conditions can certainly impact weed pressure and weed control challenges, says recently retired University of Guelph weed scientist Dr. Peter Sikkema. At a... Read More
Host of Wheat Pete's Word, Peter Johnson, is in the U.K. this week, combining family time with a packed Yield Enhancement Network tour schedule. In this episode of the Word, he shares agronomy updates from back home and across the pond — covering everything from unexpected nitrate levels to disease lessons from British wheat fields.... Read More
Heat has been in short supply this spring in most of the corn-growing region of Ontario, and cool conditions will impact the amount of nitrogen available to the corn crop in the early portion of the growing season. When it comes to determining the rate of nitrogen growers should be applying at sidedress timing, Ontario... Read More
There are literally thousands of insects currently humming or crawling about in grain and hay fields, shelterbelts, and riparian areas. Yes, some are pests of crops and livestock, but many, many more of them are beneficial insects. Beneficial insects aren't just pollinators either: some are voracious eaters of weeds or weed seeds, some attack and... Read More
It’s good news, for now, when it comes to stripe rust heading into Western Canada's 2025 growing season, according to Dr. Kelly Turkington, plant pathologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and long-time contributor to the Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network. Compared to 2024, stripe rust and leaf rust issues in the U.S. are showing... Read More
Managing volunteer corn can sometimes feel like an afterthought—until it’s not. In regions where herbicide-resistant traits stack up across crops such corn and soybeans, it’s becoming increasingly important for growers to reassess weed management plans. Volunteer corn often flys under the radar on the Prairies, but as Jeanette Gaultier, technical service specialist with BASF, points... Read More
Kochia is more than just a prolific weed—it’s a master opportunist, especially in saline soils where crop competition is limited. In this episode of RealAgriculture's Wheat School, Mike Palmier, partner and agronomist with MNP AgIntellect, joins Amber Bell to break down why salinity and kochia so often go hand-in-hand, and what farmers can do to... Read More