Every season more farmers face the challenge of herbicide-resistant weeds. “Herbicide resistance is the genetic capacity of a weed population to survive a herbicide treatment that, under normal use conditions, would effectively control that weed population,” said Dr. Jeanette Gaultier, weed specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. It’s sometimes described as evolution happening at an accelerated pace […] Read more
Are there resistant weeds in your fields?
The answer to this question is probably yes. Testing can give you a definite answer
Interest in falling numbers on the rise
Wheat buyers want the numbers; the AWC wants falling numbers in grading systems
With apologies to accountants and statisticians, numbers don’t always tell the story. Falling numbers, however, are growing in popularity with farmers around the globe. In an industry where success is equal parts calculation and perspiration, more and more producers are counting on falling numbers to help drive their success. “Falling number is a widely used […] Read more
Grain in the bin still needs your attention
Once the crop is in the bin, it still needs attention and careful management
Success with wheat crops has much in common with being a good parent: You can do everything else to raise them right, but if you spoil them it’s all for naught. “Wheat needs to be managed in storage or you risk a huge loss of revenue,” said Dr. Joy Agnew, Project Manager — Agricultural Research […] Read more
Fusarium head blight as bad as it sounds
An Alberta study says fusarium can easily cost farmers $50/acre. What you can do?
As demonstrated by terms like rhinorrhea, which is basically a runny nose, some conditions sound worse than they are. In the case of fusarium head blight (FHB), a cereal disease affecting small grains and corn, the nasty name fits like a glove. In her research work on plant pathology for The Grain Research Centre (CEROM) […] Read more
New advances in chickpea breeding
Chickpea breeder Bunyamin Tar’an explains what breeders’ goals in variety development
Farming is all about colours: staying in the black and avoiding the red to keep your business in the pink of health. That’s no small feat, which is why genetic improvement and variety development in chickpeas is needed to keep farmers on the cutting edge and keep those greenbacks coming in. “For any crop you […] Read more
Winning the war on pea problems
Weeds, disease and pests will all steal yield from less-competitive pea crops
Disease and pests pose a big risk for growers. A little planning can go a long way to limiting the damage. Peas are somewhat less competitive than some other crops like barley, canola or wheat because their canopy is open a bit longer, so weeds get a better start,” said Dr. Neil Harker, research scientist, […] Read more
Timing is key to whipping weeds
It’s easiest to kill weeds when they’re actively growing. Make sure you know when that is
Whether you’re telling a joke or treating a weed, timing is critical. And as anyone who has failed at weed control will confirm, it’s no laughing matter. Once you let weeds gain a foothold they can soon get out of hand, so it’s crucial to identify the life cycle of the weeds in your field […] Read more
Breeding aims high with hybrid rye
Two recently-released rye varieties are bringing higher yields to the Prairies
Hybrid cars may be all the rage these days for their lower gas consumption, but it’s hybrid rye that’s fuelling excitement for producers and seed growers. Two varieties that were recently released by German seed company KWS, the world’s leading rye breeder, are Bono and Guttino. Bullish on Bono As CEO of Regina-based FP Genetics, […] Read more
Outstanding Young Farmers Alberta: Shane and Kristen Schooten
Starting young and working with family pays off for Shane and Kristen Schooten
More often than not, mixing family and business is like an ill-conceived blind date: awkward and hard to get out of. That’s not the case for Shane and Kristen Schooten, recent winners of Alberta’s Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF) award. They are living proof that you can survive and even thrive by blending family and finances. […] Read more
Outstanding Young Farmers B.C./Yukon: Brian and Jewel Pauls
Brian and Jewel Pauls are second-generation regional OYF winners
When Frank and Elma Pauls won the B.C./Yukon Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF) award in 1990, young son Brian thought how cool it would be if he followed in their footsteps. As it turns out, he did just that, and it’s very cool indeed. “I remember going through the process with dad and thinking it would be […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
