Do you know what it costs to produce that bushel of canola, or wheat or lentils or soybeans, for that matter? It seems like pretty basic stuff, but I am always surprised when I ask this question to growers and get either a far off gaze or a weak stab with a ballpark number quickly […] Read more
Thom Weir
Stories by Thom Weir
Cutting crop inputs without cutting the crop output
Harvest is done, and now it’s time to start planning for next year. The first task should be to revise this year’s crop plan with actual costs as compared to the estimated costs and expected selling prices entered last winter. This will give farmers a much better idea as to the financial outcome of 2015 […] Read more
Fall soil test provides portrait of field fertility
Soil testing creates many options, but the primary reason most growers soil test is to take a snapshot of the nitrogen levels in their fields. This is because nitrogen levels can fluctuate greatly due to environmental and crop growth conditions from year to year. Other nutrient levels are important, but nitrogen is the largest contributor […] Read more
Soil testing tells what we don’t know — which is a lot
It has been a roller-coaster ride for most prairie growers this year. The season started with April temperatures of 20 C and higher, which was a welcome change. As well, the lack of rain seemed like a blessing at the time as crops were planted into what was described by many as the best conditions […] Read more
Winter wheat growing tips
Winter wheat has attributes that make it desirable to grow in Western Canada, but time management is one of the main reasons for growing the crop. Seeding winter wheat in the sweet zone between Aug. 15 and Sept. 15 is crucial for success. Unlike past years, this might actually be possible this year because stubble […] Read more
Factors to weigh when debating whether to bale straw
Every drought, livestock operators increase their interest in buying, or harvesting and feeding straw. For grain producers, collecting straw means an additional harvest from otherwise droughty crops. This brings up questions: What is the value of the straw? What nutrients are removed with the straw? Is all straw the same? Will baling and removing the […] Read more
Be aware of pre-harvest herbicide application restrictions
We are approaching the time of year when all great plans seem to go out the window. That time is harvest. No matter how well planting was planned, everything seems to be ready to swath or desiccate at the same time. As a result, decisions are sometimes made that, when looking in the rear view […] Read more
Be aware of pre-harvest herbicide application restrictions
We are approaching the time of year when all great plans seem to go out the window. That time is harvest. No matter how well planting was planned, everything seems to be ready to swath or desiccate at the same time. As a result, decisions are sometimes made that, when looking in the rear view […] Read more
Moisture, timing key in using PGRs
I show my age when I admit that my first experience with plant growth regulators was in the late 1970s. The company where I worked was a leader in marketing PGRs in Europe. These products also worked on the Canadian Prairies, but it was decided that there was more money to be made applying them […] Read more
Producers with droughty pastures, hay land have millet options
Cattle producers who have suffered significant hail damage this spring may want to consider planting a forage millet. Two main millet species are planted in Western Canada. Crown millet, formally known as Panicum milaceum and also called proso or grain millet, is grown primarily for feed grain and birdseed, but it has also been grown […] Read more
