Straight cutting of canola has gone from a fringe activity to a common practice on the Prairies over the last five years. Agronomists and growers have many theories on swathing versus straight cutting and how the harvest methods affect things like seed size, yield and oil content. Another factor to consider is storage. Does straight […] Read more
Tag Archives Research
Sheep researchers ask for deer poop
Do deer defecate in the woods? Yes, and they also do it on other parts of the landscape. When they do, researchers want some of the material. A study underway at the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine is aimed at learning about gastro-intestinal parasite diversity in Alberta’s deer. Researchers intend to compare parasite […] Read more
Soybean newbies get tips from experts
Many grain producers from the Prairies are about to run soybeans through their combines for the first time. There was a 40 percent increase of Manitoba soybean acreage over last year and a 250 percent increase of the crop on Saskatchewan fields. Soybeans are relatively easy to separate, although there are a few things growers […] Read more
Farmer checkoff to support malt barley research
The Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre in Winnipeg has reached a new funding agreement that will provide stable, long-term support for operations that benefit Canada’s malting barley value chain. The centre announced Sept 6 that it will continue to receive funding from Alberta Barley, the Manitoba Wheat & Barley Growers Association and the Saskatchewan Barley […] Read more
Easy-to-grow perception a problem for flax
Agronomist says the crop needs good management, including appropriate fertilizer, fungicides and weed control
INDIAN HEAD, Sask. — Researchers are responding to producer complaints about seemingly unpredictable flax yields, says Rachel Evans, extension agronomist with the Flax Council of Canada. “Some producers tend to think of flax as a low input crop, but in fact, it is quite the opposite,” Evans said during the Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation’s […] Read more
Legal protection urged for wild pollinators
Expert urges farmers and ranchers to establish pollinator habitat and use environmentally friendly pest management
PORT STANLEY, Ont. — The contribution wild pollinators make to food production is widely recognized but there’s a lack of knowledge concerning their habitat and habits here in Canada. Pollinator expert Nigel Raine hopes to begin to change that. He plans to monitor pollinator activity at 50 different Ontario locations, including farm locations. The University […] Read more
Low birth weights affect productivity
Pig researchers are finding that birth weight can have significant impact on an animal’s reproductive performance in later life. And that’s not all, said Mark Estienne, a Virginia Tech pig physiologist. “The way the sows are managed in gestation can also impact future reproduction in the gilts that are farrowed by those sows,” he told […] Read more
Potato research receives federal funding
Federal government funds to help expand markets for Canadian potatoes were announced March 15 in Winnipeg. The agriculture department announced $274,000 in funds through Growing Forward 2, which will be used to expand foreign and domestic markets for potatoes “through trade shows, targeted advertising, incoming missions, market research and development, and product promotion.” Announcement of […] Read more
Spuds: will that be boiled or baked, mashed or fried?
Potato growers urged to emphasize the fresh, local aspects, promote new varieties and provide recipes for this versatile, ‘dynamic’ vegetable
Respect the russet! That ringing endorsement of popular potato varieties was accompanied by a table full of 15 new types now ready for evaluation and licence agreements. Agriculture Canada had the new varieties on display at the Lethbridge Research Centre Feb. 15 and held a joint video conference involving researchers in Lethbridge, Guelph, Ont. and […] Read more
Controlled traffic project follows path to the end
After six years of staying on track, a unique farm research project has reached its final headland. Controlled Traffic Farming Alberta, known online as controlledtrafficfarming.org, will end its six year rotation of research this March with a final conference. With eight co-operating farms and multiple projects, the group has assembled a great deal of data […] Read more
