Wheat stem sawfly is thought to be native to parts of the southern Prairie provinces, and forecasting maps show that the pest is certainly present this year. “This is the time of the year where we’re starting to see some of those wheat stems topple over from wheat stem sawfly,” says Jeremy Boychyn, agronomy research… Read More
The PRIDE Seeds Education Centre is into its second year, and Matt Chapple, agronomist with PRIDE Seeds, says it’s like his sandbox — where the company can do studies and demonstrations, look at different genetics, or trial different practices that can improve yields. In this Soybean School episode, Bernard Tobin joins Chapple in his “sandbox”… Read More
A lack of late-season nitrogen and denitrification has been a concern this year, which is causing less than optimal growth in corn crops in parts of Ontario. Matt Chapple, market agronomist at PRIDE Seeds, has been getting plenty of calls this growing season about the issue, and in this Corn School episode, Bernard Tobin joins… Read More
Adequate root nodulation is critical for filling soybean pods with seed, as there’s a strong correlation between the number of nodules on soybean plants’ roots and yield. But in a dry year, the number of nodules might not matter quite as much, as soybeans can compensate for reduced nodulation by producing larger nodules. As part… Read More
Drought across much of the Prairies has caused pulse crops to become, for lack of a better term, “stagey.” Knowing how to stage a crop for, say, desiccation timing can be particularly tricky during such adverse growing conditions. In this Pulse School episode, Nevin Rosaasen, sustainability and government relations, Alberta Pulse Growers Association (APG), outlines… Read More
Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are an excellent tool for controlling the height of a wheat crop, and they also impact stem strength, especially for a crop under high management. “Lodging is caused by high nitrogen rates, or excessive nitrogen, and also high seeding rates,” says Mike Holzworth, research agronomist with C&M Seeds. In this Wheat… Read More
How drought can impact seed quality is definitely a question on a lot of farmers’ minds this year. Rachael Melenka, client success manager at 20/20 Seed Labs, has all the information to consider for testing harvested grains in this Wheat School episode. There is a potential issue with seed grown having increased dormancy this year… Read More
As swath timing and harvest approach, it’s time to pay close attention to pre-harvest intervals. “PHI or pre-harvest interval is a really important concept to understand, and it’s actually a really easy concept to use,” says Keith Gabert, agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada, in this episode of Canola School. “The labels are… Read More
Forage and hay production this year has been challenging, and livestock producers in much of the Northern Great Plains and the western half of North America are looking for alternative forage resources and feeding strategies. Zach Carlson, extension beef specialist at North Dakota State University, is looking at options for producers who might have canola… Read More
It’s often noted that soybean yield is made with rain in August, but moisture has been scarce throughout the entire growing season for soybeans on the Prairies this year. While there are areas that have received more moisture, many fields in Manitoba are showing tell-tale signs of drought stress as they move through the critical… Read More
Lygus bugs attack several broadleaf crops, including alfalfa, flax, faba beans, lentils, and canola. They are a pest of concern that have been a focus for Hector Carcamo, research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Alta. He joins Kara Oosterhuis for this Canola School episode to talk about lygus bug species, the conditions they… Read More
Success in certain crop systems can sometimes translate to other cropping systems; for example, using a planter in corn adds precision and accuracy to maximize yields and improve agronomic management. In recent years, not a lot of progress has been made in the area of irrigated durum wheat yields, and Farming Smarter is looking at… Read More
It’s important to know what’s going well, and what’s not, especially with soil. Certain “canaries in the coalmine” can indicate existing, persistent problems with management practices that over time can be improved. Adam Ireland, who farms with his family near Teeswater in Bruce County, Ont., is joined by Bernard Tobin for this episode of Soil… Read More
Plot trials are a great way to gain preliminary research findings about a particular subject. Based just outside of Lethbridge, Alta., Farming Smarter’s primary focus is applied research that helps producers make informed choices around inputs, technology and management practices for their operations. Carlo Van Herk, research technician at Farming Smarter, walks Kara Oosterhuis through the… Read More
It’s been a tough year for growers in the west — some crops are getting by rain to rain, and some are relying on soil moisture alone with the chance of rain being a hope. Drought can affect silage quality and yield, obviously, but how can smoke from wildfires affect the corn crop? Sara Meidlinger,… Read More