Last week’s March Prospective Plantings report in the United States raised some eyebrows. It is uncertain whether Statistics Canada’s Principal Field Crop Areas report scheduled for release on April 24 will generate the same response. That is because there may not be a report on that date due to COVID-19 related challenges. “No final decision […] Read more
Crop Management — page 337
Promise of bio-pesticides: can they replace synthetic chemicals?
Scott Baerson has been trying to solve the same problem for more than two decades. The U.S. Department of Agriculture molecular biologist, who works in Oxford, Mississippi, has been studying a unique bio-chemical that’s associated with sorghum. The roots of sorghum exude a chemical called sorgoleone, a natural herbicide that kills weeds and other vegetation […] Read more
Tomato’s evolution took several turns
Researchers discover more to the vegetable’s development than the previously believed two-step evolutionary process
For decades it was thought that tomatoes became domesticated in a two-step process. This oversimplified view involved the transition of the small, wild blueberry-sized tomato Solanum pimpinellifolium L to an intermediate fruit and then to the fully domesticated, cultivated tomato. But there were missing links. Tomatoes are one of the world’s most consumed, highest valued […] Read more
Fibre demands growing for Alberta hemp
Hemp can be grown for seed, fibre or both, as well as cannabinoids, and agronomics depend in part on the crop’s end goal
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — Results of hemp research trials in Alberta are providing guidance on the agronomics of the crop. Seeding dates, seeding densities, fertilizer use, nitrogen application rates and harvest dates were explored at Falher, Vegreville and Lethbridge, said hemp expert Jan Slaski of Innotech Alberta. Because hemp can be grown for seed, fibre […] Read more
Raven buys DOT with plans for expansion
Prairies autonomous farm tool finds a new home in the Dakotas, one with global reach and a growing stable
Raven Industries is now the sole owner of DOT. Norbert Beaujot is taking in the big view from his farm in southern Saskatchewan and of the future of the autonomous farming platform. “As a family, we couldn’t take on putting DOT where it needed to be by ourselves,” said the founder and owner of SeedMaster […] Read more
Not as intended but, actively effective
A bio-fungicide touted as a promising biocontrol of fusarium head blight in wheat, may ultimately be used for other purposes. Field tests have shown that an un-registered bio-fungicide, called ACM941, can be used as a seed treatment to control root rot. It’s also effective against fusarium in corn. Greenhouse tests show ACM941, a strain of […] Read more
Nuseed works with ADM on omega 3 canola plant
The company will contract with growers in Montana and North Dakota and use the finished product as fish food
Nuseed and Archer Daniels Midland have entered into a partnership for crushing and processing Nuseed’s proprietary omega 3 canola in the United States. “Nuseed has certain expertise with plants, plant breeding and production, and ADM are an excellent partner to complete a large piece of the supply chain,” said Clint Munro of Nuseed. He said […] Read more
AEFs help environment but maybe not bottom line
Nitrous oxide is no laughing matter when it comes to climate change and agriculture delivers its share of N2O
Nitrous oxide emissions from Canadian crop production can be reduced significantly with the use of advanced efficiency fertilizers, but these products don’t provide enough agronomic benefits to warrant a wide scale adoption by growers, according to a study on slow and controlled released nitrogen products on the Prairies. Richard Farrell of the University of Saskatchewan’s […] Read more
COVID-19 impacts agricultural research
COVID-19 is forcing agricultural researchers into a quandary. Much of the specialized white protective gear normally worn when dealing with chemicals is also in demand from the medical community. “Researchers are in a moral dilemma,” according to Tom Wolf, proprietor of Agrimetrix in Saskatoon. His company specializes in conducting research on spray applications. Obviously, Wolf […] Read more
Spray drone with payloads up to 200 kg.
Hannover, Germany — Volocopter built upon its passenger helicopter technology to develop a cargo drone that has agricultural applications. The Volocopter is a German two-seat multi-rotor electric air vehicle designed for passenger air travel in an urban environment. The company displayed its VoloDrone Demonstrator fit with John Deere spraying technology in John Deer’s future technology […] Read more
