In today’s bad news/good news ledger of pulse crop diseases, the bad news is there’s still no quick fix for controlling root rot in field peas and lentils. On the good news side, there are management options that help reduce the risk, research is narrowing in on some treatments that may help control the disease, […] Read more
Aphanomyces still a stubborn foe
Research offers hope, but proper crop management remains the best defence for today
It pays to adjust seeding rate based on moisture
Keep wheat plant count in line with moisture expectations — and limit the amount of tillering
Research done across Saskatchewan recommends that the best way to optimize wheat yields is to adjust your wheat seeding rate to reflect moisture conditions, says a report from the Western Applied Research Corporation (WARC). The research concluded if you’re heading into what looks like a drier growing season, a mid- to lower wheat seeding rate […] Read more
Prairies expected to be cooler, wetter this year
A La Niña weather pattern is on its way and may even bring timely spring rains
There’s a good chance western Canadian farmers and ranchers will see rain in April and May to get crops started and grass growing, says a U.S. based weather scientist.
Finding a ‘bridge’ over transition waters
A will or partnership agreement is important, but is not a farm succession plan
Maggie Van Camp understands the challenges as well as the tremendous value of farm succession planning. She’s been on that road a couple of times in her life as a seventh-generation Ontario farmer, as well as a communicator and agricultural consultant. The first time was after the sudden death of her husband in a farming […] Read more
Bless your mess: Crops may not be best for underperforming acres
Taking poorer-producing ‘messy’ landscapes out of crops may improve fields’ economics and farms’ sustainability
UPDATED, March 7 — It might be difficult to consider “messy” fields as a pathway to improved crop production and profitability. But in the early going, a Prairie-wide university-developed research project suggests taking poor-producing acres out of annual crop production might be a means of improving overall efficiency, as well as the all-important bottom line. […] Read more
Farmers need to be open to AI technology
Already a major force, artificial intelligence soon will be smarter than humans
If Canadian farmers are waiting for the wave of artificial intelligence (AI) to hit the agriculture industry, they’re a bit late, according to a technology expert and consultant. It’s already here. And although he’s not a farmer himself, Walter Schwabe told producers attending the recent CrossRoads Conference in Calgary that if farmers don’t try to […] Read more
Earlier-than-early seeding
These farmers use soil temperature, rather than the calendar, to time seeding wheat
Not long ago, brothers Matthew and Farley Gould, who farm in east-central Alberta, had no idea of the resiliency of wheat seedlings against adverse growing conditions. But over the past three growing seasons they’ve seeded part of their hard red spring wheat crop early. How early? Soil temperatures have barely thawed, and germinated seedlings have […] Read more
B.C. and Alberta young farmers earn honours at national gathering
The fourteen talented regional nominees handed judges a challenge
The two most western regional nominees won the hearts and scores of judges in late November to be named Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (COYF) for 2023. Hopcott Farms, a beef and cranberry operation from Pitt Meadows, B.C., and Stamp Seeds, producers of pedigree seed from Enchant, Alta., were named the national competition winners at the […] Read more
The case of the mystery tractor
There wasn’t much to go on, but an expert was able to solve the case
Darren Lorentz didn’t hold out much hope of figuring out the make and model of a farm tractor from just the rusted-out frame of the machine that had sat in the brush near a popular southwest Edmonton park pathway for decades. As a community resident walking the pathways of Tomas Opalinski Park for nearly 40 […] Read more
Gentle hay handling does make a difference
Feed, and feed value, can be lost with flail-type bale shredders
Jonathan Karsin figures a Hustler bale unroller has easily paid for itself by more efficient use of hay. Karsin is one of the principals of Karsin Farms Simmentals at Newton, about 20 km southeast of Portage la Prairie, Man. He says they have been able to save at least one large round bale per head […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
