Crops approaching harvest, hay yields seen significantly lower

Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending July 23

Crops continue to develop quickly in the province, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. Many pulse and winter cereal fields in drier areas are rapidly drying down and producers have begun desiccation in some areas. Some producers expect harvest to get underway in the next few weeks. The majority of crops remain in fair […] Read more

An adult cereal leaf beetle.

Have you seen this bug?

The invasive cereal leaf beetle is heading our way. Look for damage in your wheat crop

There’s a new pest headed our way. James Tansey, provincial pest management specialist with Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture gave the audience the bad news at SaskWheat’s semi-annual meeting at the Farm Progress Show on June 20. The cereal leaf beetle is an invasive pest, common in the U.S. It has been spotted on the Prairies […] Read more


Bernie McClean's annual crop rotation includes canola, CPS wheat, malt barley and oats.

Extending rotations, in the field

Part 1 of 3: How real farmers are extending their rotations

There seems to be no shortage of articles, presentations and research exhorting farmers to lengthen rotations. Longer rotations benefit everything from weed control to disease suppression in crops. But what are farmers doing to maintain or extend rotations? Grainews spoke to three farmers to find out how they’re managing their rotations. And while each farmer […] Read more

The Badrys' conveyor system includes wet and dry bucket elevators as well as a GSI VersaLoop round tube conveyor connected to the bins for long-term storage.

Making a case for on-farm drying

One Alberta farmer sees a return on grain dryer investment

The old adage, it never rains but it pours, is one that farmers can certainly identify with. Over the last decade of growing seasons, prairie farmers saw several years with average annual rainfall amounts so far above average it actually had some farmers buying equipment to allow them to return to tillage practices. This year […] Read more


Crop growth advancing well, though high heat, low moisture causing damage

Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending July 9

Crops across the province are advancing nicely, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. Eighty-one per cent of the fall cereals, 77 per cent of the spring cereals, 75 per cent of the oilseeds and 79 per cent of the pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. The […] Read more

Most crops in Sask. in good condition, but more rain needed

Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending July 2

Scattered showers last week brought much-needed rain to many areas of the province, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. Rainfall last week ranged from trace amounts to 53 mm in the Arborfield area. Additional rainfall in the past few days has alleviated concerns of dry conditions in some areas, although more will be needed […] Read more


Tetrastichus julis, a parasitoid wasp whose larvae develop within cereal leaf beetle larvae can kill a substantial number of cereal leaf beetle larvae.

Beneficial insects versus four major pests

There are more than just pests in 
those sweep nets; don’t sweep it all away

Many insect pests feed on cereal crops and canola. But for every pest in the field, there are dozens of predators feeding on them. Knowing which beneficial insects feed on the major pests can help growers make better management decisions. University of Toronto postdoctoral entomologist Vincent Hervet explains. 1. Cereal leaf beetle The cereal leaf […] Read more

Crops see good growth progress, southwest Sask. needs rain

Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending June 18

Across the province, seventy-five per cent of the pulse crops and fall and spring cereals are at their normal stages of development, while 70 per cent of the oilseeds are at their normal stages of development for this time of year, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. Many areas reported rain showers this week, […] Read more


Many years ago, farmers used to take caution when planting winter wheat and rye due to snow mould. Not so much a problem anymore.

Where have these funguys gone?

Herbicides and “new” crops may play a role in controlling disease

Back in the 1970s and ’80s when I worked for Alberta Agriculture, take-all of wheat and barley and snow mould of winter wheat were hot topics on the Canadian prairies. Yield losses from these two diseases were considerable. Wet summers were bad for take-all, while deep snow winters often led to snow mould. I remember […] Read more

Recent rains improve crop conditions, topsoil moisture

Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending June 11

Rain across most of the province has helped to alleviate dry topsoil moisture conditions. Areas in the southeast, which was one of the drier regions over the past couple of months, received large amounts that caused flooding. The moisture will help to replenish pasture and encourage hay growth. Seeding operations are mostly complete, but there […] Read more