It's not often that I can't find the answers I need. After all, growing crops and sharing information about growing crops is the part of this job I love the most (hello, total agronomy geek up in here!). I'm always willing to dig deep to get the answers farmers need. So it's difficult for me... Read More
Category: Crop Production
Soybeans can handle slightly colder temps than corn, but their exposed growing point means that frost damage can be far deadlier and permanent. That seems to be the case across much of Ontario, as farmers head to the fields to assess the full fallout of Saturday morning's hard frost. In this Soybean School episode, PRIDE... Read More
We're 72 hours out from the late May frost that occurred across much of Ontario, and farmers are busy scouting corn fields for damage. Thankfully, most farmers and crop scouts are already seeing green signs of re-growth — a welcome sight — but reports are trickling in of badly damaged areas within fields. Why did... Read More
Corn growers in Western Canada have another option for post-emergent weed control. BASF Canada has announced it's making Armezon herbicide available for corn on the prairies. Armezon contains a group 27 active ingredient for controlling weeds like wild mustard, barnyard grass and green foxtail. Volunteer canola has recently been added to the label and BASF... Read More
The number of flax acres in Western Canada will likely be up this year, but it’s looking like it might not be as high as many analysts and people in the flax industry were expecting. According to Statistics Canada’s planting intentions report released last month, farmers in Western Canada are planting 1.63 million acres of... Read More
The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) has been working to "actively engage the audience of young farmers in Ontario," starting with the OFVGA Young Farmers’ Program, launched at its annual general meeting held this past January. As part of the program, a group of young farmers attended the OFVGA annual meeting, with full... Read More
Much of the prairies has seen frost or the risk of frost in the past couple of weeks, leaving a lot of us wondering how our plants have fared. For crops where the growing point is above the soil surface, frost can be devastating (think canola). But for many of our plant friends, the growing... Read More
Do you know how many of your canola seeds turned into viable plants? Frost damage, weeds and insect pests aren't the only things to look for in canola fields as the plants pop out of the ground. Seed survival should also be assessed, emphasizes Angela Brackenreed, agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada in... Read More
The 2015 planting season is moving right into spraying season, as this week’s update from Wheat Pete includes discussion about early weed control in dry conditions, critical weed-free periods for corn and soybeans, and manganese deficient wheat. Whether it’s lamb’s quarters, pigweed, ragweed or foxtail, “you name it, it’s out there coming gangbusters,” says Peter... Read More
This week, I had the distinct pleasure of joining a small group of range enthusiasts for a ranch tour in central Alberta. I wasn't sure what to expect, besides a scorching sun and gale-force winds. But the afternoon ended up being so much more than an excuse to step away from my laptop. It was... Read More