LETHBRIDGE – A new insect turning up in southern Alberta pea fields may not be causing economic levels of damage, but insect specialists and scientists are keeping a wary eye on the pea leaf weevil. “The first records of it in Western Canada are 1997 or 1998, when Bob Byers picked it up in some […] Read more
Production — page 114
New pea pest eats root nodules
Winter wheat surprise: a cover crop may pay for itself
When he seeded 800 acres of land to winter wheat last summer, Jim Chernick was focused on a cover crop to hold his soil in place. Today, he’s surprised at the good quality stand of red wheat growing on the same fields that were saturated just 12 months ago. Part of Chernick’s land had been […] Read more
Winter wheat alternatives for unseeded fields
Desperate harvest attempts last fall left many fields badly rutted. Most of these same fields were flooded again this spring and summer. Although some farms are preparing to get those fields into shape for seeding to a winter wheat crop in about a month, there are concerns. “The biggest question we’re getting calls on is […] Read more
Tillage tool works for zero-tillers
REGINA – While it may sound like a conflict of interest to have tillage equipment for zero till farmers, that’s exactly how Phil O’Grady describes the Salford RTS (residue tillage specialist) implement. “The objective is to keep as much trash on the surface as possible, but still do a little tillage to the soil in […] Read more
Coulter machine chops trash, doesn’t leave mud balls
Elmer Friesen from Altona, Man., was one of the first farmers in Western Canada to try a Salford RTS machine. He used one in the fall of 2004 to chop corn stalks and this spring to prepare his land for seeding. “It’s a unique looking tool. It’s a machine with a set of coulters instead […] Read more
New Products
More compact tractors Agco has added four new tractors to its ST series of compact tractors. The new models are the ST22A subcompact and the ST24A, ST28A and ST33A. The models have many of the features found on larger tractors, such as four-wheel drive and differential lock. Horsepower ratings range from 22.5 to 33 hp […] Read more
New drills take the stage
Three new seeding systems were introduced to farmers at this year’s Farm Progress Show in Regina. Production/Farming section editor Bill Strautman prepared these reviews. Watch for more reports in future issues. Narrow-fold wing-back air drill Agri-Tech Manufacturing Ltd. Nobleford, Alta. Agri-Tech Manufacturing in Nobleford, Alta., built its first narrow-fold wing-back air drill in August 2004. […] Read more
Scouting fields for early-season insects a must
Scouting for potential insect problems early in the year is important because plants are small and more vulnerable. However, it can be a difficult job. “In the spring, insects are smaller and often below the soil surface, where methods for determining population levels tend to be more labour intensive,” said Scott Hartley, Saskatchewan Agriculture’s provincial […] Read more
Rotate crops to stop chemical resistance
Glyphosate resistance scares the heck out of Jeremy Girillis of Double Diamond Farm Supply at Elgin, Man. Girillis works closely with his clients to solve herbicide resistance problems and prevent new ones. “So far, it’s only wild oat and millet resistance,” said Girillis. “It’s mostly the Group 1 resistance in this area, so producers can […] Read more
Growers report no problem controlling HT canola
Controlling volunteer herbicide tolerant canola in the subsequent crop year is easy for 75 percent of the prairie canola growers surveyed by the Canola Council of Canada. The remaining 25 percent said volunteer HT canola in the subsequent year is more of a problem than conventional varieties. Only 16 percent of the growers cited volunteer […] Read more
