LETHBRIDGE – Commercial soil testing has been around for more than 40 years in Western Canada, but many fertilizer recommendations are based on research from the United States. Western Canada does not have a good soil test calibration system for soil response to fertilizer, particularly for micronutrients, says Tom Jensen, head of the International Plant […] Read more
Production
Soil tests flawed but critical
New Product – Commodity cart
John Deere is expanding its lineup of 1910 Commodity Carts with the addition of two larger models – a two tank 350 bushel and a three tank 430 bu., tow-between configuration. The 80 bu. tank on the 430 bu. tow-between commodity cart can also be ordered liquid-fertilizer capable. These new carts allow farmers to seed […] Read more
Students don’t dog tractor job
Many post secondary students see summer as a time to focus on something other than the demands of their education. Not so for the University of Saskatchewan Sled Dogs, a student design team that builds one-quarter scale tractors. “At the start of July, we’re sitting down with our faculty advisers and we’re going to develop […] Read more
Nozzle selection easier with new research tool
Choosing a new set of nozzles for a sprayer can cause anxiety for producers. Making the right nozzle choice is more than an investment in hardware, it’s an investment in the success of the crop. “Over the years I’ve gotten lots of calls from farmers about choosing nozzles. Let’s face it, there are a lot […] Read more
Weeds versus buds
If farmers have buds, should they spray for weeds? It’s a good questions for canola growers this year. The difficult weather conditions have left growers with a choice they don’t often have, later season weed control in their soon to be blooming crops. Crops thinned out by frost and insects have failed to canopy over […] Read more
Proper insect counts critical
Determining whether an insect is a threat of economic consequence is more important than a pest’s presence in the field. Will it do more damage than it costs to control it with insecticide? In a year when commodity prices are high, the numbers of insects or the amount of damage they are allowed to inflict […] Read more
Watch for midge
Midge populations may be down, but don’t count them out. In fact, just count them. That is the message that entomologists are delivering to farmers in areas where the insect pest was a threat last season. “While there isn’t the threat there was last year, the problem is still out there, especially in some specific […] Read more
New Products – New herbicides
DuPont has added five new products to its PrecisionPac herbicide system. For extended pre-seeding burn off before seeding barley and wheat and for chemical fallow and post harvest weed control, there is the new Express Pro. It adds 15 days of control to the already available Express SG. The product can be tank mixed with […] Read more
Alberta speeds up crop insurance claims
Alberta producers who plan to let cows graze their crops must call crop insurance offices. They will likely receive permission over the phone and won’t have to wait for an adjuster’s visit. Agriculture Financial Services Corp. is working with producers to assess the impact of dry conditions on crops and livestock across the province. Adjusters […] Read more
Plants cure themselves – with help
A team of Canadian researchers led by University of Saskatchewan chemistry professor Soledade Pedras is hoping to develop new non-toxic chemical compounds that can limit crop losses caused by blackleg. Pedras, a Canada research chair in bio-organic and agricultural chemistry at the university, has developed a process that uses synthetically produced chemical compounds called paldoxins […] Read more
