Every selection tool shifts the weed spectrum, and that includes farmer-controlled decisions such as tillage, crop rotation, and seeding rate. It also includes non-farmer controlled selection tools, such as wet or dry weather cycles. To unpack what we can learn from shifting weed patterns, we go to Mike Cowbrough, weed specialist with the Ontario Ministry… Read More
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From fleabane, to wild oats, to kochia and Palmer amaranth, which weed is the toughest to kill on the farm? For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Mike Cowbrough, weed specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Tammy Jones, technical sales agronomist with Corteva AgriScience, to… Read More
If you’re looking for a little snack and happen to be standing in a patch of weeds, it’s entirely possible the plants at your feet are edible — maybe even tasty. If you’re looking for help on which one to eat, you might be surprised to learn that Ontario’s weed specialist can tell you not… Read More
Timing is everything when it comes to weed control in Ontario winter wheat. Spraying at the wrong time can be ineffective and can damage your crop. Spraying your weeds at just the right time can have not only immediate benefits, but can help you to gain the upper hand heading into winter wheat planting. In… Read More
Is fall a good time to look at weed control in your winter wheat? Pre-plant weed control is an option that most farmers don’t exercise. The reason has a lot to do with the business of the season. Harvest is in full swing depending what you’re growing and farmers have to balance that with trying… Read More
The Christmas presents have been opened and you’ve finished the turkey leftovers. What’s next for the holidays? Why not binge soybean videos! The RealAgriculture Soybean School published 30 videos in 2022 and here’s your chance to see what you missed or do a double take on your favourite episodes. The 2022 season kicked off with… Read More
Winter is not always kind to fall-planted wheat. Sometimes thin stands and winter kill make for a poor economic outlook and growers need to take it out and plant another crop. What do growers need to think about if they decide to switch to soybeans? Are there implications if a cereal herbicide had been applied… Read More
Combines are rolling and as soybeans move to the bin, agronomists are reminding growers that the potential for an open fall presents a great opportunity for weed control. BASF agronomist Ken Currah says fall is the perfect time to tackle tough weeds like dandelion, Canada thistle and perennial sow thistle. “This is the time to… Read More
It’s time for Day 4 of Ontario Diagnostic Days! The annual Ontario crop diagnostic days were back in the field on July 20 and 21, 2022, but only at Ridgetown campus University of Guelph. Not everyone could attend these two field days, so the organizing committees of these highly successful in-field education and learning events are… Read More
Every year soybean growers invest in weed control to keep their fields clean. But quite often, new, uninvited weed pests enter fields. Where do they come from? How do they break though weed control defences and gain a foothold in fields? On this episode of the RealAgriculture Soybean School, OMAFRA weed specialist Mike Cowbrough looks at… Read More
Soil-applied herbicide is the foundation of weed management for food grade non-GMO soybeans. But escapes do happen, and when weeds evade control, growers need to act. On this episode of RealAgriculture Soybean School, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs weed specialist, Mike Cowbrough, shares tips on how IP growers can tackle weedy escape artists…. Read More
Don’t let the soil temp keep you from putting corn or beans in the ground, however, you will want to make sure the forecast isn’t calling for cold rain. That’s right, it IS May and that means that soil temperature as a guide to planting gets thrown out the window, but a cold drink of… Read More
What can growers do to reduce crop injury in soybean fields where they rely on soil-applied herbicides for weed control? Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs weed management specialist Mike Cowbrough sees this type of injury every year in soybean fields, but he says there are always other factors at play including untimely rain, compaction… Read More
It’s entirely possible that while herbicide supplies will be tight for #plant22, there will be enough to go around. That said, at least two popular herbicides — glyphosate and glufosinate — will be somewhat limited. What does that mean for herbicide plan B or C? Will tight supplies of some of the more popular actives… Read More
It’s time for agronomy hot topics on Day 4 of Ontario Diagnostic Days! The annual Ontario field crop diagnostic days held at Ridgetown, Elora, and Winchester are again virtual in 2021. Crop nutrition, weed control and planting depth and timing are the focus of this episode. We kick it off with Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food… Read More