The supply chain and weed management

The supply chain and weed management

Q & A with an expert

Q: Will supply chain issues affect my weed management decisions in 2022? A: Last year was a challenge due, in part, to drought, but 2022 brings its own challenges with supply chain issues from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These supply chain constraints may negatively affect the shipping of herbicide quantities for use in 2022.  What […] Read more

In Alberta, kochia patches could form in new parts of the field or neighbouring fields where tumbleweeds may have blown, says AAFC’s Shaun Sharpe. Approaches and compacted areas may also be potential areas of invasion and spread as well as along roadsides, grid roads and field margins and around sloughs. Weed specialist Clark Brenzil highly recommends preventing the growth of kochia by planting perennial forages in ditches and even in saline (or otherwise non-productive) areas in fields.

Weed issues to watch in 2022

How different factors, such as moisture, temperature, herbicide resistance and others, may affect weed populations this year

After a series of dry years on the Prairies — with 2021 being driest of all — the provincial weed outlook for 2022 is varied across Western Canada and field to field. From kochia invading new territory to a possible increase of overwintering weeds — such as later-emerging false cleavers, Canada thistle, shepherd’s purse and […] Read more


A new program is making it easier for producers to learn key skills for taking care of their businesses, workers and themselves.

Free online course for business planning skills

No matter what stage your farm is in, business management practices play a crucial role in your farm’s success and longevity. But how to go about figuring out which practices to implement? And it can be a daunting task — especially after a long day spent in the fields. Fortunately, a new program is making […] Read more

AAFC’s Drought Monitor map for the period ending March 31, 2022. (Agriculture.canada.ca)

Drought severity easing across much of Prairies, AAFC reports

MarketsFarm — Drought conditions persisted across much of the Prairies during the month of March, although the extent and severity of the dryness was reduced in many areas, according to the latest Drought Monitor report from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). “While there have been substantial improvements to drought conditions across Western Canada since last […] Read more


(Lightspeedshutter/iStock/Getty Images)

Advance Payments Program to offer 100 per cent up front

Feds temporarily waive 60 per cent up-front limit

Canadian farmers seeking pre-production cash advances under the federal Advance Payments Program ahead of this year’s spring seeding will be able to get the entire eligible amount up front. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Wednesday announced a “temporary waiving” of the program’s usual requirement that pre-production cash advances be issued in instalments of 60 […] Read more

The debt of the parents needs to be settled before the next generation can start charting their debt servicing and equity purchases as they learn how to manage and start to gain ownership in equipment, shares, land, or other farm assets.

Froese: Help! My parents have loads of debt we don’t want!

If your attitudes towards debt are very different from your parents, do you really want to be business partners with them?

Every front door looks beautiful” is one of my favourite Irish sayings. It came to mind in Deadwood, South Dakota, the Black Hills where I was listening to the woes of a young ranch couple. They have a strong desire to ranch as “debt free” as possible, but her parents, the owners are stuck on […] Read more


There is all kinds of “stuff” on the farm — stuff you need, stuff you want — and sometimes stuff that is a great invention. Above the writer’s son Billy McGrath looks over a riding mower he outfitted with a spot spraying system to control dandelions as he mows the lawn. The sprayer involves a scrap section of boom, a five gallon pail and a 12 volt pump... Apparently it works very well. His mom is quite impressed with improved weed control around the yard.

Important to critically think about ‘stuff’

Before spending, ask yourself if some new tool or capital purchase is a need or a want

I bet that most of us have a lot of “stuff” on our ranches. The stuff I am referring to is anything that is not water, grass or cows. These could be considered the three parts of the ranching picture, and the stuff is what helps us manage those three parts. Stuff includes things such […] Read more

The last eight years have been dominated by energy surpluses, and it looks like the next decade could be dominated by shortages as we begin to feel the effects of underinvestment and the political climate.

The looming energy predicament

I use the word predicament because “crisis” and “catastrophe” are grossly overused

A short 14 years ago, as oil approached $150 per barrel, chants of “Drill, Baby, Drill” were often heard at republican campaign rallies. While the republicans lost the election, the U.S. oil industry heard the message loud and clear, unleashing a torrent of investment in shale oil, boosting American production from about five million to […] Read more


Can you put a price on a smart dog?

Can you put a price on a smart dog?

The politically correct answer is no, but when it comes to pets, I think I might have a limit

Although we haven’t had a dog full time in the house for many years, there never seems to be one too far away. Both our daughter and son have or have had dogs at different times and we end up dog-sitting. Also, friends and other family members go on holidays and need dog-sitters. So, we […] Read more

A herbicide layering strategy uses a pre-seed treatment on emerged weeds while using soil-applied products simultaneously to control weeds that emerge a couple of weeks after the initial application. The pre-seed treatment helps to remove early-emerged weed pressure while the soil-applied application, when activated by moisture, provides extended control to help reduce weed pressure prior to the application of an in-crop herbicide. This type of strategy not only helps with early weed removal and allowing the crop to establish and take advantage of the nutrients and moisture available, but it also provides farmers more options for an in-crop application that will best target the later-emerging weeds that have to be dealt with.

Take a layered approach to herbicides

Develop an effective herbicide layering strategy — it could be one of your most powerful tools in the fight against herbicide resistance

It’s no secret that herbicide-resistant weeds are making life increasingly difficult for many crop growers in Western Canada, but the situation is far from hopeless, says an agricultural expert. Canada currently ranks third in the world for herbicide-resistant weeds, trailing only the United States and Australia in that category. Studies have shown there are currently […] Read more