We’ve talked about the importance of pre-plant control of Canada fleabane, and how to avoid letting this weed get a foothold in your field, but what are your options when it is there? There are several options, but the effectiveness of both tillage or herbicides is influenced by many factors. Tillage is only about 70%… Read More
Category: Agronomy
The Canadian Wheat Alliance was announced on May 16 and will provide $97M worth of funding over five years for wheat research. The effort will combine expertise from each of: the National Research Council, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the province of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan. “Wheat research has lagged a bit,” says Lyle… Read More
Towering yellow-flowered plants in a soybean field don’t just look a bit out of place, these volunteer canola plants are actually competing with the crop and using valuable soil nutrients. Just how much of an impact this has on final soybean yield is important to know, as, just like with any pest, it’s important to… Read More
Protecting the almighty flag leaf of a wheat crop is paramount, as this single, fat leaf contributes the vast majority of energy to fill those kernels. Timing a fungicide application to protect against leaf diseases like tan spot or septoria must happen before heads emerge to really benefit the crop. Of course, as heads start… Read More
While seeding may be running a wee bit behind average for many, the long days and warmer soil can mean crops pop up quite quickly. In Manitoba, many canola fields are pushing through in about a week, which makes now a great time to start scouting for a number of things, like flea beetle feeding… Read More
Does your farm have the cleavers? In this episode of the Pulse School, Ken Sapsford, research assistant at the University of Saskatchewan, explains issues surrounding the abundance of cleavers across the prairies. With the shift towards no-till farming practices, cleavers, which were once considered a summer annual, are now overwintering, particularly in the presence of… Read More
An nasty cold weekend has left many corn and wheat fields looking just a little sad over a huge area of southern Ontario. According to wheat specialist, Peter Johnson, wheat still in the boot should be fine, but fields with heads emerged could see some yield damage. Similarly, the staging of the corn crop at… Read More
According to the Manitoba government update, farmers made good seeding progress over the past week. Seeding is estimated to be 75% to 80% complete in the Southwest Region, 80% complete in the Northwest Region, 70-85% complete in the Central Region, 85% complete in the Eastern Region and 75-80% complete in the Interlake Region. In areas… Read More
The seeding pass is the most important one you make on your fields. This is true for annual crops, but perhaps even more so for perennial crops as these fields may need to produce for four, five or several more years. What’s more, forages can be quite tricky to establish, as the seeds are typically… Read More
Crop diseases, including those that affect pulses, can develop quickly if conditions are ripe. Add to that that fungicide products are nearly all protective and not curative, and timing and application becomes crucial to effective use of the products. In this SoundCloud interview, Debra Murphy, Saskatchewan field editor for RealAgriculture.com, asks Glendy Clezy and Todd… Read More
There is such thing as too early to plant soybeans, as the crop does not fare well in cool conditions (one researcher likened it to the germinating seed having a “heart attack”). More commonly, however, we’re worried about going in too late, as even the short season varieties are a tad on the long side… Read More
Oftentimes after seeding is finished there is a push to move right into herbicide mode, but you should be getting into the habit of checking out plant stands as soon as possible. How a crop emerges and establishes tells the story of seeder settings, soil management or early insect pressure, so it is a great… Read More
While winter wheat is a darn hardy crop — just 15 plants per sq. foot growing in the spring can reach a very respectable yield potential — there are times when crops just don’t make it through. The southwest corner of Manitoba is reporting some winter wheat issues, and crop insurance adjusters are out evaluating… Read More
Darling Mother Nature can really be tricky at times. It’s bad enough that nutrient deficiency symptoms can be subtle at best, but there are some symptoms that look like several different things. Group 2 drift injury of young plants, for example, can look very much like sulphur deficiency. Soil residual Group 2 injury may be… Read More
Rolling soybean fields at or just after planting can be most efficient, but planting conditions aren’t always exactly rolling-friendly. The good news is there is still time to roll long after seeding, with one very specific no-go window. But first, do you have to roll? That’s the question RealAgriculture.com put to Dennis Lange, farm production… Read More