The recent wet, cloudy weather interspersed with the odd day of warm weather should make alfalfa producers aware of the increased odds for spring black stem, leaf spot of alfalfa and common leaf spot. In a typical season of sunny, warm, dry conditions in July and August, the potential for disease increase is low. With […] Read more
Production
Disease still a problem in alfalfa
More time required in fields scouting crops
According to research by Ipsos-Reid on behalf of Agricore United, many western Canadian grain producers may not be spending enough time scouting their fields during the growing season. The research also suggests that when growers do scout, they look primarily for weeds and do not pay enough attention to other yield robbers such as insects […] Read more
New Products
Comfy tractor ride The Montana 5720, shown above, and 5740 utility tractors come in two- and four-wheel drive models and are powered by a 57 horsepower Mitsubishi four cylinder diesel. The tractors have a 16×16 synchro shuttle transmission and 540 pto. Both models feature full hydrostatic steering, a three-year warranty and three tire options. The […] Read more
Yellowfeed shows promise as harvesting alternative
Yellowfeed is the name given to a new method of harvesting an annual cereal crop for hay. The idea is showing some promise, said Lorne Klein, a Saskatchewan Agriculture forage development specialist. “The traditional method of harvesting annual cereals for hay or greenfeed is to cut and crimp the crop at the milk-soft dough stage, […] Read more
Canola can use additional fertilizer
Don’t cut back too far on fertilizer for canola this spring. Canola Council of Canada agronomists David Blais and Jim Bessel say with soil moisture conditions generally better than they have been for the past few years, canola should respond well to added nutrients. With fertilizer prices high this year, they are encouraging growers to […] Read more
Loader solves dumping problem
REGINA – Leon’s Manufacturing used the recent Farm Progress Show in Regina to introduce its award winning ASL front end loader design. The loader received an AE50 award from the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, signifying it as one of the top 50 designs in the agricultural engineering world for this year. “We’ve been working […] Read more
Salvaging canola on soaked soil
Wet conditions this spring have forced many canola growers to broadcast seed by airplane or with a floater, mixing the seed in with granular fertilizer. “These seeds are sprouting and growing in what is basically a hydroponic solution,” said Rob Park, crop specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. “If you’re standing in the field, looking down at […] Read more
Herbicides found for chickpeas
For the past four years, Eric Johnson and a group of public researchers across Western Canada have been investigating options for broadleaf weed control in chickpeas. “We’ve screened a number of herbicides, many of which either weren’t effective in controlling weeds or caused too much crop damages. In some cases they were herbicides registered in […] Read more
Few options for wild oat control
With the loss of Avenge, Mataven and recently Avadex, canaryseed growers in Western Canada have seen their registered wild oat weed control options shrink to nothing. Agriculture Canada researchers like Bill May at the Indian Head, Sask., research farm have spent the past few years looking at the Bayer herbicide Puma Super to see if […] Read more
FreshAir fan can save lives
Heat stroke is a possibility when the temperature inside a grain bin is double the outside summer temperature. “I took temperature readings in all kinds of bins when we were developing the FreshAir Ventilator,” said Kevin Perry. “If it’s a sunny day and it’s 30 C outside the bin, you can pretty well expect the […] Read more
