Straight cutting is no longer merely an option for harvesting canola — it’s become “the” harvest option. In many cases, the one-pass alternative has replaced swathing completely. “The decision to straight cut canola has been increasingly made for farmers in the past eight years,” says Dane Froese, oilseed specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. “The advent of […] Read more
There’s still a place for swathing in canola operations
If you didn’t plant a shatter-tolerant variety, you’re going to have to swath. But swathing can play a crucial role in other cases as well
Look out for strange weeds this year
Last year’s hot, dry growing season could have yet another unwanted gift for Prairie farmers — weed species where they’ve never seen them before. A leading weed researcher says last year’s conditions — characterized by long-term drought, extremely hot weather and variable, untimely rains — have created a perfect storm for the expansion of some […] Read more
How to prevent insecticide resistance from developing on your farm
It doesn’t happen often on the Prairies but when it does product overuse is often to blame
Insecticide resistance on the Canadian Prairies is rare. Experts say producers have a pretty good handle on how to manage their insect crop pests with the products they have. But that doesn’t mean resistance doesn’t happen. Resistance in insects occurs for the same basic reason it does in weeds, says a leading entomologist — the […] Read more
New tool helps canola producers understand variety-specific pod shatter risks
Rating system provides information needed to make harvest timing decisions
The Canadian canola industry has a new tool for growers who wish to assess the risk of pod shatter in their canola cultivars. Intended to help producers make better harvest timing decisions and analyze crop loss, this system rates pod shatter resistance in canola cultivars on a scale of one to nine. It was designed […] Read more
Sask. producer takes a ‘tip-to-tail’ look at seeding efficiencies
Saskatchewan farmer (and former researcher) says small changes can lead to savings over time
Buying a new piece of seeding equipment that promises better efficiency can work for farmers, but don’t forget the small, unsexy things that can help drive efficiency gains and incrementally save you money over time. That was the message of a presentation called, “The Penny-Pincher’s Guide to Seeding Efficiency,” delivered by Nathan Gregg, a Paynton, […] Read more
Count your canola for best results
Online tool helps producers assess plant stands and minimize seed loss
Say it’s been about a month and a half since your canola has been in the ground. Do you know if you’re on track toward an even plant stand and optimum yield, or do you still have some work to do? A new online tool can help producers find out by entering a few numbers […] Read more
Tips to conserve soil moisture and manage weeds this spring
Plus, where tillage fits in and how and when it could be used
Although it has only been on most farmers’ radars for the last couple of decades, no-till production has become a modern-day success story, with well over half of Canadian farmland now being farmed under its practices. However, no till relies heavily on herbicides to manage weeds and retain soil moisture. And with key herbicides like […] Read more
Beneficial insects play key roles on Prairie farms
The benefits of beneficials are many and varied, some parasitize or feed on crop pests while others can pollinate crops and improve seed set
A growing number of crop producers are recognizing the role of beneficial insects on their farms. It seems like just about every crop pest has a natural enemy that can keep their populations at bay, while many crops have beneficials that aid their growth and sustainability. Stuart Lawrence, Dean Hubbard and Ian Steppler are three […] Read more
‘Take time to account for time’ and other spraying advice
Tom Wolf and Ian Epp offer tips for in-crop spray applications in canola
February may seem early to think about a spraying strategy for the coming growing season but doing so now may pay off later in weed kill and crop yield. This is the take-home message from a 2021 Manitoba Canola Growers webinar on in-crop spraying, hosted by Jay Whetter of the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) […] Read more
Nitrogen fertilizer requirements for dry beans: new emerging guidelines
Research indicates Manitoba growers may be applying too much nitrogen — assess nodules and/or start on-farm trials
If you’re a dry bean grower in Manitoba, you may be spending too much on supplemental nitrogen even when staying within the province’s recommendations, says Kristen MacMillan, a research agronomist for the University of Manitoba’s department of plant science. A five-site-year study conducted by MacMillan revealed using no nitrogen fertilizer on pinto and navy beans […] Read more
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