Harvest is a great time to grab a sample of grain and have it tested for germination and disease levels. Harvest is also the easiest (and warmest) time to get a representative sample, as you can sample as you fill bins. The sooner you know some basic quality parameters the better, as poor germ or… Read More
Although Alberta seed producers have done an excellent job of managing the risks associated with diseases, several of our Lethbridge clients have been concerned about Fusarium graminearum in their cereals this season and have been requesting more disease testing. One-third of the cereal samples tested this fall have tested positive for the fungus, with infection… Read More
Do you remember the story of the little red hen? No one would help her plant the seeds, harvest the grain, grind the grain and bake the bread, but everyone was willing to eat the bread when it was all said and done. That’s a little bit like the story of certified seed. Everyone wants… Read More
Syngenta recently received Canadian regulatory approval for Agrisure Viptera 3220 E-Z Refuge trait stack in corn. The Agrisure Viptera 3220 trait stack offers dual modes of action for control of multiple lepidopteran pests, such as black cutworm, western bean cutworm and fall armyworm, and corn borer. Each bag contains 95% seed of a corn hybrid… Read More
Western Canadian Farmers will have more choices open to them in the cereal crop arena thanks to an agreement (see press release) between French based Group Limagrain and Western Canadian based Canterra Seeds. The partnership strengthens the already strong breeding programs of both companies providing farmers across the West with access to new and advanced… Read More
Canola is big business on the prairies. This year alone it’s estimated that roughly 20 million acres of canola will be planted across the prairies. The economics of that are staggering. It also goes without saying that the spin off from those acres has a huge impact as well. Crop inputs, agronomic services, seed treatments… Read More
Any type of disease that affects the seedling stage of canola has to be taken seriously. Seedling blight can be devastating to your canola crop before or after germination. Knowing what you’re looking for and how to deal with it can put you in a position to assess your risk and take action that can… Read More
I have written before that the future is in seed treatments and fungicides for the traditional crop protection companies. The additional point that I should of included is the growth potential for the biological market in the seed treatment product area. The interesting point is that biologicals are designed to work in conjunction (stacking) with… Read More
Applying seed treatment isn’t what it used to be. Long gone are the days when someone would yell “turn up the red!” as the seed came out of the treater. There is a lot more than just a visual O.K. that goes into treating your seed properly. Over application isn’t cost effective and under applying… Read More
Now that you have probably picked up your pea or lentil inoculant from your retailer, you need to make sure that you are storing it properly on farm. You need to remember that your inoculant is a living biological organism. It needs to be taken care of handled in a proper manner before it is… Read More
All farmers try to take advantage of early good conditions to try and plant early. Many farmers calculate the risk of replanting and take the gamble that they are comfortable with. A late spring frost could wreck havoc on the corn plant if the growing point was impacted. What makes 2012 different is that a… Read More
Establishing a seed grade can be a frustrating process at times, especially at point of sale. If a seed lot is on the edge, there is a lot riding on what grade it ends up making. If the crop is graded on site, there can be a lot of areas where doubt can arise as… Read More
A good crop starts with good quality seed. As far as choosing that seed goes, most producers make that choice based on two factors, germ and vigour. Those two things are critical, but they don’t tell the whole story. The truth is that there are other unseen things that, if unaddressed can have a major… Read More
Germination tests are standard when it comes to any seed lot. A lot of seed for sale has to tested for germination so that the farmer or seed company can decide whether the seed lot will be suitable for sale. Farmers that are saving seed also need to make sure that their saved seed will… Read More
With the release of the Ontario 2011 hybrid corn performance trials, growers get a chance to review how last years varieties performed and what might be a good idea to plant in 2012. As always there are many options and getting as much information as possible can help narrow down some of these tough decisions. … Read More