Keep it Clean, a collaboration between the Canola Council of Canada, Cereals Canada, Pulse Canada and the Prairie Oat Growers Association, publishes an annual advisory to help farmers navigate market risks related to agrochemical use.
New risks flagged in this year’s ‘Keep it Clean’ list
The updates affect insecticide use on cereals and lentils
Red clover: A forage crop worth a second look
Cool-season adaptability, strong yields and soil benefits may make it an attractive choice
Red clover is a cool-weather crop. While alfalfa tends to yield better in southern regions, the trend shifts as you move north. Wisconsin forage expert Dan Undersander points out that this shift is noticeable even within his own state.
Grow forages, starve weeds
Forages disrupt weed routines and slow herbicide resistance — if you can use them
“Forages actually can be used to combat resistant weeds,” Kim Brown says. “A perennial forage stand will last for several years, but in a spring annual crop rotation, you’re dealing almost exclusively with annual crops most of the time.”
Getting greener: How Prairie cereals have reduced their carbon footprint
Reports shed new light on Prairie cereal growers’ work implementing best practices
Cereals Canada released several reports on March 20 highlighting the relatively small environmental footprint of Canadian wheat, durum, barley and oats compared against other top-producing countries.
Kochia’s expanding herbicide resistance puts pressure on no-till systems
Kochia populations in Saskatchewan and North Dakota are now resistant to group 14 herbicides, leaving fewer options for Prairie farmers
Based on preliminary data from a recent Prairie-wide kochia survey, AAFC’s Charles Geddes suspects Group 14-resistant kochia is now present in multiple fields in Saskatchewan and expects it could soon be confirmed in other regions as well.
Rethinking nitrogen efficiency
Tracking nitrogen with stable isotopes offers surprising insights into fertilizer uptake, loss, and management strategies
Understanding how much nitrogen actually gets taken up by plants is key to improving efficiency—both for profitability and sustainability.
Alfalfa aptitude: five things to consider when selecting varieties
In the case of alfalfa varieties, it’s usually well worth splurging for a top yielder
Yield tops Dan Undersander’s list of considerations for an alfalfa variety, for the simple reason that profitability increases with yield.
Mastering elastic band castration: techniques for a stress-free procedure
Manitoba rancher Jodi Suchoplas offers expert advice on the preferred castration method for cow-calf operations
When done properly, elastration is quick, requires minimal restraint, is less invasive than surgical methods, and eliminates the need for stitches. It’s also simply less stressful for both the animal and the handler.
Do farmers need to apply sulphur to their crops every year?
Research suggests this important nutrient hangs around a lot longer than farmers think
“In terms of the reactions with some of the other elements of the soil, particularly in soils that have a lot of calcium, it hangs around a lot longer than we think it does.”
Maximize your nitrogen efficiency with the right practices
Strategic application can reduce N losses and boost productivity
Speaking at Ag Days, Bryce Geisel digs down into nitrogen loss pathways and how applying the right practices can keep your N fertilizer where it belongs.
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
