After a chemical manufacturer discovers a new crop protection chemical family, the normal response within the industry is to focus research on better versions of the same chemistry. This typically results in several new brands being launched, each claiming to be slightly better than the last. This seems to be the case with DuPont’s new... Read More
Category: Western Canada
When we talk about the total package approach in any crop breeding program, we mean that every effort has to balance a number of key elements, not taking away from any of them while trying to add to all of them. In chickpea, as with most crops, those efforts are directed at the areas of... Read More
Clubroot is gaining traction in Alberta and continues to spread each year. The first line of defense against the spread of clubroot is awareness. That has to include information on identification and prevention in order to be truly effective. That's why events like the Canola Galla are important. The event was all about getting producers... Read More
Any crop breeding program is a balancing act. For every problem you look to address, you potentially open the door to new and unexpected ones or risk losing desired traits. The more traits you try and breed into a crop, the more you have to think about how those traits affect each other. That's the... Read More
There really is no substitute for getting into your fields. You hear agronomists constantly banging that drum. That's because there really is no substitute for getting into your fields. This is especially true when you're trying to make a decision on when to swath your canola. A drive-by appraisal of the field just won't cut... Read More
This video was taken by a resident of Cardston, Alberta. The hail is massive. The damage that this would do to crops is incredible. Surprisingly, little damage was reported north of the town on the Blood Reserve, and east towards Magrath. If you cannot see the below embedded video, click here
I was combing through my Twitter feed last night and thought that it felt a little like Y2K — would the stroke of midnight bring certain doom as many monopoly supporters would have had us believe or would the sun rise, just like any other day? Of course, today — the first day of the... Read More
Canola acreage has shot up over the past couple of years and with the price right now it can be one of the most profitable crops on the farm. The research that goes into canola is phenomenal and has allowed yield averages to soar in the last few years. But there are still some myths... Read More
Sometimes knowing when to quit is important. This is definitely something that the Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board and the CWB Alliance need to learn. This week, a number of former directors are pleading with the Canadian Supreme Court to rule in their favor. According to the Brandon Sun, Eight former farmer-elected directors of... Read More
The US drought is causing much concern for farmers and the impending impact on food prices in the next 12 months. It can be difficult to sometimes get a handle on how bad this year is in comparison. Its always easy to say, "this is bad but nothing like 88 or 34." Sometimes a graphic... Read More