Seeding is under way and cropping plans are finalized for summerfallow and stubble fields with sufficient soil moisture. Attention is turning to stubble fields with low moisture reserves, especially in areas that missed the recent rains, said Ken Panchuk, soil specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture. “Before making any decisions, farmers need to probe their stubble field […] Read more
Stories by Saskatchewan Agriculture
Ideal seeding depth essential in maximizing yield
It’s self-evident. The deeper a seed is planted, the longer it will take for the plant to emerge. In cold soil, delay in emergence can be several days. “More importantly, the greater the seeding depth, the greater the negative effect on yield,” said Ken Panchuk, soil specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture. “The deeper the seed, the […] Read more
Prepare for worst: drought checklist for pastures
As with cattle prices, drought is cyclical. But while dry periods are impossible to predict, it is possible to be prepared for them, said Don Fontaine, rangeland specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture in Saskatoon. To help managers of community pastures plan for dry periods in Saskatchewan, Fontaine and Chris Nykoluk of the range management section of […] Read more
Late blight could be a problem for potato growers
Late blight, the disease that caused the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s, is making a resurgence worldwide. Michael Celetti, plant disease specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture, said leaves, stems, tomato fruit or potato tubers rot quickly after infection by late blight. It spreads rapidly over great distances, wiping out unprotected potato fields. “In the early […] Read more
Soil-residual herbicides dictate crop planning
Long-term crop rotation and herbicide plans are necessary for farmers using soil-residual herbicides, said Clark Brenzil, weed control specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture. “The virtues of planning cannot be stressed enough,” said Brenzil. Soil-residual herbicides give long-lasting weed control, but their use must be planned in the context of crop and herbicide rotations to avoid restricting […] Read more
Swine manure can be effective source of plant nutrients
A report by Jeff Schoenau of the University of Saskatchewan department of soil science and Gordon Hultgren of the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute in Humboldt, Sask., has confirmed swine manure can be an effective fertilizer when applied appropriately and at proper rates. “Application of swine manure to farm fields in Saskatchewan allows a portion of […] Read more
Freight Rate Manager software updated and expanded
The 1998 version of the Freight Rate Manager computer program (FRM 2.1) is now available as a series of four computer disks or on the internet. “Freight Rate Manager, a computer software package, was originally developed to help farmers and other agricultural decision makers analyze the impact of the increase in rail freight costs after […] Read more
Wheat pools get warm reception with Humboldt Flour Mills bid
The Alberta and Manitoba wheat pools are again looking to buy another grain company, but this time they are going after smaller game and getting a better reception. In 1997 they were foiled in an attempt to buy United Grain Growers, but last week, the two pools made a friendly takeover bid for Humboldt Flour […] Read more
