Can we improve yield parameters for farmers through enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs)? That’s the question that Adam Fast, masters student at the University of Alberta, is looking to answer. Fast was at WheatStalk at Lethbridge, Alta., to discuss the projects he and the team are working on, and what results they have seen so far…. Read More
Author: Kara Oosterhuis
Kara Oosterhuis is a Field Editor for RealAgriculture, covering all things agronomy in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. She grew up on a mixed irrigation and dryland farm northeast of Bow Island, Alta. Kara has always had a love for agriculture and a desire for telling stories - so she figured she may as well choose a career that lets her do both.
Although not an overly common disease, wheat streak mosaic virus can cause an immense amount of damage to final yield. Reports in southern Alberta have indicated the appearance of the virus. Although alarms aren’t being set off, it’s important to be aware of it, as the virus can spread quickly and easily. The initial signs… Read More
The Successors is a RealAgriculture podcast series hosted by Kara Oosterhuis focusing on agriculture from the perspective of the up-and-coming generation. How do you find time for yourself, in the midst of volunteering, a career, and helping out on the family farm? What can you do to chase your passion? Why is it important to… Read More
When thinking about protecting yield from disease, one of the first things to understand is where yield actually comes from. Jeremy Boychyn, agronomy research extension specialist with Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions, understanding how the each leaf of the wheat plant builds yield helps inform decisions on how to best manage risks to yield. “One… Read More
Wireworms are one of the biggest insect pests for cereals across the Prairies. Not only can they cause extreme damage to the crop, they are incredibly difficult to control. John Laurie, research scientist of molecular biology with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), and Haley Catton, research scientist of field crop entomology at AAFC, have been… Read More
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is out with its June World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. There were no major surprises in the report, but markets saw another sell-off following its release. After a number of rain instances in some of the wheat growing zones, the outlook for wheat this month… Read More
Grasshoppers are out there, and, in some areas in the Prairies, in large numbers. It’s important to get into your field and scout, not only for populations, but also as a friendly reminder that not all hopping insects are grasshoppers. There are other insects in the field that hop and jump but aren’t grasshoppers, says… Read More
The list of technology continues to evolve, and Outback Guidance is continuing that trend. The new MaveriX Precision AG solution provides guidance, steering, and application control. The MaveriX application software includes a new user interface that provides a tablet-like user experience with improved 3D graphics, with adjustable widgets, says Darren Pritchard of Outback Guidance. The M-series… Read More
A few years back, Hi-Hog Farm & Ranch Equipment launched a neck extender — but since then, have made some improvements with the launch of the head holder. The issue with the neck extender, says Myron Wigness of Hi-Hog Farm & Ranch Equipment, was that you are operating it with every animal, even if you… Read More
By early July, many canola fields across the Prairies are in the beginning stages of bolting. According to Héctor Cárcamo, research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Lethbridge, Alta., that’s a great time to start thinking about the cabbage seed pod weevil. Before worrying about thresholds and spray timing for the insect pest that can… Read More
When seeing the name Degelman, many think of their first product to hit market that became a game-changer — one of the first reel-type rock pickers ever built. That was in 1962. Fast forward to 2022, to Canada’s Farm Show, at Regina, Sask., and the company is celebrating 60 years since that first rock picker… Read More
Ranging from five- to 120-feet wide, Vogels Wick Weeder offers farmers another option when it comes to weed control. Ralph Wasylyniuk, of Farm Agro Sales, was on site at Canada’s Farm Show at Regina, Sask., to discuss the implement, which, by the way, isn’t meant to be used as a replacement sprayer. “It’s to be… Read More
Have you ever wished you had the ability to move your grain bin from one yard to the next? With a transport height of 17 feet, and 27 feet wide, the T-Bin mobile telescoping bin allows you to do just that. Pat Beaujot, one of three founders of the system, says they do that through… Read More
There are two main species of flea beetles across the Prairies: the striped flea beetle and the crucifer flea beetle. Both can have devastating impacts on the canola crop, however, they have a few differences between them. As Héctor Cárcamo, research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) at Lethbridge, Alta., explains, the crucifier flea beetle… Read More
Validating economic thresholds for flea beetles can be tricky — especially when we know the damage the insect can do to the canola crop. Héctor Cárcamo, research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) at Lethbridge, Alta., recently completed a study that confirms an economic threshold. The team at AAFC found that 25 per cent… Read More