Did you know that wheat seed that has been negatively impacted by glyphosate application will show no visible signs of damage? So though you may be able to see mechanical damage, there are many factors that hide beneath the surface, including disease presence and susceptibility. That’s why it’s important to send seed for a test that goes… Read More
Category: Video
“You shouldn’t plant until your soil is fit.” It’s a great quote, but what does “fit” soil look like? Well, it’s not just what it looks like, soil fit for planting corn also needs to be warm, though we use the term loosely here in Western Canada. The fact is, regardless of how dry or… Read More
Deciding on rates of nitrogen application for any crop can be a daunting task, but with winter wheat’s unique growing season, the choice is even further challenged by timing. Applying nitrogen in the fall can reduce the need to get in early in the spring, but could be a bit of a gamble dependent on… Read More
Horsch has been selling the Maestro planter for over two years in Europe, and now, with a few minor adjustments, Horsch has catered the outfit to its North American cliental. The unit, ISOBUS-compatible, holds up to 1,000 gallons of liquid fertilizer and is available with 12 or 24 rows on 30 inch spacing. Besides being equipped… Read More
Just as in money management, investments you make in your farm’s soil nutrient bank account may be short or long term. Depending on the nutrient, crop yields, the weather and soil type, nutrient levels and availability may need immediate deposits or a long-term plan to ensure there’s enough “money” there when the crop needs it…. Read More
Three months after purchasing Lohmann SE, a German poultry health company, Elanco has announced plans to acquire yet another animal health company, but this time the added reach extends much farther than one livestock segment. Through a YouTube video shared via Tweet, Elanco’s president Jeff Simmons announced the $5.4 billion acquisition of Norvatis Animal Health,… Read More
The factors involved in weed management decisions vary greatly from farm to farm, so many herbicide research projects deal with variances in weather, soil and weed population presence. Products and even rates, for example, will often be catered to a specific soil zone. And, with the growing threat of herbicide resistance, it boils down to more… Read More
Calling them the soybeans of Alberta isn’t being fair to soybeans, but faba beans are enjoying a similar surge in popularity, due in part to the crop’s ability to fix its own nitrogen and broaden farmers’ marketing options. Being a relatively new (or newly popular, depending on how you look at it) crop for many… Read More
There’s nothing quite like demo plots — where else will you find head to head comparisons of one variety or practice compared against its neighbour? The trouble with plots, though, is that you only usually see them once and then have to wait for data months later to find out what the real difference was… Read More
If you’re overwhelmed by trying to keep track of every new crop protection product, formulation, tank-mix and re-cropping restriction, you’re not alone. While many farmers and agronomists have a well-marked-up copy of the Guide to Crop Protection, could there be a place for technology to make selecting crop production products easier? Absolutely! Enter Ag-Chem Expert…. Read More
On-farm data collection is invaluable and collecting it, though time-consuming, isn’t all that difficult. It’s that journey the notepad needs to take to get to the computer that can be more than treacherous. By the time said notepad makes it to the office, it’s often a few years old, all but sanitary and open for… Read More
With new varieties readily available, growing tiny crab apples isn’t your only option, prairie-dwellers! In 2008, the University of Saskatchewan released Prairie Sensation, an apple evolved to our prairie climate, and at roughly seven to nearly 8.5 cm in diameter, it’s no crab. Though apple trees are largely grown as a hobby, with keen interest in… Read More
Are you seeding your canola at 5lb/ac? Unless your seed rate was calculated based on that seed lot’s thousand kernel weight (TKW), you may be losing yield potential, as plant numbers decline with increasing seed size. Angela Brackenreed, agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada, suggests re-calibrating when the TKW of a seed lot… Read More
Whether you’ve recently purchased a planter, or you’re bringing it out of hibernation, making sure it’s in good working order is essential to good establishment. Besides greasing, checking hydraulic hoses and vacuuming mouse-made nests, you should also check that the planter is running level, and with the correct amount of down pressure. Related: The Pros and… Read More
It’s hard to think of cutting crops when we haven’t finished shoveling the seeders out of snowbanks, but boy is it nice to imagine sitting in this harvester in the sunshine. Meet the Jaguar 960, from Claas. This harvester runs with at 653 hp, with a large cooling system in the centre and a Tier… Read More