Grain groups in Canada, the United States and Australia are pushing for the simultaneous introduction of genetically modified wheat but research is only happening in one of those countries right now. Australian regulators have approved field trials for five GM wheat projects, one of which has been terminated. Another three projects are awaiting approval. A […] Read more
Production
Aussies dominate GM wheat research
Farmers could link Canadian drills
There’s no reason prairie farmers can’t pair two moderately sized drills to make one super-sized drill, said Jim Halford, inventor of the Conserva Pak drill. “I don’t see any engineering problem if a Canadian farmer or manufacturer wants to hook up two drills side by side and put a pair of air carts either in […] Read more
Keeping the tractor cool during summer
You’ve been working all day in the field setting up your seeding equipment. You are running in and out of the tractor and haven’t been watching the gauges carefully. Now it is late in the afternoon and you want to make time. You are ready to start planting so you jump in the tractor and […] Read more
Ag Canada seeks beneficial bugs
RED DEER – Controlling weeds through biological control is like running a marathon – it’s not fast, but eventually you have success. Brian Van Hezewijk, a researcher specializing in biological control with Agriculture Canada in Lethbridge, said finding and releasing insects that control invasive weeds is a long-term but effective method of weed control. “It […] Read more
Breeders find key to brighter durum
Yellow is the colour of sunshine, of FC Barcelona’s football jerseys and the Beatles’ famous submarine. It’s also the preferred colour of durum for buyers around the world. Now researchers at the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre have taken a significant step toward making it easier to develop new yellow durum varieties. They have […] Read more
System keeps tabs on inputs
Weighing and tracking on-farm movement of seed, fertilizer and grain became easier this spring with the introduction of a new data management system from Digi-Star. Digi-Star’s Kevin Klubertanz said Grain Tracker, a multi-function seeding and harvest management system, is the first developed specifically as an interface between a producer’s office computer and the load sensors […] Read more
Pneumatic packers gaining ground
Until recently, pneumatic packers were relegated to muddy regions, such as Manitoba’s Red River Valley and Saskatchewan’s Regina Plains. Steel or solid rubber packers dominated drier areas. However, a new tire trend is putting more pneumatic packers on drills where once steel was king. Scott Tilbury of Melita, Man., made the change last year. When […] Read more
Biomass wave invigorates willow
Any cattle farmer who’s tried to fix a barbed-wire fence in the far corner of the Back 40 knows willow can be an aggressive species. Ken Van Rees, an agriforestry researcher at the University of Saskatchewan, can also attest to the tree’s vigorous growth. This spring, Van Rees was surprised to learn that willow varieties […] Read more
New response curves reflect reality
BRANDON – Manitoba farmers have become increasingly suspicious of fertilizer guidelines based on conventional soil test procedures and data from old field studies. They often say the guidelines don’t seem relevant to their yield levels. There’s a good reason for this suspicion, says John Heard, a soil fertility specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. He said there’s […] Read more
New Products – It’s a treat
Rancona Apex is a newly registered fungicide for western Canadian cereal growers. The UAP-distributed seed treatment is provided by Chemtura Corp. and is based on the contact fungicide ipconazole. It treats barley, wheat, rye and oats against a range of seed and seedling pests. It treats for pathogenic fungi in the classes of zygomycetes, ascomycetes, […] Read more
