When it comes to winter wheat, fusarium head blight (FHB) likes lots of spring moisture but cool temperatures can slow development of the disease. Cool and wet weather are two things Ontario's wheat crop has seen plenty of in 2025. On this episode of the RealAgriculture Wheat School, Bayer Crop Science agronomist Kurtis Pilkington looks... Read More
Category: Agronomy
After a stretch of cool, wet weather many corn fields across Ontario have turned yellow, and growers are asking whether it's safe to spray the stressed plants. Retired University of Guelph weed scientist Dr. Peter Sikkema says the reason that corn is tolerant to many herbicides is its ability to rapidly metabolize those herbicides. However,... Read More
It can be rather tempting to throw in one or two extra things in the spray tank when it's time for a pass — time and fuel is precious, after all. But depending on several factors, adding another product or nutrient to the tank can end up costing way more time in sprayer clean-out if... Read More
John Deere has acquired Sentera, a provider of remote imagery solutions for agriculture, and plans to incorporate its camera and aerial scouting technology into the company's service offering. The acquisition of St. Paul, Minnesota-based Sentera will advance the capabilities of Deere's existing technology offerings, says its director of digital software and solutions, Chris Winkler. “Combining... Read More
When it comes to weed control, should growers plant soybeans later in fields where high levels of waterhemp are anticipated? Over the last decade, soybean planting dates have moved up considerably as new research has shown the oilseed can handle cooler soils and deliver more bushels when planted earlier. But during that same period, the... Read More
Spot spray technology is helping one Saskatchewan farmer tackle herbicide resistance, cut costs, and stay committed to sustainable practices — all without sacrificing efficacy. Carl DeConinck Smith farms 13,000 acres in west-central Saskatchewan, seeding cereals, canola, and pulses. Seven years ago, he adopted the WEED-IT system — a chlorophyll-detecting spot spray technology — to maintain... Read More
From chilly air to fast-growing wheat, it’s been another week of agronomic twists and regional contrasts. In this episode of Wheat Pete's Word, host Peter Johnson tackles early forage harvest lessons, cold water imbibition in soybeans, and an important reminder about managing stripe rust and mildew under cool conditions. Have a question you’d like Wheat... Read More
When it comes to cover crops in Ontario, the three leading options for farmers tend to be red clover frost-seeded into wheat, oats after wheat, and the versatile cereal rye, which fits lots of spots that call for cover. There are also a host of other cover crops that make up multiple species mixes, as... Read More
When it comes to establishing a successful canola crop, what you do in the fall can be just as important as what happens at seeding. In this episode of RealAgriculture’s Canola School, Mike Palmier, agronomist and partner at MNP Ag Intellect, talks about the key strategies for managing cereal trash to optimize canola emergence in... Read More
The spring planting surge continues across Ontario and Wheat Pete has a full report on the buzz from the fields, including early planting progress, disease alerts, and a few head-scratching situations. In this episode of Wheat Pete’s Word, your host Peter Johnson looks to get a handle on early-planted soybeans; talks triticale success for livestock... Read More