REGINA – Organic and fungicide are two terms that usually aren’t used together. But since last month, it’s OK to use the term in Canada, says the Pest Management Regulatory Agency in its recent label expansion of Serenade or bacillus subtilis strain QST 713. The label now includes canola and pulse crops for sclerotinia and […] Read more
Production
Organic fungicide gets green light
Not all grasshoppers are farmers’ enemy
Although they’re often identified as locusts, not all grasshoppers are a plague, says John Gavloski, an entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture. “Grasshoppers get the bad rap as being destructive when it’s really just a few species that are destructive to the crop plants,” said Gavloski, who works out of Carman, Man. “I don’t think you want […] Read more
No danger of diminishing GPS service, assure experts – Understanding technology
Is the sky really falling or is Chicken Little snowing us? We’ve recently heard reports that GPS satellites are in jeopardy of failing. It’s been on television, radio, newspapers and of course the internet. As a result, I’ve heard many questions and concerns from current and potential GPS users about the facts and ramifications of […] Read more
Send grain samples: grain commission
The 2009 crop is far from ready to harvest, but the Canadian Grain Commission is already looking for participants in its annual harvest sample program. Commissioner Cam Dahl told producers and industry officials at the Western Canada Farm Progress Show in Regina that the samples help determine the quality of the crop as it goes […] Read more
Stainless cart low maintenance
REGINA – Big drill carts stand out on the frontier of seeding efficiency. The ability to remain in the tractor seat when others would be calling for seed and fertilizer refills is one advantage of investing in a larger air cart. But size isn’t everything when it comes to carts, said Jack Oberlander of Amity […] Read more
When close isn’t good enough
REGINA – Farmers received precise directions at last week’s Western Canada Farm Progress Show in Regina. New Holland emphasized precision when explaining how its big rotary combine, the 9080, handled fragile pulse crops. Seed Hawk and Seed Master mentioned it when talking about the controlled metering on their drills. It was a key message in […] Read more
Oat researchers look for fusarium resistance
Evidence of fusarium head blight is rarely found while walking through an oat field. But research at Agriculture Canada’s cereal research centre in Winnipeg shows the disease is widespread in oats. “We find fusarium head blight in most Manitoba oat fields,” said plant pathologist Andy Tekauz. His three-year study found fusarium head blight was present […] Read more
Get your old MF in tiptop shape for fall – Inside Machines
I started with Massey Ferguson in 1972, the year that the first 750 combine came off the line and I left the company in 1989, the year that the last 860 was manufactured. A lot of them are still out there. Here is information that might help keep them running for many more years. For […] Read more
Experts oppose fungicide for side benefits
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will allow BASF to maintain a label on its Headline fungicide that claims the product has side benefits for plant health. Headline has been sold in the United States for several months with a label stating strobilurin helps the plant combat drought stress, improve nitrogen use and increase straw strength […] Read more
Pesticide tanks go stainless steel
REGINA – Plastic or stainless steel? The question may be posed to farmers when they buy their pesticides in the near future. At least that is what people at Black Forest Marketing in Greenville, South Carolina, believe. Black Forest produces stainless steel tanks, or kegs, for closed loop systems, such as beer and industrial chemicals. […] Read more
