Crop Management
Less drying time also suggested | Turn on fan as soon as it goes into bin
INDIAN HEAD, Sask. — Ron Palmer is fine-tuning his recommendations about when to dry grain. The engineer’s research at the Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation, which was first released in February 2012, suggested that running aeration fans at night would dry grain more quickly. A year later, he said fans could run even less time […] Read more
Crop Management
Giant ragweed out of place in Manitoba
MELITA, Man. — Bending over carefully so he wouldn’t drop the microphone, Scott Chalmers reached down to pick up a metre long plant lying on the ground. Chalmers, a diversification specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, held the plant high above his head to show it to the 60 people attending the Westman Agricultural Diversification Organization field […] Read more
Crops look good in Sask.
Most Saskatchewan crops are in good to excellent condition heading into August, according to the provincial crop report. Crop reporters rate 84 percent of spring wheat, 82 percent of canola, 81 percent of lentils and 88 percent of peas in good to excellent shape. Crop damage due to disease, insects and localized flooding continues to […] Read more
Rain, cooler temperatures dominate Manitoba crop report
Southwest Persistent wet conditions in the region, particularly near the U.S. border, have hindered crop development. Lower yields are expected because standing water has drowned out portions of many fields or put the crop under stress. The excess moisture has also increased disease pressure. Producers are reporting blackleg lesions on canola. Some cattle producers are […] Read more
Video: Grain vacuum makes hauling a one man job
VRX GrainVac really sucks | Centrifugal suction fan has redesigned blades that reduce wear
Farmers hate feathering equipment when time is on the line. One of those nuisances is balancing the grain to air ratio using a vacuum system. “We used to put the nozzle into the pile of grain and carefully monitor the ratio of grain and air. You had to be so careful to make sure you […] Read more
Instant soil sample; just add water
Nitrogen tester | Portable machine saves time and money by providing information in the field
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Do you want in-season soil samples and want them right now? An Iowa couple did, and set out to build a system that would give them what they wanted. “We figured it was possible, but there wasn’t a way to do it. So we built one,” said Stacey Sash Schildroth. The Soilsens […] Read more
Insecticide debate irks Ont. farmers
Growers fear yield losses | Neonicotinoids have been blamed on bee deaths and may be banned
Grain Farmers of Ontario is campaigning to preserve insecticide seed treatments after taking a collaborative approach for several months. The organization sent out postcards to its members in July asking farmers to contact their MP or MPP to stop a potential ban of neonicotinoids in Ontario. The campaign is a response to efforts by the […] Read moreScientists urged to better engage public about soil
Influencing public policy | Experts need to explain findings in terms public can relate to
WINNIPEG — Soil scientists who really want to influence public policy need to tell meaningful stories about the importance of soil rather than generate specialized results for a handful of peers. Henry Janzen, a researcher with Agriculture Canada, says that doesn’t mean experiments and the resulting data are irrelevant, but scientists need to use numbers, […] Read moreOfficials look for additional herbicide options
Alfalfa fields | Trial results show Authority, a Group 14 herbicide, might help control kochia
ENCHANT, Alta. — The Group 14 herbicide Authority may be effective against kochia in seed alfalfa fields, according to early data from a southern Alberta plot trial. Though not registered for use in alfalfa, the chemical killed kochia and outperformed Edge and Velpa. The latter two also showed good results. The findings may lead researchers […] Read moreHot, dry weather in Alberta minimizes disease pressure in alfalfa seed crops
ENCHANT, Alta. — Good news for farmers is bad news for researchers interested in studying the pathogens behind blossom blight and stem rot in alfalfa seed crops. Syama Chatterton, a plant pathology researcher with Agriculture Canada, told the July 23 Alberta Alfalfa Seed Commission tour group that no signs of either disease have been found […] Read more
