Data collected between 2008 and 2015 by Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp suggests many farmers in the province are using tight rotations, or no rotation at all (coyly referred to as a “canola-snow” rotation). “The tight rotations that we are talking about — canola, wheat, canola, wheat — are in the northeast of the province and… Read More
Weed surveys conducted in the Canadian Prairies since the early 2000s have tracked the incidence of herbicide resistance over time, and it’s not looking good. “In general, what we’re seeing is herbicide resistance is increasing on the Prairies,” says Charles Geddes, research scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. “Currently, we’re sitting at — in Saskatchewan —… Read More
Could fungicide resistance develop on your farm? The answer to that question really depends on how you deploy fungicides in your fields, says Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research scientist Kelly Turkington. On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Resistance Management School, Turkington explains that fungicide resistance really is a numbers game. He notes that a barley or… Read More
Making decisions based on anecdotes, rhetoric, or hearsay is never a good idea for a government of any political stripe. Using data to enable analytical-based decision leads to choices and policy that can be defended and supported in a more bipartisan manner, if challenged. Recently, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food, Marie-Claude Bibeau has asked… Read More
Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) released its Outlook for Principal Field Crops report this week, and is predicting a slight increase in both area seeded and overall yield of field crops for the 2020-21 cropping year, compared to 2019-20. Area Seeded: AAFC is expecting to see a slight increase in area seeded, as wheat and… Read More
The federal government has opened the application process for the first Canadian Agricultural Youth Council. In a press release, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada says the Council will identify new and emerging issues, enable on-going dialogue on challenges and opportunities, share information and best practices, and provide advice on the strengths and weaknesses of policies and… Read More
Weed control is often focused first on out-competing the pest. Some escape, of course, so “control” shifts to decreasing the weed seed bank. There are limited ways to eliminate those weeds with mature seeds at harvest, but recent work in Australia and here in Canada is focused on destroying weeds at the combine. According to… Read More
Federal ministers have received their marching orders from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the 43rd Parliament. For minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Marie-Claude Bibeau, those orders include several initiatives focused on trade, economic development, tax treatment of farm succession, food waste, and water quality. The mandate letter lays out what Trudeau’s government prioritizes… Read More
Less than 24 hours back in the seat of Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister, Marie-Claude Bibeau is starting off with bang. Bibeau took to Twitter to announce letters will be sent out today to all eligible Canadian dairy producers. The letter will outline the process for producers to access their compensation which is being administered by… Read More
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is working to learn more about Peritrechus convivus, the little red bugs farmers have been finding in their fields. A species of dirt-coloured seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, P convivus is often spotted in its nymph form, which is far from the colour of the soil in the prairies, with… Read More
Soil. The ever-interesting subject of what lives below our feet and helps our crops grow. It’s difficult to know what sort of layers are in your soil, however, and often it can be easy to assume what you are seeing for topsoil is what lays beneath. Naturally, Marla Rieckman and Curtis Cavers, being the soil… Read More
Fusarium head blight is one of the most harmful diseases of wheat and also one of the most challenging to manage. Researchers are continuously trying to figure out the best control methods since it’s one of those diseases that if you see it in your crop, you are most likely too late. In this Wheat… Read More
The Harrington Seed Destructor made its foray into Canadian agriculture in 2014, offering with it an opportunity to increase integrated pest management strategies on-farm, by mechanically reducing weed seed banks at harvest. It is now into its third year of a research study looking at its impact on weed populations over time. In this Wheat… Read More
CanolaPALOOZA is an event held across the Prairies that tackles all things canola agronomy — and more. Covering everything from pre-emergence to post-harvest, marketing, and more, canolaPALOOZA offers three separate days of learning in three provinces. The summer can often be filled with field days and trade shows, so the goal of the event is… Read More
Seeing dimpling on your canola leaves? Stem feeding? Chances are, it’s flea beetles causing the damage. This year in the southern prairies, flea beetles are becoming a significant issue, most likely in part due to dry conditions. And with neonicotinoids continuing to hit headlines, flea beetle control could become even more difficult in the coming… Read More