Farming can exact a heavy emotional toll on even the hardiest of souls. Between dealing with volatile markets, extreme weather and long hours of work, often in isolated conditions, it’s no surprise Canadian farmers suffer higher rates of anxiety and depression than the general public. A University of Guelph study surveyed 1,132 Canadian farmers between […] Read more
How to build your resilience
When it comes to your mental health, resilience is an important skill to develop. Here’s why and how
Two new book releases by Prairie authors
Just in time for the holiday season
Two members of the Grainews family have recently released books that are sure to be of interest to readers in Western Canada. Former Grainews editor Larry Gompf is the author of A Slimmer You: A Natural Way to Lose Weight, released this past June by publisher FriesenPress. Meanwhile, First We Eat columnist, dee Hobsbawn-Smith, is […] Read more
Don’t let pea aphids suck the yield out of your plants
Assess your risk, scout your crop, cultivate beneficial insects and watch crop timing
The pea aphid may not look all that terrifying, but the tiny sap-sucking pest is capable of sending shivers down the spines of even the hardiest pulse farmers in some parts of the Prairies. Pea aphids are so named because of their attraction to field pea plants but virtually any pulse crop, including lentils, faba […] Read more
Is your insect management plan ‘snug as a bug’ this year?
Grasshoppers weather winter better than you think. Scout early and often to gauge insect risks
For farmers who live in areas of the Prairies that received above-average snowfall this past winter, one entomologist is cautioning them not to get lulled into a false sense of security about the threat posed by insects this growing season. “I’ve been cautioning people not to assume that there’s going to be any increased mortality […] Read more
Take a layered approach to herbicides
Develop an effective herbicide layering strategy — it could be one of your most powerful tools in the fight against herbicide resistance
It’s no secret that herbicide-resistant weeds are making life increasingly difficult for many crop growers in Western Canada, but the situation is far from hopeless, says an agricultural expert. Canada currently ranks third in the world for herbicide-resistant weeds, trailing only the United States and Australia in that category. Studies have shown there are currently […] Read more
Keep kochia off your farm
Why kochia is one of Western Canada’s most problematic weeds, plus how to knock herbicide resistance on the head or prevent its development in the first place
Prairie farmers are well known for their hospitality but there’s one visitor they want nothing to do with — kochia. Kochia has become one of the most problematic weeds in Western Canada. A single kochia plant can produce up to 25,000 seeds and can achieve a germination rate of 60 per cent or higher depending […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
