White mould is a fungus caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, and tends to cause a bleached area of the stem, with black oblong sclerotia developing in the centre of the affected area, and inside the stem. But, we don't want it to get that far. Enter fungicides. "The number one problem that growers have in timing... Read More
Category: Crop Schools
Soybean growers could soon have access to a new tool for weed control as plans are in place to introduce varieties that are tolerant to both dicamba and glyphosate to North America in the next year or two. Dicamba tolerance will be valuable in giving farmers the ability to use multiple modes of action for... Read More
Pulse growers have some decisions to make regarding fungicide applications this summer. On one hand, dry conditions generally translate into lower disease pressure, but on the other hand, peas and lentils are in relatively good shape compared to some other crops affected by the dryness across much of Western Canada. Add the fact they're selling... Read More
We're approaching a critical stage for corn — tasseling — and weather conditions in some areas are conducive to high disease development. Recently in the Corn School, we've talked prioritizing fields for a fungicide application and where and how to scout for leaf disease in corn, but did you know that there's another factor at... Read More
If you haven't already applied a fungicide to your soybean acres, it may be time to consider it, as white mould and septoria are already surfacing in fields across the country. And proper timing is essential. "What we've seen for the most economical yield response is at that R2.5 stage, or at that early pin... Read More
Following frost and challenging weather conditions, it's not uncommon to find wide staging variability in Ontario corn fields this year. Uneven development will complicate timing of fungicide and insecticide applications, notes Dale Cowan, senior agronomist with AGRIS Cooperative, in this installment of the Corn School. "You have to get an idea of what percentage of... Read More
It should come as no surprise to insect geeks that the ash-grey insect above with a rather distracting snout is a weevil. More specifically, it's a cabbage seedpod weevil (Ceutorhynchus obstrictus), an insect pest that has been infecting canola crops (and other Brassicaceae species) in Alberta since the mid-1990s, and it has since moved across... Read More
Several factors converge to increase the threat of diseases on a corn crop, from the history of a disease in the field, to the amount of residue, to the weather. Unfortunately, several corn diseases are carried by wind and can end up in your field whether you practice good rotation practices or not. Related: How... Read More
With changes to the way wheat is marketed and the arrival of higher-yielding varieties, there's growing interest in boosting wheat protein content with in-season nitrogen applications in Western Canada. The basic recipe is 10 gallons per acre of 28-0-0 with 10 gallons of water applied with a flat fan nozzle shortly after anthesis or flowering,... Read More
As a diverse set of volunteers in the agriculture industry, it's hard to assign a worth to the work beneficial insects accomplish, but their absence can speak volumes, if you're listening. To showcase that, Jim Broatch, pest management specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, talks root maggots in this Canola School, and how an... Read More