Over the last 10 years, the thoughts and the strategy behind fungicide application have changed dramatically. Whether it's new information brought to light by research or changing external circumstances, the process behind how farmers make fungicide decisions has evolved. Over the short term, some of those external changes that have influenced decision making involve the... Read More
Category: Agronomy
Kevin Elmy, Friendly Acre Seed Farms, farms near Saltcoats in east central Saskatchewan. Once again the region is dealing with some wet weather. If Eastern Saskatchewan was to get a major dump of rain, the reality is not a good one for farmers in the area. Farmers in SE and central Saskatchewan have really had... Read More
Eliminating weed competition is critical to corn development during it's initial growth stages. Weed pressure during that growth period can decrease yield significantly depending on the intensity and duration of that pressure. Timing your herbicide application properly can ease back weed pressure while keeping your crop from being damaged. Depending on the herbicide you use,... Read More
There is no silver bullet solution when it comes to fusarium. The disease is widespread and can be devastating if it's left unchecked or handled incorrectly. When it comes to management and control of the disease, the best bet any producer has involves an integrated approach. That approach involves three key steps that together give... Read More
Soil applied herbicides in dry weather can be a bit of a concern for producers who are depending on them. In order for the herbicides to work effectively they need moisture to activate them and move them downward through the soil into the area where the weeds have germinated. Unfortunately, no moisture, no migration through... Read More
With many corn stands in Ontario looking fabulous, the weather challenges in the southern tip of the province have been a real issue. The photos in this RealCropUpdate were submitted by Philip Shaw, a farmer in Dresden, Ontario. In early May, north of Dresden and Wallaceburg, Ontario received between 1.4 and 4 inches which tormented... Read More
Keeping your corn weed free through its early growth stages is critical in preserving yield potential. Knowing when to take control measures is a big part of that. If you've used a soil applied herbicide to control those weeds, you need to evaluate whether or not it's working and determine when and if you need... Read More
The flea beetle is a menace to canola crops. Typically seed treatments like Helix Xtra and Prosper have controlled flea beetles with ease and uncontrollable populations were relatively rare. The feeding of seed treatment protected plants controlled the crucifer flea beetle which was great for farmers. The striped flea beetle has been showing up in... Read More
Recently it was announced that Tom Wolf's research program will be cut completely by Ag Canada. The reaction from agronomists, manufacturers and farmers has been quite strong. So strong that some of the industry associations are trying to save the program. When word got out tweets started to fly just like this one. Tom Wolf's... Read More
Water quality is an often overlooked aspect of spraying herbicides, yet it is very important in determining how effective your spray is going to be on your target weeds. There are a number of factors that can affect the quality of your spray water including; pH, water hardness, turbidity and sometimes even electrical conductivity. The... Read More