Start clean, stay clean is a smart motto when it comes to corn and soybean fields, but what's the right amount of "clean" in relation to weed cover and yield potential? Dr. Peter Sikkema, professor of plant science with the University of Guelph — Ridgetown Campus, took to the field to answer that question. If,... Read More
Category: Crop Schools
"Neonicotinoids," "Colony Collapse Disorder," "Varroa," "Nosema"... Defining those colloquialisms (and others) was just one of the goals the Canola Council of Canada's Gregory Sekulic had in mind when he presented "Buzzwords about Bees" at the Farming Smarter Conference in Medicine Hat. Sekulic wanted to clear the air on jargon that so often exacerbates misunderstanding "We... Read More
Herbicide resistant wild oats are pretty easy to identify, says Neil Harker, a research scientist in weed ecology and crop management at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Lacombe Research Centre. "You generally see them in patches. If you see [wild oats] in real straight lines, then you suspect a sprayer error, but if you just see... Read More
Peter Johnson, cereal specialist with Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, will be moving on after February 4, a day that marks 30 years with the ministry. But, it doesn't sound like Johnson will be retiring from agriculture any time soon. "We have to get back to that thought process of protecting the... Read More
With the rise in gluten-free and low carb dieting, wheat has received a bad rap and developed a nutritional reputation that it doesn't deserve, says a cereal research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Based at the Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals in Winnipeg, Dr. Nancy Ames is concerned consumers are not realizing... Read More
Manitoba farmers whose soil test results say they have soybean cyst nematode in their soil may want to get a second opinion, says a soil ecologist from the University of Manitoba. While the number of soybean acres has exploded on the eastern side of the Prairies over the last few years, Western Canadian growers have... Read More
With clubroot disease showing up in fields east of Alberta over the last few years, there's work underway in Manitoba to survey the entire canola-growing region of the province for the presence of clubroot spores. So far, spores or symptoms have been found in 13 fields in 10 rural municipalities in Manitoba. Spore concentrations in... Read More
Research into the role of inputs in field peas has often looked at each individually, with little known on the effects of combining inputs. The Western Applied Research Corporation (WARC) looked to change that with a study that's wrapping up this year. Over the past three years, trials have been conducted at Scott, Melfort, Swift... Read More
Increasing nitrogen rates can actually prove detrimental if producers don't also take the time to apply fungicides, says Peter Johnson, cereals specialist with Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. That's because the resulting improvements in canopy can actually increase the potential for disease development. Enter the nitrogen/fungicide duo. "That synergy is so significant," says... Read More
One of the leading causes of herbicide injury in canola is insufficient sprayer cleaning, says Clark Brenzil, provincial weed control specialist for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. Whether due to drift or residue, herbicide injury can result in drastic yield losses, besides being an eye-sore to drive by. Related: Spray Tips with Tom Wolf —... Read More