Harvest management and timing is always important, but for a shatter-prone crop like canola, it’s paramount to preserving yield in the field and the swath. As canola acres have jumped, so to has the rush at harvest to try and swath and harvest all of the acres at the optimum timing. That can prove a… Read More
Spring wheat may not be the highest acreage crop in Ontario, but it’s still an important crop for many, especially for those who need or sell straw. Choosing the right spring wheat variety takes a bit of research, but that research is easy to do with GoCereals.ca. In this video, Peter Johnson, OMAFRA’s wheat specialist,… Read More
The 2012 growing season was a positive one for soybean growers in all parts of the Prairies. It was also very hot and dry in many areas at harvest. As such, the crop came off dry to very dry. Soybeans are prone to cracking under these conditions, and the cracks aren’t always visible. The issue… Read More
Sometimes you just need more than germ and vigour seed testing. There are a variety of reasons why you may need a variety test, for example, or perhaps you need to know the parts per million of vomitoxin levels in fusarium damaged grain. Whatever the question or problem, there’s a seed test for it. In… Read More
One of the most frequently asked questions I get concerns dormancy — what causes it and how it impacts crops destined for seed use. Dormancy in cereals is the most common of all, and it can be quite troublesome in certain years. This year, growing conditions have been excellent and very little dormancy has… Read More
The Canadian Seed Trade Association has a lot on its plate. Newly elected President Steve Denys will be the first to tell you that. The association is working toward directing government policies that will help Canadian producers thrive at home and compete abroad in a fast paced, constantly changing arena. We spoke to Steve at… Read More
Time is money. When it comes to something like preinoculated seed, the convenience factor can save you valuable time and also the stress of being unsure of whether or not you properly applied your inoculant. In this video, Mike Verhoef answers some of the questions about preinoculated seed and talks about the benefits growers can… Read More
Faba bean, a very-high protein pulse crop, did very well under 2012 growing conditions. In fact, in many of the areas where the pea crop struggled, faba beans did quite well. Faba bean averages around 30% protein, making it an attractive feed ingredient. It’s also a common food ingredient in countries other than Canada. Bert… Read More
The vast majority of canola varieties grown on the Prairies are tolerant to some form of herbicide. Which makes sense, of course, as farmers immediately saw benefits to the technology and adopted the varieties en masse. But, like most things, there are trade-offs to the benefits of herbicide tolerance (HT). One of those is weed… Read More
The 2012 wheat crop looks quite good overall but tests so far have flagged some early problems in the crop: wheat midge damage, albeit at very low levels, is being found in samples from many areas of Manitoba not used to seeing the pest. Light bushel weights, a result of low moisture and high heat… Read More
The soybeans are in the bin (or very nearly) which means it’s now time to think about…2013. Well, take a break first, but while you’re harvesting corn or otherwise winding down from a busy harvest season, there are key soybean production decisions best made between now and the end of the year. David Townsend, product… Read More
Many of the typical downgrading threats at harvest were a non-issue this year. There were no early frosts and very little rain to stain and sprout kernels. As such, much of the 2012 crop is testing very well with high germination rates and low weathering. The news is not all good, however, as extremely hot… Read More
Dormancy or hard seed counts in peas is not a new phenomenon, but, interestingly, pea germination samples last year and again this year have had higher than usual hard seed counts. Hard seed is seed that has an impermeable seed coat — the seed is impermeable to water or the exchange of gases that occur… Read More
Ah, October — when farmers’ thoughts turn to fall field work, turkey dinners and canola seed. 2012 was a tough year for the oilseed, there’s no doubt, but a difficult growing season can really highlight the strengths and weaknesses in your canola seed genetics. While some will stick with the tried and true, others are… Read More
I’ve spent quite a bit of time in harvested canola fields this fall. It might be because canola started coming off in late August or that there were so many acres this year that almost every second field is canola stubble, but whatever the reason, I’ve noticed most fields have a few things in common…. Read More
Register for a RealAgriculture account to manage your Shortcut menu instead of the default.