Variable-rate irrigation was used to even out maturity in this wheat field on Dennis Bulani’s Saskatchewan farm.

Expand your VRT toolset

Could variable-rate irrigation or variable-rate desiccation boost production or profits on your farm?

Nutrient applications typically come to mind first when you think about variable-rate technology (VRT). But as precision ag expert and variable-rate pioneer Dennis Bulani points out, there are many ways you can use variable-rate technology to boost production and the profitability of your farm. Bulani has been a staunch proponent of variable-rate farming ever since […] Read more

Targeting a seeding rate to produce 38 wheat plants per square foot, Wade McAllister was impressed with the uniform seed placement delivered by the SeedMaster Ultra SR drill, which, in turn, resulted in very even germination of CPS Penhold wheat.

Profitability isn’t always about yield

Efficiency increases and cost reductions more than cover yield shortfall with a 60-foot single rank air drill on 15-inch row spacing

As Wade McAllister heads into his second full seeding season this year with a single rank 60-foot drill on 15-inch row spacing, he is convinced there are more factors that contribute to farm profitability than just yield. The central Alberta farmer agrees that, yes, yield is important, but with the new drill — which is […] Read more



An autosampler is one of the devices used to analyze soils.

Soil tests more valuable than ever

This is the year you might see a big payback from spring soil sampling

Oftentimes, finding the right formula for applying fertilizer can be a delicate balancing act for farmers. Apply too much or in the wrong place, you’ve wasted some money. Apply too little or not where it’ll benefit most, and you can lose money by failing to maximize your yield potential. And as soil fertility expert Don […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

StatsCan confirms tight grain and oilseed stocks

Canadian corn stocks up on year

MarketsFarm — Canada’s tight supplies of canola, wheat and other crops following the 2021 Prairie drought received more confirmation from Statistics Canada with the release of updated stocks data on Tuesday. Canola stocks, as of Dec. 31, 2021, of 7.6 million tonnes were down 43 per cent from the previous year and the tightest since […] Read more

How to make a sustainable crop protection plan

How to make a sustainable crop protection plan

Q & A with an expert

Q: How do I make a crop protection plan in the off-season? A: Developing a crop protection plan for the upcoming season in the late fall and over the winter can be a challenging process. Many in-season variables, both economic and agronomic, are difficult to account for in the off-season.  However, with a season on […] Read more



Swelling herbicide-resistant weed populations have made weeds an even bigger problem.

New herbicides for 2022

Options to deal with existing and emerging weed issues and the rising threat of herbicide resistance

As notorious yield robbers, weeds have always been one of farmers’ biggest headaches, and swelling herbicide-resistant weed populations have made weeds an even bigger problem. To help producers deal with existing and emerging weeds and the rising resistance threat, new herbicide solutions are released every year. Here’s a look at some new products coming to […] Read more


Registered for use on wheat, barley, oats, rye and triticale crops, Sphaerex is a Group 3 fungicide offering broad spectrum protection against a wide range of late-season cereal diseases.

New fungicides for 2022

Tools to manage resistance development, ergot suppression and more

Protecting their crops is always top of mind for farmers. And crop protection companies are constantly developing new products and formulations to address disease challenges and other threats that arise every year. The following are some new fungicides producers in Western Canada can look for in 2022. BASF Sphaerex Registered for use on wheat, barley, […] Read more

Rebate roundup 2022

Rebate roundup 2022

These cash-back plans can help you get the most for your hard-earned input dollars

As we all know, farming can be an expensive business. No surprise then when opportunities arise to save some cash on crop inputs, almost any farmer is going to sit up and take notice. With this in mind (in alphabetical order), here’s our annual roundup of rebates available to western Canadian producers for the 2022 […] Read more