Early season field scouting serves many purposes. Not only is early scouting a powerful tool in keeping ahead of weed, disease and insect pests, but early season growth of the crop tells the story of planting. Sometimes that story isn't necessarily a happy tale, as crusting, variable emergence or thin stands can all be traced... Read More
Category: Crop Production
They're back! While it's a bit early to be alarmed about armyworm feeding, early is also the prime time to be scouting for this leaf chewer. Armyworms start out very small (which happens to be the best time to control them) and like to feed in the evenings, so if you're doing most of your... Read More
Last week Kristen Phillips, Manitoba's agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada, introduced us to the Ultimate Canola Challenge set up near Portage la Prairie, Man., and offered tips on counting plant stands. The UCC, a demo of three teams all vying for top canola yields, includes three different canola varieties, seeding with two... Read More
A joint venture by U.S.-based The Andersons Inc and the Lansing Trade Group will see the grain handling and ag-retail company Thompsons Ltd bought for an undisclosed sum. According to a press release, it will be business as usual for Thompsons Limited, headquartered in Blenheim, Ont., though Lansing plans to close one of its offices... Read More
Targeting wheat heads requires a very different approach when spraying than when looking after the flag leaf — water volume and travel speed play a role, but it's the upright, thin nature of the head that requires a switch in nozzles for best coverage. In this interview, Ontario cereal specialist Peter Johnson reviews what it... Read More
Big iron, excellent distribution networks and long hours meant that roughly 80% of the southern Ontartio corn and soybean crop went in the ground between May 6th to 20th. As Ken Currah, with PRIDE Seeds notes in this RealAgriculture.com Crop Update Ontario, available horsepower and machinery means that when the ground is fit, it's off... Read More
As wheat heads first emerge from the boot, the clock starts ticking — from fully emerged you've got about six days to protect the head from the dreaded fusarium head blight. Farmers should target a fungicide application to coincide with heads on 75% of plants at around Day 2 to Day 4. Not sure what... Read More
There's no denying the flax market tanked following the discovery of CDC Triffid in exports to Europe in 2009. The Flax Council of Canada set out a testing protocol for Triffid, but many farmers balked at the idea of sowing flax seed again. It's been four years now —will we see a gradual shift back... Read More
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food has released its latest crop update, dated to May 29. Last weekend's frost has had an impact on several crops but the only real worry is in the most advanced wheat crops, some of which are pollinating right now. Wheat heads still in the boot or just emerging... Read More
Farmers who had included pulses in their initial crop rotations for 2013 are likely to rewarded for sticking with the crop thanks to continued big demand and lofty prices for most crop types. That's according to Chuck Penner, owner of LeftField Commodity Research, who spoke with RealAgriculture.com's Shaun Haney in this episode of the Pulse... Read More