What a week! The planting is going fast and furious, and farmers are getting itchy for rain. In this week’s Wheat Pete’s Word, hosted by Peter Johnson, we tackle why a dry spring is a-OK and why not to worry too much about rain just yet. What’s more concerning is the downright cool weather forecast... Read More
Category: Crop Production
Resistance to clubroot disease in canola is deteriorating across Alberta, according to research conducted by Alberta Agriculture and the University of Alberta. Multiple pathotypes are now suspected to be responsible for infecting canola varieties that were previously deemed resistant to the soil-borne disease. The presence of a different clubroot pathotype that could infect resistant varieties... Read More
BASF has announced registration of CARAMBA fungicide for Eastern Canada. CARAMBA is now registered for use on corn for suppression of fusarium and gibberella ear rot (Fusarium graminearum and Gibberella zeae) for the 2015 growing season. “The active ingredient in CARAMBA, metconazole, has been proven to provide excellent results in reducing DON levels as well... Read More
With seeding underway, it's easy to switch the drill from cereals to canola and just continue rolling. However, Angela Brackenreed of the Canola Council of Canada has a reminder in this wet and windy Canola School episode: a clean, weed-free start to the growing season is more important than an early start. Dig into the... Read More
A job worth doing is worth doing well, and if you're treating soybean seed at home on the farm, you may be over or under applying product. There are custom seed treatment options available, on a field by field basis, that may become even more popular as new regulations come into force for next season.... Read More
Approximately 25 percent of the 2015 crop on the Canadian prairies was in the ground at the start of this week (May 4th), according to the weather and crop specialist with CWB Market Research. Dry conditions in southern Alberta, southwestern Saskatchewan and south-central/southeastern Manitoba have allowed seeding operations to advance ahead of average, with “virtually... Read More
We’re into the first week of May, and the challenges facing farmers this year couldn’t be any more different than last year, even if we planned it. Speaking of polar opposite, let’s kick off this week’s Wheat Pete’s Word with a look at the tale of two wheat crops — those that look GREAT, and... Read More
If you look up the term "superweed," you'll likely find a definition that includes "herbicide-resistance" and "accidental crossing" of genetically engineered plants and their "wild" counterparts. But, that could be changing, thanks in part to the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA). “Since superweed is now clearly part of the public vernacular, we decided to... Read More
The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) has introduced a new award to recognize outstanding researchers and their contribution to the competitiveness and sustainability of the Canadian beef industry. The Canadian Beef Industry Award for Outstanding Research and Innovation will honour scientists and academics that are actively involved in strong research programs aligned with industry priorities,... Read More
The sun is shining, the grass has turned green and the temptation to turn cattle out to pasture is strong at this time of year. Spring grazing is often the weakest link in the grazing system on cow-calf operations, says Jane Thornton, pasture and rangeland specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, noting decisions made in spring can... Read More