Fusarium head blight. It’s one nasty disease that most of the Prairies was happy to consider a southern Manitoba problem. The troubling reality, however, is that the disease has been steadily marching west for quite some time, and while it’s not news that the disease has been found in Alberta and Saskatchewan, the incidence of… Read more »
Category: Wheat School – West
Wheat School – Don’t Hold Out for Protein Premiums this Fall
Did your wheat crop make you smile this year? Good yields and high protein in the face of strong commodity prices is the coveted winning trifecta of the wheat world. Unfortunately, Canadian wheat growers are not the only ones with bins full of high protein, quality wheat. The traditional high protein spreads only happen when… Read more »
Wheat School: The Impact of Seeding Depth & Nitrogen Application
Uniform seeding at a consistent depth is the first step to a banner wheat crop, but the first mistake many farmers make — seeding too deep — hurts them twice over. Wheat seeded too deep means fewer plants emerge and those that do are slower to grow and produce fewer tillers. It’s an issue for… Read more »
Wheat School – Seed Drills – A Comparison
Shopping around for farm equipment can be a little daunting. Every manufacturer makes claims that their equipment is the best and the best fit for you. While you may have an idea what you want, the actual performance of that equipment can only be seen once you’re in the field. That can leave farmers with… Read more »
Wheat School: Winter Wheat Variety Selection & Nitrogen Management
In the first part of our interview with MAFRI Cereal Specialist Pam de Rocquigny we spoke about some of the critical elements involved in seeding winter wheat: 1. What kind of stubble you’re going to seed into. 2. How deep you should seed. 3. Weed and volunteer crop control. SEE MORE WHEAT SCHOOL. In this… Read more »
Wheat School – Winter Wheat: Stubble Selection, Seeding Depth & Weed Control
One of the things farmers learn very early is that you can’t control every variable involved in growing your crop, so you should focus on what you can control. When planting winter wheat, there’s no telling what the season will bring, so you focus on making the best choices available to you from the start…. Read more »
Wheat School – Check Your Drills Before Seeding
The stretch from spring seeding to winter wheat planting isn’t really that long, but a lot can happen over that period. During the time your equipment sits it’s subject to all kinds of weather variations from late spring snowstorms to summer heat waves. Those kind of swings can wreak havoc with your equipment in ways… Read more »
Wheat School – Make Sure Your Air Cart is Ready for Seeding
Every farmer at some point in their career has to deal with gremlins. From the moment you park your machinery it’s a virtual free for all of loosening bolts, fraying belts and poking holes in things. That’s why every year at seeding, sure enough, as soon as you take that equipment out to use it,… Read more »
Wheat School – How Do I Know If It’s Stripe Rust?
Stripe rust is the new big bad disease on the block. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not “new” in the sense of just arriving on the scene, but it is new in the sense that it is making it’s presence known lately. As with anything that’s currently in the spotlight, there tends to be a… Read more »
Wheat School – Stripe Rust: “A Different Animal”
Last year proved to be a unique situation for producers in Southern Alberta with regard to stripe rust. An over-wintering of the disease exposed producers to it earlier than usual with damaging results. Given the particularly mild winter across the prairies this year, producers should be on the lookout for stripe rust a lot earlier…. Read more »
Wheat School – Multiple Applications of Fungicide In Wheat – Are We There Yet?
Managing fusarium has become a fact of life for wheat producers in areas of the west. The disease is a real challenge for producers living in regions that are intensely affected. While there is no one-step solution available to those producers, an integrated approach can provide producers with a high level of management, maintaining yields… Read more »
Wheat School – How Have Fungicide Decisions Evolved Over Time?
Over the last 10 years, the thoughts and the strategy behind fungicide application have changed dramatically. Whether it’s new information brought to light by research or changing external circumstances, the process behind how farmers make fungicide decisions has evolved. Over the short term, some of those external changes that have influenced decision making involve the… Read more »
Wheat School – Three Key Components of Fusarium Head Blight Management
There is no silver bullet solution when it comes to fusarium. The disease is widespread and can be devastating if it’s left unchecked or handled incorrectly. When it comes to management and control of the disease, the best bet any producer has involves an integrated approach. That approach involves three key steps that together give… Read more »
Wheat School – Maximizing the ROI of Fungicides
The decision to apply a fungicide to your wheat crop can be made a little easier if understand the return on your investment. Yield equals dollars and if you’re in an area that’s at risk for disease. Protecting your crops yield potential is benefit number 1. Fungicides first and foremost provide a preventative level of… Read more »
Wheat School – Is it Time to Prioritize a Fungicide Over Herbicide Application on Wheat?
With all of the cold weather in April keeping a large portion of winter wheat producers out of the field for that initial herbicide/fungicide pass, it’s natural to start wondering if you missed the boat on some yield potential. As worrisome as that may be to the roughly 50% of Ontario farmers that weren’t able… Read more »