It's been dry in parts of Western Canada heading into canola flowering, but has it been dry enough to hold off on spraying for sclerotinia? That's a question many growers and agronomists in drought-affected areas have been asking themselves over the last week or two. There are really two basic factors to consider in the... Read More
Category: Crop Production
Environmental conditions this year are certainly conducive to grasshopper population growth, and some areas of the Prairies are finding this pest a major cause for concern. Dr. James Tansey, provincial entomologist for Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, joins host Shaun Haney in this episode of the Pests & Predators Podcast, to chat about the common species... Read More
The Northern Great Plains are in a major drought. Unfortunately, there isn't a better way to say it out loud, as it's not just the Canadian Prairies — the drought extends into parts of the whole western half of North America. Janna Block, livestock systems extension specialist with North Dakota State University extension, recently joined... Read More
A tissue test can give you a snapshot into what's happening in a plant as far as nutrient uptake is concerned. The test doesn't necessarily predict an issue, and not all results are actionable; that's left many agronomists wondering how best to use tissue tests in conjunction with soil tests, zone mapping, and fertility planning.... Read More
Pea leaf weevils are out and active, and if they're present in your fields they're doing foliar damage to pea and faba bean crops. Meghan Vankosky, field crop entomologist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, Sask., joins Kara Oosterhuis for a discussion about pea leaf weevil scouting and thresholds in this Pulse School episode. "You... Read More
There is tremendous yield potential in Ontario corn fields right now. With recent rainfalls, subsoil moisture has been replenished and the crop has jumped in the last few days. Great looking acres and strong corn prices both weigh into the decision to apply fungicides. In this Corn School episode, Bernard Tobin is joined by BASF... Read More
It's well-known that canola does not like heat during flowering. As soon as daytime highs rise beyond 30 degrees C — as we're seeing through the current heat wave in Western Canada — the plant can become heat stressed, which leads to blasting and aborted pods. High temperatures can essentially cause a breakdown in communication... Read More
By John McGregor With calls for a searing, west-approaching heat wave bearing down on us this week and next, the moisture situation across the province remains pointed at a significant moisture deficient with our hay and pasture fields. A very well-timed rain in late June brought a bit of relief at the time, however, it... Read More
Some farmers practice strip till in their cornfields, some plant corn in twin rows, while others plant multiple hybrids. Then there's Mike Strang — he does it all in the same field and even adds cover crops to the management mix. On this episode of The Sharp Edge, Strang, who farms with his family near... Read More
Recent weather events in parts of Ontario have really flattened some wheat crops. There's an awesome crop out there, but harvesting it will now be much more difficult. In this episode of the Wheat School, Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson talks about combine set-ups, the possibility of applying a pre-harvest burndown, and is later joined by... Read More