Crop Management
REGINA, Sask. — Ontario is hoping to convince provincial governments on the Prairies about the merits of harmonizing consumer protection legislation for farmers. The various provincial acts are similar but were written in different economic times, which has resulted in confusion for producers, dealers and manufacturers. Finbar Desir of the Ontario agriculture ministry is meeting […] Read more
Crop Management
Harmonized farm equipment legislation plows ahead
Sask flax acres up but Manitoba area down
When it comes to flax, it’s a tale of two provinces this spring. In its June estimates of principal field crops, released Tuesday morning, Statistics Canada pegged Saskatchewan flax area at 960,000 acres – up from 775,000 acres in 2012 and 535,000 in 2011. In Manitoba, however, flax acres are headed rapidly in the opposite […] Read more
Prairie soybean and corn seeded acres jump
Manitoba farmers propelled soybean and corn to new acreage records in Canada, based on Statistics Canada field crop estimates released Tuesday morning. Canadian growers planted a record 4.6 million acres of soybeans this spring, a gain of 400,000 acres relative to 2012. Soybeans in Manitoba jumped to 1.085 million acres, a gain of 285,000 acres […] Read more
Weed of the Week: redroot pigweed
It is a pig when it comes to using water, nutrients and land. Redroot pigweed, or amaranthus retroflexus, is a dicot weed in the amaranthaceae family. It was first discovered to have developed resistance to Group 2 herbicides in Western Canada in 2010. Group 2 herbicides are known as ALS inhibitors and are popular in […] Read more
Drill extension keeps seed high and dry
Hoe drill extensions place seed on top of furrows
WETASKIWIN, Alta. — Frustration over drowned crops prompted Clark Lysne to modify his drill so that it placed seed on top of the furrows rather than on the bottom. “I have a lot of trouble with excessive water flooding my crop,” he said. He made the modification three years ago, and after being pleased with […] Read morePrairie technology shines in Australia
The farmer run seeder test might have taken place on the Prairies if it wasn’t for the red soil, with its sand and rocks. Most of the big names of prairie seeder manufacturers were there: Bourgault, Morris, K-Hart, Seed Hawk, Ezeeon and Case IH’s Anderson-Concord. An Australian Tobin Bullitt, which can be found in Western […] Read more
Insect troubles flagged in Manitoba’s June 17 crop report
Southwest Seeding is now complete in the southern half of the region, where spring rainstorms in May delayed planting. Flea beetle and cutworm activity has intensified. Producers have reported severe flea beetle infestations. Cutworms are damaging crops in the Birtle-Hamiota area. First cut of alfalfa is underway. Producers are reporting average to below average yields. […] Read more
New biological agent a first in Canada
Biological partners | Inoculants co-operate with natural soil microflora instead of competing for supremacy
Two new liquid rhizobial inoculants, the first of their kind to be registered in Canada, are available for soybeans, peas and lentils. Developed by the Winnipeg bioresearch company XiteBio Technologies, these inoculants differ from conventional products in the way they form co-operative, synergetic partnerships with background rhizobia that have inhabited the soil for millions of […] Read more
Trials show early spraying boosts canola yields
Early weed control in canola results in yield advantages at no extra cost to producers. Canola Council of Canada agronomist Kristen Phillips said canola typically emerges within seven to 10 days and gains a leaf every five to seven days. “Spraying before that two-to-three-leaf stage gives you the biggest yield benefit,” she said. “Once you […] Read more
Weed of the Week: wild oats
Many of the top weed pests in Western Canada are showing resistance to herbicides, according to research led by Agriculture Canada. Hugh Beckie at Ag Canada’s Saskatoon Research Centre classifies wild oats as one of the 10 worst annual weeds in the temperate agricultural regions of the world. Research indicates that more than 10 million […] Read more
