There is no chemical solution to the problem of herbicide resistance, says University of Arkansas weed scientist Jason Norsworthy. Instead, industry should focus on integrating weed management techniques to combat resistance. “Otherwise, we’re going to go through herbicide after herbicide, and we are quickly approaching the day where we will have no herbicide solutions,” Norsworthy […] Read more
Robin Booker
Stories by Robin Booker
Ketchup wars fought over social media
It’s been weeks since Loblaws pulled French’s ketchup from its shelves and then backtracked after taking a social media battering. However, Canadians continue to post selfies on social media proudly holding the ketchups that say “support Canadian farmers.” Leave it to social media to wrap a Canadian flag around an American company and turn French’s […] Read more
Social media helped Trump bypass traditional sources
It is not surprising social media is saturated with news and discussions about American primaries, but there is something different about this election cycle. Republican front-runner Donald Trump has used social media and traditional media sources to keep all eyes on himself . When Trump announced his candidacy in June he said some Mexican immigrants […] Read more
Study examines harvested weed seed control
Volunteer canola was the best candidate because it retains its seeds high in the canopy, unlike wild oats which constantly shed
Harvested weed seed control is a strategy to prevent viable weed seeds from returning to the field at harvest. It has proven useful in Australia in the fight against herbicide resistant weeds such as rigid ryegrass. Breanne Tidemann, a Ph.D. student at the University of Alberta, is studying which prairie weeds are vulnerable to the […] Read moreHerbicide resistance major problem in Canada
Canada places third on the list of countries with the highest number of herbicide resistant weeds. North America has more resistant weeds than other continent. Ian Heap, in charge of an international survey of herbicide resistant weeds, said herbicide resistance is having a major economic impact in several regions of the world. Herbicide resistant weeds […] Read more
Resistant weeds found on half of Sask. acres
The latest survey finds that wild oats continues to be the most common herbicide resistant weed in the province
The latest Saskatchewan weed survey indicates herbicide resistance continues to spread, and more than half of the seeded fields in the province have herbicide resistant weeds. “We haven’t finished the screening in the 2014-15 survey, but we expect well over 50 percent of cultivated land in Saskatchewan have a herbicide resistant weed,” said Agriculture Canada […] Read moreGrowers urged to develop wild oats management plan
Wild oats costs farmers in Western Canada half a billion dollars to control annually. That’s more than double any other weed species. Applying that much herbicides on one weed species has a heavy price beyond what it costs to apply that spray. It also places wild oats under heavy selection pressure. The wild oats that […] Read more
Infrared will find weeds that hide
WEEDit has created a big social media buzz over the past year with videos of its infrared spraying technology shared and discussed on Twitter. The technology, which can be installed on existing production sprayers, can detect and treat individual weeds using red lights, sensors and a nozzle control system installed along the boom. Check the […] Read more
Farmer solves cold weather starting
It is always advisable to have some sort of heat on an engine before starting it when the temperature drops below – 20 C. Most farm equipment that is used in winter comes with a block heater, but many grain augers don’t. This was the case with Lourne Boundy’s auger until he got fed up […] Read more
Online peer pressure affects market plans
Social media helps the public hold companies accountable for selling products that are out of fashion. When I was young, using a plastic shopping bag once and throwing it in the garbage was a regular practice. I now feel a little ashamed leaving the food store using their plastic shopping bags when my reusable shopping […] Read more
