It’s actually two questions. It isn’t just how much leadership potential have my kids got? It’s also, how much better will they get if I provide the right training and support? And the reason parents need to ask both questions is because science is learning an immense amount about what leadership potential looks like. “Leadership […] Read more
Is my kid a leader?
Mediocre leadership can strain family and employee relationships — and one's own health
Do the kids really want to take the lead on the farm?
The next generation, and the parents, both have to be clear on how they can prove it
An intergenerational farm transition is never easy. There are tough conversations, there are disagreements, and, always, there is compromise. The kids who want to take over the farm worry about when, if ever, that’s going to happen. They want to know how they are going to get there and what their parents are going to […] Read more
Tips to scout and identify crop pest grasshopper species
Flying before June, coloured hind wings and sings? It’s not eating your crops. Here’s how to identify the ones that are
It can be hard to distinguish between grasshopper species as many of them appear to look similar. And while they may look alike, only a few of them pose a threat to farmers. A typical Prairie system of pasture, cropland and roadside vegetation, for instance, might have 30 to 40 different species, but only four […] Read more
Tips to develop a spring safety checklist for your farm
There are many reasons why it’s needed, including your profitability
Many farming operations across Canada are still family owned, and because of that a lot of the occupational health and safety legislation doesn’t always apply to them if they don’t have paid employees or are small-scale operations. That said, Robert Gobeil, agricultural health and safety specialist with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), still advises […] Read more
How to break through the winter wheat yield ceiling
It takes a balanced fertility approach
Winter wheat yields in Manitoba over the past few years have been in the 60 to 70 bushel per acre range, but many varieties have a much higher yield potential — more than 100 bu/ac. What can western Canadian farmers do to break through that yield ceiling? Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) has a long association […] Read more
Tips to optimize your 2021 canola crops
Set yourself and your crop up for success
No two growing seasons are alike, but Prairie canola growers can still draw from the mix of familiar and unique challenges they faced last year to better prepare for the season ahead. “For canola, it’s about setting the crop up from the beginning, so it’s things like good trash management and weed control, and ensuring […] Read more
New fungicides and insecticides heading your way in 2021
New products to control insects like flea beetles and diseases, such as blackleg and sclerotinia, in canola, and more
One season is never the same as the next, so farmers face different disease and insect issues every year. This is one of the reasons there are new solutions being developed and coming to market every year — to help farmers protect their crops throughout the growing season from new and old disease and insect […] Read more
New herbicides for 2021
New and improved products and formulations from BASF, UPL AgroSolutions, Nufarm, FMC Canada and Corteva
Farmers face increasing pressure every year from existing and emerging weeds, as well as increasing issues with weed resistance. Agricultural companies are constantly developing and launching new and improved products and formulations to try and stay ahead of the curve. The following is a synopsis of the new herbicide products from BASF, UPL AgroSolutions, Nufarm, […] Read more
Farmers weigh in on drone benefits
How producers from Alberta and Saskatchewan use their drones on the farm
Matt Vossepoel bought his first drone, a DJI Mavic 2 with a thermal camera, two years ago so he could check on his 800-head of cattle and find sick animals or animals he couldn’t always see easily due to the terrain of his farm. Before long, he was using it during calving to check for […] Read more
Twelve uses for your drone
From flood documentation to weed control, farmers are putting their drones to good use
When remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), or drones, first started appearing on the market, it was thought their uses in agriculture would be mainly limited to third-party companies farmers would hire to fly over their fields and to analyze and provide information collected by those drones. However, today it is mainly farmers purchasing and using […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
