Certified seed use is all but 100 per cent in canola, the second biggest crop in Western Canada (after wheat). Yet certified seed use in wheat in Western Canada hovers around 20 per cent. In durum, it’s even lower at around 16 per cent, according to the Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA). Why the big […] Read more
The certified seed hype
There’s a lot of hype around farmers using certified seed. Some agronomists believe it’s well worth the extra cost
Alberta’s fusarium action plan
Fusarium graminearum is listed as a pest under the Alberta Agricultural Pests Act. To control the disease and keep it from lowering grain yield and quality, the province of Alberta has an extensive management plan in place. But some believe the Fusarium Management Plan is be too restrictive. Alberta’s Fusarium Management Plan was developed to […] Read more
Three good reasons to test seed lots now
Don’t let last year’s problems become next year’s problems. Test your seed before it’s too late
The 2013 growing season is over, but it will linger well into the next growing season. Why? Because seed quality for next year’s crop is very dependent on conditions experienced in the previous year. The top three reasons to test seed are to know more about germination, vigour and disease levels. “2013 produced what looks […] Read more
Sclerotinia in Manitoba
Sclerotinia doesn’t just hit canola. Find out how to avoid this problem on your farm
Sclerotinia is a fungal stem rot disease caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. It occurs throughout the Prairies, but its severity from year to year is variable as its development depends on the right environmental conditions occurring at its germination and infection phases. Not just canola Sclerotinia gets most of its attention as a disease in canola, […] Read more
Benefits of fungicides on soybeans
When white mould became an issue for Manitoba soybean growers in 2013, there were many debates about the benefits of fungicde
This past season was the first time in a number of years, probably since 2010, that white mould in soybeans has been an issue for growers in Manitoba. It raised all sorts of questions about the disease itself, management practises to mitigate infection and what fungicides are available to suppress or control the disease. Dennis […] Read moreUSDA crop estimation process
Production forecasts and estimates are a vital part of the business of marketing crops. The value of traded grains can move substantially from one day to the next on the basis of weather: drought, floods, frost, colder than normal, wetter than normal or other factors. Crop estimate reports can also cause large price swings. Last […] Read more
Grain companies and production data
Like farmers, grain companies use government production forecasts to help determine where markets are going
Grain companies and marketing firms use a variety of sources of information to estimate crop production and yield as well as beginning and ending stocks and predicted seeded areas for the next crop year. Getting the information Depending on a company’s resources, it might have access to internally produced information as well as information that […] Read more
Crop forecasting in Canada
Stats Can’s crop production estimates can have a big impact on prices. Find out how they come up with these numbers
Statistics Canada (StatsCan), a federal government department, conducts the farm surveys that obtain information about crop production, seeded areas, harvested areas, expected yields and production in Canada. Stats Can surveys The surveys are fielded in a series of six data collection periods and the information is released at pre-scheduled, strategic times during the calendar year. The intention […] Read moreFrozen soils: Life under the soil
More of our nutrients are lost of snow melt run-off than rain. Researchers are working on ways to lower this loss
Dr. Barbara Cade-Menun is a research scientist at the Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre (SPARC) at Swift Current, Saskatchewan. A soil scientist by training, Cade-Menum is the “nutrient cycling” scientist at SPARC. This role moves her beyond traditional soil fertility, and includes nutrient transport from land to water. The focus of her research is to understand how nutrients […] Read more
Bin installation and insurance
Many empty bins were destroyed by plough winds last summer. Not all damage is preventable, but there are steps you can take
Farmers are purchasing more and more on-farm storage these days. With more bins on farms, there are also more reports of bin damage due, particularly due to catastrophic winds. While some acts of God cannot be guarded against, farmers can take precautions. Meridian Manufacturing Inc. is the largest bin manufacturer in North America. Its head […] Read moreCyber-Savvy Farmer
