After a mild winter, many growers and agronomists had to tackle some very large dandelions during the 2024 growing season. On this episode of the RealAgriculture Corn School, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Farming and Agribusiness weed management specialist Mike Cowbrough shares best practices to control the pesky perennial broadleaf weed. "First of all, it's always... Read More

Knowing what is happening both above and below ground in an agricultural field is of utmost importance as farmers look to maximize their yield potential while simultaneously managing the land sustainably. One way to do this is to have soil and plant tissue formally tested in a laboratory. While Farmers Edge has been primarily using... Read More

The list of herbicides that are losing their effectiveness against kochia is growing, leaving fewer tools to control the rapidly-evolving tumbleweed in soybeans. As of 2024, kochia populations in the Canadian Prairies/Northern U.S. Plains region have shown resistance to herbicides in Groups 2, 4, 5, 9, and 14, with some plants showing combined resistance to... Read More

Saline soils are part of the natural landscape of Western Canada. "They were here when we broke the land, they are part of the soil cycle and they're here to stay," says Nutrien Premium Fertilizer Technologies senior agronomist Lyle Cowell. Salt can move down through the soil profile and outside the root system, but high... Read More

Straight-cutting canola without losing significant yield thanks to pod-shatter resistance traits means that farmers have a full range of options when managing canola harvest. The decision on swathing or not isn't always an easy one, but many farmers use swathing as a harvest timing management tool. But when is the right time? What happens if... Read More

In 1996, fusarium devastated the Ontario wheat crop. More than 90 percent of the crop was downgraded to feed, or sample, or simply dumped in the bush thanks to high deoxynivalenol (DON) levels. In 2024, fusarium was back in Ontario fields, but the crop, with help from improved genetic resistance and improved fungicides, was much... Read More

This year at Ag in Motion near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Shaun Haney of RealAgriculture moderated a panel offering insight and the opportunity to provide feedback on the future of pulse plant breeding in the province. Hosted by Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, listen below to hear why building a competitive breeding environment is essential for the pulse industry... Read More

When fields are wet or the crop is too tall, applying a fungicide by airplane and even helicopter can be a solution. So why then aren't farmers clear to spray by drone? It all comes down to Transport Canada rules on piloting and approved label uses by product. Currently, there's only one herbicide with a... Read More

To borrow a phrase, the first step is always the hardest. Taking the first step in planting cover crops or multi-species forage mixes are no exception and requires some careful analysis before deciding on what's right. Soil type, soil biology, and rainfall for each farm, as well as goals and expectations of cover crops can... Read More