
Author Archives
Hail beats up southern Alberta for a second year
Southern Alberta has had quite a beating from Mother Nature this summer. The hail season started early with crop-damaging hailstorms during the last week of May in both Lethbridge and Vulcan areas. Storms were particularly violent and widespread over July 5-8, when some motorists reported driving through hailstorms as tough as any winter storm and […] Read more
Now it’s variable rate irrigation
Variable rate irrigation is just getting started, but it could be the future of a more efficient way to use water and manage high-value irrigation crops
Variable rate technology is already enabling more efficient use of fertilizer. “Variable rate irrigation could be as big a boost to water use efficiency.” That’s the opinion of Dana Williams-Freeman, manager of Oliver Irrigation in Lethbridge. “It lets us avoid over-application of water,” he says. “That means better crops, and more efficient use of water, maybe 30 per cent savings, just by not […] Read moreDon’t hold back when fertilizing winter wheat unless conditions are dry
From the Sept. 12 issue of Alberta Farmer Express Winter wheat has looked awfully good the last two springs, when late snow and rain created muddy conditions that kept seeders out of the fields. Every field of winter wheat means one less to seed when the weather is against you. The extra bushels, generally at […] Read more
Making the first application of fungicide in early spring, before you see signs of disease, is the most important strike against ascochyta in chickpeas and lentils
Infection of ascochyta in chickpea crops can happen much earlier than first thought. Ascospores released from infected chickpea stubble can spread and infect new plants early and in the absence of rain splash, according to Yantai Gan, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Swift Current. Scouting and spraying early is your best […] Read more
Grainews is written for farmers and often by farmers. It is about putting theory into practice on the farm. Each issue also features Cattleman’s Corner for cow-calf producers and farmers with mixed cattle and grain operations.