Soybean growers in Western Canada have not yet had to face a soil-borne pest that has hurt yields in other soybean growing regions, but it’s only a matter of time. Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) has steadily spread north along the Red River and has been found in soils on at least two farms near the... Read More
Category: Crop Production
We've got the tech, so how far off are we from satellite imagery replacing Statistics Canada's phone surveys? We're half-kidding, but yes, some information formerly gathered through phone calls has already been shifted to remote sensing, says Leander Campbell, remote sensing specialist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). You may not know it, but each... Read More
Simply put, Seed Synergy is described as a process, not an entity. Those familiar with the inner workings of the seed industry have heard about Seed Synergy for quite some time, but those further out — and those on the farm — likely haven't heard much. As Dan Wright, president of Canadian Seed Trade Association,... Read More
Salford is giving growers the ability to apply either in-row, pop-up, or banded granular starter fertilizer with the ease and maneuverability that comes with a planter-mounted fertilizer applicator. The company's new Ferti-GO 4S features a single product hopper, available for mounting on many planter models, with variable rate metering and four-section control. "With this metering... Read More
Thinking about using an aerial applicator this year to fly on fungicide, fertilizer, or cover crops? If so, you better grab your phone and book a supplier, says Dan Haupt of Blenheim, ON, based Zimmer Air Services. The family-owned company, currently operated by Paul Zimmer, has been serving Ontario agriculture since 1974. Haupt says farmers... Read More
It's fast and it's efficient. That's what growers need to know about the new Nutri-Placer 940 fertilizer applicator. Case IH says its latest fertilizer applicator featuring its high speed low disturbance (HSLD) row unit is capable of speeds up to 11 mph, allowing operators to cover over 900 acres in a 12-hour day. Case IH... Read More
While yield and lodging attributes will always be critical, pulse crop breeders have placed a high priority on root rot resistance in recent years, and are increasingly focused on the nutritional profile of new pea, lentil and chickpea varieties. Tom Warkentin, pulse breeder at the Crop Development Centre at Saskatoon, joins us for this Pulse... Read More
Researchers with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Saskatoon have developed a lab test for identifying blackleg disease races in canola that complements the new blackleg resistance-gene labels on canola seed. Knowing both factors — the blackleg races present in a field and the disease packages available in seed — will allow farmers to select varieties... Read More
Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the crop's number one yield-robbing pest, and the problem is only going to get worse as the pest continues to breakdown the defence provided by SCN-resistant soybean varieties. It really is a case of the pest becoming "resistant to the resistance," says Iowa State nematologist Greg Tylka. About 95 percent... Read More
Your farm has a nutrient management plan, but does it include your neighbours? A larger-scale plan is a great idea for intense livestock neighbourhoods that struggle to use manure efficiently. It also ensures nutrients stay in the field and out of tiles and waterways, says Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs field crop... Read More