It’s mid-April and, as always, the weather is keeping everyone guessing—too wet in Ontario, too dry in the U.S., and snow still piling up out west. In this week’s Wheat Pete’s Word, there’s no shortage of agronomy updates, market concerns, and practical ideas to help manage tight margins. From fertilizer supply challenges to nitrogen economics... Read More

Canada's pesticide regulator has a new name as of April 1, 2026. Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (better known as PMRA) is now the Pesticides Regulatory Directorate (PRD). The PRD maintains the same mandate as the PMRA, looking after the registration and evaluation of products that fall under the Pest Control Products Act. The... Read More

There's a renewed push in the House of Commons for quicker approvals of agricultural products that are available in other countries with similar scientific standards as Canada. Southern Alberta Conservative MP David Bexte introduced a private member's bill on April 14 that would require 90-day approval for feed, seed, pest control, fertilizer, and veterinary products... Read More

Irrigation has long been a cornerstone of southern Alberta agriculture, but tighter water supplies and rising complexity are reshaping how producers and districts manage every drop. In this episode of the Final Mile podcast, Shaun Haney speaks with John Kolk of Kolk Farms and Chris Gallagher, general manager of the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District (LNID),... Read More

Harvesting corn in the spring can reduce drying costs, but it’s far from risk-free. Success hinges on managing snow impact, understanding quality trade-offs, and planning ahead to protect yield potential. In this episode of Corn School, RealAgriculture agronomist Peter Johnson visits a field near Stratford, Ont., where corn has overwintered. He says the situation mirrors... Read More

Herbicide-resistant weeds continue to spread across Ontario, but agronomists warn that two species — waterhemp and Palmer amaranth — are raising the most concern as the 2026 growing season approaches. At this week’s Ridgetown Agribusiness breakfast meeting, agronomists, scientists, and ag retailers highlighted the rapid expansion of waterhemp, the emerging presence of Palmer amaranth, and... Read More

It’s a classic early April juggling act—frosty mornings, slow-to-arrive spring warmth, and just enough field opportunity to keep everyone guessing. This week, Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson digs into frost applications, lingering corn harvests, and the big agronomy questions rolling in as the season tries to get going. From nitrogen timing to sulphur strategy and soil... Read More