Wheat midge is still a significant threat to wheat in Western Canada. While the threat has subsided a bit because of the discovery and use of the SM1 resistance gene, it’s important to remember that there is only one bullet in the chamber, and if it gets spent wheat crops will be, once again, at… Read more »
Category: Crop Production
Maizex Seeds focused on the future of Canadian agriculture
Focus on growth by meeting the needs of farmers across Canada is the clear direction for the team at Maizex Seeds. Under the theme of “Together We Grow”, the joint venture between Maizex Seeds and La Coop fédérée will see Maizex assuming the management of the corn and soybean businesses for both the Maizex and… Read more »
Resistance Management School: Seeding rates to the rescue
Highly competitive crops that make it difficult for weeds to gain a foothold in fields play a key role in effective herbicide resistance management. One way to make your crop more competitive is to increase seeding rates to produce higher plant populations. In this episode of RealAgriculture’s Resistance Management School, University of Manitoba weed scientist… Read more »
Dryer catches fire at Saskatchewan grain terminal
A major fire broke out late October 11 at the North West Terminal approximately one kilometre east of the town of Unity, Sask. The terminal had just recently installed a new high capacity dryer, which is where the fire started. At this time, the fire is contained to this area, but is in close proximity… Read more »
Bayer CropScience reaffirms commitment to Calgary-based headquarters
After a calculated decision-making process that included “a number of factors,” Bayer has chosen Calgary, Alta., as its new Canadian headquarters. Since the acquisition of Monsanto was completed in the summer, Bayer had yet to decide on a headquarters, and begin the process of finalizing its new corporate structure. Bayer spokesperson Trish Jordan indicated to RealAgriculture… Read more »
WASDE report pushes corn, soybean futures higher
After a very poor day for equities for the second day in a row, the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report pushed corn and soybeans higher and wheat lower on the day in the futures market. The market did not move substantially today, but some analysts hoped the market would of moved higher… Read more »
Soybean School: Helping varieties ‘flex’ for higher yield
The concept of ‘flex’ corn hybrids has been talked about in seed circles for several years. The idea is quite simple: these corn hybrids have the ability to flex and create larger ears with more girth at lower populations. They produce higher yields when planted in the 28,000 seeds per acre range. The idea of… Read more »
Wheat Pete’s Word, Oct 10: Harvest woes, late planting for wheat, and big buggy decisions
Harvest woes aren’t just limited to Western Canada, as, while there hasn’t been snow (yet!), wet field conditions are keeping Ontario farmers out of the fields as well. Soybean harvest has hardly advanced since last week, and disease pressure continues to build in standing corn. This week’s Wheat Pete’s Word covers a harvest update, but… Read more »
Western Canadian harvest progress stuck in the snow
Timing is everything ,and the snow that has fallen again this week on parts of Western Canada could not have come at a worse time. Many growers woke up Sunday and Monday to a fresh blanket of one inch to a foot of snow, depending on where you farm. Whether it’s the loss of grade,… Read more »
Corn School: Plant deeper for higher yields
It might seem counter-intuitive, but slowing down corn emergence may actually boost yields. Plot results are in, and it would seem that optimum distance between corn plants matters far less than uniform emergence. And achieving perfectly uniform emergence takes planting deep. We already know that even emergence is key to top yields, but the mechanism… Read more »
Canola School: Harvest decisions and bin management for green or tough canola
Harvest started strong in most parts of the Prairies and then has either came to a complete halt or fallen into a slow grind of doing a few acres, checking moisture levels, changing fields, waiting, and getting frustrated. RealAgriculture’s Saskatchewan field editor Dale Leftwich went out to a couple of fields with Canola Council of… Read more »
Non-hybrids with hybrid vigour just one goal of biotech research
The joke in Saskatoon is that you come for the weather, but stay because you can’t get a flight out. Kidding aside, Saskatoon is actually a hub of biotech research and development with findings and products with the potential to benefit farmers all over the world. Because of this, Global Biotech Week is an event… Read more »
Check that ration — mycotoxin levels in Ontario corn creeping higher
Early indications from the 2018 corn silage crop indicate that mycotoxins, resulting from disease infection, in corn are and will be a concern heading in to the winter feeding season. As silage is sometimes the yellow flag ahead of grain corn harvest, agronomists and livestock nutritionists alike are encouraging farmers to get harvest wrapped up… Read more »
The SeedPod —Ep 16: Soil testing is step one in soil health management
When it comes to testing seed, you’re after many answers, but the bottom line is always “Is this seed fit for use?” When it comes to soil, you don’t have the choice on whether or not to use it — but you can use soil sampling and testing to inform your management and put a… Read more »
Wheat School: Tips for dealing with tough grain in a cold, wet harvest
The phone is ringing off the hook at PAMI. Some very difficult questions are being asked by farmers as a result of the late harvest and the cool, damp weather. There are no easy answers, of course, but luckily PAMI has done a lot of research over the years and although they can’t change the… Read more »