Aster yellows is a 'phytoplasma' disease carried by aster leafhoppers. It's known for the odd-shaped canola pods it causes later in the growing season. Problems with aster yellows are hit and miss, depending on your area and the year. "We are kind of waiting for the next leafhopper infestation with aster yellows, the next big…Read More
Category: Western Canada
Dow and DuPont have reached a proposed agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice that will allow the companies to proceed with their merger. The deal, which is still subject to court approval, would require DuPont divest some of its crop protection portfolio, while Dow would divest some of its plastic copolymers and ionomers business.... Read More
The House of Commons agriculture committee held an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) outbreak in southeast Manitoba. There have been at least 20 confirmed on-farm cases since May 2. To put that number in perspective, Manitoba previously only had 10 PEDv-positive barns dating back to 2014 when the... Read More
The Saskatchewan government says it will offer current patrons of its pasture program the option of leasing the land in 15-year leases as the program is wound down over the next three years. The decision to end the Saskatchewan Pastures Program (SPP) was announced in the province's budget back in March. The province says more... Read More
Before we start let me make this point very clear: This editorial is not an argument for or against supply management. It's a statement on Canada's negotiating position heading into the upcoming NAFTA talks. In any trade you try to maximize the return on an asset. In sports, this could be other players, draft picks... Read More
The Minneapolis Grain Exchange shattered its daily trade volume record on Tuesday, as traders responded to dry conditions and lower-than-expected crop ratings for U.S. spring wheat. MGEX reported 33,453 contracts traded on Tuesday — a 23 percent increase over its previous record of just over 27,000 in a day. The September spring wheat futures contract... Read More
From cold and wet, transitioning into too hot and dry, all in just one week in Ontario. How is that possible? RealAg agronomist Peter Johnson is just as baffled when it comes to the weather, as he discusses on this week's Word. Peter covers the latest in wheat, soybeans, corn, edible beans, forage management, and... Read More
If you’re a hockey fan, you had to be excited and inspired by the support Nashville showed for its Predators through the playoffs, whether you liked the team or not. The buzz downtown was fantastic. I can only imagine those images will draw even more tourists to Music City than the record numbers that have... Read More
Nearly five years after it was approved in Canada, Dow AgroSciences says Enlist corn will be available in Canada and the U.S. for the 2018 growing season. The launch comes after China's Ministry of Agriculture gave its long-awaited approval to imports of corn containing the Enlist trait this week. The Enlist system combines tolerance to... Read More
A "biopesticide" is defined as a living organism that's capable of controlling a pest, including weeds. Dr. Susan Boyetchko, research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Saskatoon, specializes in biopesticide technology, and she's been working on a program to develop bio-based tools for controlling grassy weeds, such as wild oats and green foxtail. As…Read More