Category: Crop Schools

Flea beetles are a common insect pest in early growing canola across the Prairies. There are two important species of concern for canola (and mustard) growers: the striped flea beetle and the crucifer flea beetle.“The feeding is indistinguishable, but the striped flea beetle comes up earlier,” says James Tansey, provincial entomologist with Saskatchewan Ministry of… Read More

Kochia is one of the first weeds to emerge in spring. There are reports that 80 per cent of the kochia population emerges before anything else in a field.The fact that it emerges so early puts a lot of pressure on the pre-emergent herbicide options out there.In this Wheat School episode, Kara Oosterhuis is joined… Read More

For decades, soybean acreage has increased in Canada and has been internationally fuelled by growing world demand for the oilseed crop. Soybeans have also proven to be a friend to farmers, making a profitable contribution to the bottom line and adding another cropping option to diversify and extend rotations.But what happens when farmers plant too… Read More

Any time you’re growing canola, and any field you’re growing it in, clubroot should be on your mind.For Leighton Blashko, senior technical specialist at BASF Canada, the two most important things when it comes to this yield-robbing disease are sanitation and avoidance. In this Canola School episode, Blashko and field editor Kara Oosterhuis talk about strategies… Read More

Seed and soil-borne diseases should be on the radar of every grower this time of year. Getting a handle on the diseases present on your seed means being able to pick an effective seed treatment.“As we go into seeding, there are four common pathogens or diseases that your seed is going to encounter,” says Chadrick… Read More

It wasn’t so long ago that growers wouldn’t plant soybeans in April, but times have changed as research continues to provide evidence of the yield benefits when planting early.Soybeans have also developed a reputation as pretty tough customers. And when growers add protection from a new generation of seed treatments they can expect strong emergence and… Read More

Will precision planting pay when it comes to winter wheat yield? How do things like down force and row spacing contribute to a more uniform winter wheat stand?In this Wheat School episode, we’ve got our latest research update from the Follings Research Farm with Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson and Joanna Follings, cereals specialist with the… Read More

Starting the year off on the right foot requires a little bit of forethought and planning. When it comes to keeping a canola crop clean during the early stages of growth, there are some steps to take before even seeding the crop.Dr. Charles Geddes, research scientist in weed ecology and cropping systems at Agriculture and… Read More

As planters start rolling for the 2021 soybean season, growers will be managing many different planting environments — everything from conventional and minimum tillage to no-till and strip-till.Each management system will require different strategies but when properly executed (with a little cooperation from Mother Nature) they all have the potential to deliver high yields. On… Read More

Depending on where you farm across the Prairies, you might have some concerns about herbicide carryover from the previous year, especially after a dry fall.“If you’re in some of the drier areas of the prairies, especially southern Alberta or across Saskatchewan, you might want to take a look at some of the herbicides you used… Read More