At left is a wheat crop seeded on shorter or more conventional stubble height, which trapped less snow over winter. At right is a more robust crop growing in taller stubble that was able to capture more snow.

Research confirms value of taller crop stubble

Technology is available to help set up, measure and monitor on-farm research projects

Leaving taller crop stubble in the fall can improve the odds of higher crop yield in the following year, says Saskatchewan crop consultant Mike Palmier. His field observations in the 2021 growing season, followed by on-farm research trials through 2022 and 2023, produced data to support a recommendation to leave taller crop stubble. Even a […] Read more





(Thinkstock photo)

Canola speculative short position smallest in year

Speculators were busy covering short positions and moving more money to the long side of the canola market during the week ended Oct. 29, taking the net short position in the oilseed to its lowest level in over a year, according to the latest Commitments of Traders report from the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Microsclerotia growing on the skin of the outer stem, which is peeling back.

A crash course on verticillium stripe

It’s important to know how to identify this newcomer to western Canadian canola crops and distinguish it from other diseases

Verticillium stripe of canola is causing yield loss in Manitoba and probably other areas of the Prairies. And it’s getting worse. The disease, caused by the Verticillium longisporum pathogen, was first reported in Manitoba in 2014. In 2015, Canadian Food Inspection Agency surveyors found the pathogen in six provinces, including all three Prairie provinces. The […] Read more


A brown mustard flower in bloom. As of mid-October, brown mustard is priced at just over 30 cents/lb.

Leveling the crop protection playing field for mustard

The challenges of growing mustard in the shadow of canola

While mustard growers face many of the same agronomic challenges as canola growers, they often find themselves with fewer crop protection options than canola growers do. So when Bayer recently announced its Buteo Start seed treatment for flea beetles would be available for mustard seed, mustard farmers welcomed the news. “That’s going to help us […] Read more