Bill Strautman

MORSE, Sask. – Two fertilizer additives, one for nitrogen and one for phosphorus, are playing an important role in fertilizer recommendations at Olynick Agro Supply in Morse, Sask. ESN is a polymer coated urea produced by Agrium, while Avail is a water-soluble phosphorus additive produced by Simplot. “ESN is a coated nitrogen, 46-0-0 coated with […] Read more

MORSE, Sask. – This was the first year Bart Wilson tried a new fertilizer treatment offered by Olynick Agro Supply. “I signed up all our acres for Avail,” Wilson said. “From what I know about phosphorus, it gets tied up and it could limit your yields. It doesn’t matter how much you put on if […] Read more

CRAIK, Sask. – Veteran hemp growers know the crop can be a harvest nightmare. Using a Case IH combine without a Harvest Services 360 degree rotor can make for long, trouble-filled days in the hemp field. John Ackland has been growing hemp on his farm near Craik for a number of years. “We have a […] Read more

A Manitoba company has found a more environmentally friendly replacement for a common dust suppressant. Many farmers use calcium chloride to control dust on roads and farmyards during dry summers, but Norm Burns, president of Cypher Ltd. in Winnipeg, is concerned about how it can affect the environment. His company has developed Dust Stop, which […] Read more

MORTLACH, Sask. – When Philip Simrose built his shop in 2003, he wanted to be able to drive in the door with the header still on his combine. “I wanted to make it accessible to the different machines I have. I figure if you’ve got a shop, you should be able to take the equipment […] Read more

LETHBRIDGE – The food versus biofuel debate should be expanded to include bioplastic, according to an Alberta government official. Ed Phillipchuk of Alberta Agriculture’s bio-industrial development branch describes bioplastic as plastic manufactured from biopolymers, which are small chemical units called monomers. “Bioplastics aren’t necessarily biodegradable. I think this is important because some people use these […] Read more

Springfield, Ill. – Making nitrogen recommendations from a soil test is often more art than science. In Western Canada, recommendations are based on available soil nitrogen, nitrogen release by the soil and the amount of nitrogen required to grow a target yield of a specific crop. In parts of the U.S. corn belt, researchers are […] Read more

LETHBRIDGE – An increase in temperature and changes to local precipitation patterns caused by climate change could allow three minor insect pests to expand their range and severity. Owen Olfert, a research scientist with Agriculture Canada in Saskatoon, said climate is the dominant factor determining the distribution and abundance of most insects. He said moisture […] Read more

LETHBRIDGE – Research at the University of Saskatchewan suggests farmers should spray their fields for dandelions in the fall rather than the spring. And they shouldn’t wait until October. September is best. Ken Sapsford, a research assistant in the university’s plant sciences department, said Express, Express Pack, PrePass and Spectrum, which are all applied in […] Read more

The University of Saskatchewan has researched dandelion control for most of this decade. Ken Sapsford, a research assistant with the plant sciences department, has been looking at the timing of spring applications: before flower; full flower or after seed set; fall versus spring applications and late September versus late October applications. Research is also focused […] Read more