Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are studying whether single kernel sorting technology is effective for salvaging fusarium-infected wheat, and ultimately, reducing the amount of waste in food production. Since acquiring a Swedish-made near-infrared seed sorter known as the BoMill TriQ in 2012, U of S researchers working together with the Canadian International Grains Institute... Read More
Category: Crop Schools
Visible clubroot symptoms were first identified in a canola field in Alberta in 2003. It has since spread through much of the province, and by the end of 2014, it was present in 30 municipalities and into neighbouring provinces. It was also that year, that a pathotype of the disease observed the year earlier was... Read More
Have you tried baling corn stalks? Agronomist Pat Lynch thinks you can't bale enough. At Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show last month, Lynch helped co-ordinate the Corn Stalk Baling Demonstration. Afterwards he joined the Corn School to share his thoughts on whether Ontario farmers should be jumping on the stalk baling bandwagon. Today’s corn hybrids are... Read More
Too wet isn't good, but neither is too dry for growers looking to get the most value for soybeans. According to researchers at North Dakota State University, on a 40 bushel-per-acre crop, harvesting soybeans at 9 percent moisture rather than 13 percent will cost the farmer around 1.8 bushels per acre. At $10 per bushel,... Read More
The yield monitor is still the best barometer when it comes to assessing the value of crop inputs and agronomic strategies, but UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) are proving to be an important tool for in-season measurement and assessment of cropping strategies. Not Just Toys: Adding Value with UAVs Chad Colby’s Top Tips for Integrating UAV... Read More
Words like "excellent" and "great" are being used to describe the 2015 corn crop in the grain corn-growing regions of Western Canada. "I'm almost tempted to say phenomenal, but that sometimes sets high expectations," says Dieter Schwarz of PRIDE Seeds in this Corn School episode. "We certainly have a great corn crop. Yields are average... Read More
It's certainly not a disease you want to find in your fields, but if you do, there are good reasons to talk about it — specifically, report it — says Michael Harding, research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. "If it's the first time clubroot's been found in the field, by reporting it, you can... Read More
John Deere’s new ExactEmerge retrofit kit will allow farmers who own the company’s late-model planters to step up their speed and accuracy. John Deere launched its ExactEmerge seed delivery system in 2014, promising farmers precise seed placement and spacing while boasting the ability to travel at much faster planting speeds, up to 10 mph. The... Read More
Grain is in the absolute best condition it can be when it's put into storage. Keeping it that way is critical for maintaining its value and marketability. Insect infestations aren't as big a problem for farmers in Canada as in other (read: warmer) parts of the world, but they can still cause significant damage. Typically,... Read More
Protein premiums or discounts can be a major factor in marketing wheat. In some years there's plenty of high protein wheat (as looks to be the case for 2015-16) and in other years millers are left scrounging for wheat with high enough protein. We asked earlier this week whether yield or protein is a higher... Read More