LETHBRIDGE – Cereal leaf beetle made its move from Michigan to Ontario in 1962 and has been spreading across Canada ever since. But it’s not alone – this pest came with a pest. Hector Carcamo of Agriculture Canada told a provincial Agronomy Update conference in Leth-bridge Jan. 20 that researchers have identified a parasite that […] Read more
Stories by Michael Raine
Keeping nitrogen down on the farm
Liquid livestock manure slurry is becoming more plant available and less human objectionable. Thyregod A/S of Demark has developed a new approach to applying manure to cropland. The company has found it can reduce the volatility of manure by treating a small amount of the slurry with sulfuric acid and sealing it at the soil’s […] Read more
Seed testers get the scoop on farmers’ planting plans
Clues to prairie seeding intentions are found in the samples that seed companies receive in the winter. Bruce Carriere of Discovery Seed Labs in Saskatoon has some ideas about what farmers are planning to put in the ground in 2009, ahead of the annual March Statistics Canada seeding intentions report. “We see what producers are […] Read more
Don’t scrimp on fertilizer: experts
Agrologists are advising producers it will still pay to fertilize canola with nitrogen fertilizer bought last July at $1,000 per tonne, as long the price stays higher than $8 per bushel. “Feeding your canola pays,” Jim Bessel of the Canola Council of Canada said Jan. 15 while speaking at the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission and […] Read more
Soil may require boost of bacteria
Nitrogen fixing bacteria need to be added to every pulse crop. Fran Walley of the University of Saskatchewan told producers attending the Pulse Days seminars at Saskatoon’s Crop Production Week that recent research supports the idea of adding more rhizobia to the mix each time pulses are planted. Rhizobia that infect pulse crops’ roots help […] Read more
Ergot problem prevalent in 2008 cereals
Despite the cold and late start to 2008, the season wasn’t one of the worst for pest threats to cereal crops in Western Canada. Then ergot showed up. The situation may be similar this year, but it will depend on the weather. Ergot In 2008, where there was rain there was ergot. And where there […] Read more
Flax growers seek herbicide
While last season’s prairie flax farmers’ forecast for sulfentrazone looked good, ill winds blew in from the East. The Group 14 herbicide that was approved in 2008 for chickpeas in Saskatchewan only failed to make the grade with federal officials in Ottawa when it came to flax. Sulfentrazone provides control of kochia and red root […] Read more
Salvage yards offer more than parts
ELSTOW, Sask. – Charlie Smith changed the name of his company. Despite knowing the value of brand recognition that comes with the name he has maintained for more than 20 years, Smith says the word salvage implies ideas he feels don’t properly describe his industry. “We are in the parts business, a service industry for […] Read more
Oilseed production up slightly this year, won’t meet demand
Thomas Mielke of Oil World says the sudden commodity market downturn and tough credit markets have sent signals to oilseed producers to cut back. According to Mielke, they listened. He said world oilseed production will increase by only 1.85 million tonnes this year, compared to a 4.8 million tonne increase in 2008. “It is still […] Read more
2008 crop conditions useful for predicting 2009 crop
After a slow, cold start to the 2008 growing season, producers were able to thank weather and a lack of severe crop pest infestations for a better than average harvest. Canadian Wheat Board agrologist Mike Grenier told producers attending CWB meetings held as part of Saskatoon’s Crop Production Week Jan. 16 that a few problems […] Read more
