Determining rust risk, telling tan spot from septoria, and identifying a bacterial infection are all key to keeping the cereal crop’s solar panels (leaves!) clean and in top form. For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by plant pathologists Holly Derksen with UPL, and Dr. Kelly Turkington with Agriculture and Agri-Food… Read More

In recent years, the search for new methods of controlling agricultural pests has led to significant advancements in bio-insecticide technology. One such development is the emergence of peptide-based insecticides, which seek to balance effective pest control and environmental stewardship. Peptides are essentially amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. In the context of insecticides, peptides… Read More

Farm groups are urging members of the Senate to avoid stalling on Bill C-234, with limited time left on the calendar before Parliament’s summer break. The proposed legislation, which was approved by the House of Commons earlier this year, would remove the federal carbon tax from propane and natural gas used for grain drying, barn… Read More

A soil nitrate test is an excellent way to measure nitrogen mineralized from the soil over the spring. The test offers a window into the temperature and moisture mix of a particular season to-date and helps inform the critical side-dress N amount on corn. Dale Cowan, senior agronomists with AGRIS Co-op, pulled nitrate tests from… Read More

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has named her new cabinet, and it includes a new agriculture minister. RJ Sigurdson, the MLA for Highwood, has been appointed Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, replacing Nate Horner, who was named Minister of Finance and President of the Treasury Board. Horner had served as the province’s ag minister since late… Read More

What we describe as new technology is continuously changing; however, the impact it has on our cropping systems remains strong. Dr. Terry Griffin, cropping systems economist at Kansas State University has written a report for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on technology adoption, entitled “Precision Ag in a Digital Era.” Although the word… Read More

Reports of at least one hay shed fire in Ontario this week should serve as an alert to other farmers who took advantage of the dry, hot week in late May to put up dry hay. As Christine O’Reilly, Ontario’s forage and grazing specialist, tweeted out on June 5, hay that was put up “dry”… Read More

Most Canadians have noticed a serious run-up in grocery bills in the last 18 months. Inflation has hit consumers at checkout lines, even at the most discount of discount stores. Which begs the question, how do you save money on food? This week, the RealAg team had its regular Tuesday meeting where we kick off… Read More