Think sclerotinia won't show up just because it's been dry? Last year proved that even after a string of droughts, one wet window is all this sneaky disease needs to make a comeback. After several years of drought, many Prairie canola growers were caught off guard by sclerotinia in 2024. “Last year… was the first... Read More
Category: Crop Production
How does weather impact the type of weeds farmers see in their fields each spring? 'Every year is different' is a phrase that's often applied to agriculture and warm versus cool spring conditions can certainly impact weed pressure and weed control challenges, says recently retired University of Guelph weed scientist Dr. Peter Sikkema. At a... Read More
Host of Wheat Pete's Word, Peter Johnson, is in the U.K. this week, combining family time with a packed Yield Enhancement Network tour schedule. In this episode of the Word, he shares agronomy updates from back home and across the pond — covering everything from unexpected nitrate levels to disease lessons from British wheat fields.... Read More
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) will reduce its levy rate on pulse and soybean crops from 0.67 per cent to 0.60 per cent, effective August 1, 2025. The change, approved by the Agri-Food Council, comes after several years of steady pulse acreage and strong prices that have led to levy revenues consistently exceeding SPG’s spending. The... Read More
On June 30, 2025, the Alberta Forage Industry Network (AFIN) will officially close up shop after 15 years, passing its mandate to the Agricultural Research & Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA). Alan Hall, executive director of ARECA, says in an interview with RealAgriculture's Amber Bell that this transition is “a good fit” as ARECA is... Read More
Heat has been in short supply this spring in most of the corn-growing region of Ontario, and cool conditions will impact the amount of nitrogen available to the corn crop in the early portion of the growing season. When it comes to determining the rate of nitrogen growers should be applying at sidedress timing, Ontario... Read More
There are literally thousands of insects currently humming or crawling about in grain and hay fields, shelterbelts, and riparian areas. Yes, some are pests of crops and livestock, but many, many more of them are beneficial insects. Beneficial insects aren't just pollinators either: some are voracious eaters of weeds or weed seeds, some attack and... Read More
It’s good news, for now, when it comes to stripe rust heading into Western Canada's 2025 growing season, according to Dr. Kelly Turkington, plant pathologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and long-time contributor to the Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network. Compared to 2024, stripe rust and leaf rust issues in the U.S. are showing... Read More
Saskatoon-based crop input supplier AgraCity has notified its farmer customers it is unable to fulfill outstanding orders for product that they've already paid for. "AgraCity has experienced some cash flow issues and has been in a process to refinance our business. This process has unfortunately taken much longer than expected and has resulted in product... Read More
Peter Hannam, a farmer, farm leader, entrepreneur and visionary who played a pivotal role in the development of soybeans as a major crop in Ontario has passed away. He was 85. Hannam was born and raised at his family’s Woodrill Farms at Guelph and attended the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) at University of Guelph. After... Read More