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
Category: Agronomy
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
It’s a rollercoaster of weather and agronomy challenges this week on Wheat Pete's Word! From northern Saskatchewan’s wildfires to Kentucky’s record rainfall, Peter Johnson shares insights and tips to keep you informed and proactive in these unpredictable times. Have a question you’d like Wheat Pete to address or some field results to send in? Agree/disagree... Read More
It may be early in the season, but don’t let that fool you; what’s happening (or not happening) in your canola fields right now could shape the entire crop. From crusted soil to cutworms and everything in between, early scouting offers the first clues to what’s really going on below the surface. In this episode... Read More
Increased horsepower, improved automation and more technology are three of the key features John Deere is touting with the launch of its new F8 and F9 Series self-propelled forage harvesters. “A higher-quality forage output with more power, more precision and more uptime, that’s the focus of the new forage harvesters for our customers,” says Bergen... Read More