Old chemistry, new formulations, multiple modes of action — these are all elements farmers can include in their weed control toolbox heading into 2017, say weed researchers and crop protection specialists. One of the most important elements these days for either preventing or managing herbicide resistance in weeds is to approach control with multiple modes […] Read more
Old, new products deliver multi-modes of action
The challenge is to hit weeds with two or more active ingredients to reduce resistance
The pros and cons of a head transplant
Hart Attacks: I have my doubts about whether or not this old brain can do a new body justice
As the New Year kicks off, I have been giving some thought to getting my name on the head transplant waiting list — I just have to decide whether I want to be a donor or a recipient. Yes, that’s the new boundary that medical technology dares to be pushing as an Italian neurosurgeon Sergio […] Read more
Eastern farmers honoured by OYF win
Tough decision to select only two winners from a field of outstanding nominees
Two eastern Canadian farm couples have been named Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (CYOF) for 2016. Andrew and Jennifer Lovell of Keswick Ridge, NB and Dominic Drapeau and Célia Neault of Ste-Françoise-de-Lotbinière, Que., were named to receive the national honours at the CYOF annual awards program held in Niagara Falls, Ont. in early December. The two […] Read more
Canola 100 Challenge still waiting for a winner
Canola 100: The top yield was 81.4 bushels per acre in 2016. Will we have a winner next year?
Fortunately there’s next year. While there was no 100 bushel canola yield winner in the first-ever 2016 Canola 100 challenge, organizers say that isn’t necessarily all bad, as the interest, excitement and momentum will carry on in 2017. None of the 21 western Canadian farmer finalists who registered for the high yield contest produced a […] Read more
The Central Alberta experience
Canola 100 Challenge: An Alberta farmer tests practices toward optimizing his canola yield
Central Alberta farmer, Mike Nelson knows his canola fell short of the magic 100-bushel yield mark for the 2016 Canola 100 Challenge, but the experience made it worthwhile for him to consider the contest again. Nelson, who is part of the family farming operation, Nelson Farms, that includes his father Lorne, brother Matt and brother-in-law […] Read more
Remembering farm “pool” perils
Hart Attacks: You no sooner move away from a place and they start making changes
It was just 45 short years ago I left the farm in Ontario. I drove by the old house on a recent visit to the East to discover the new owners — a young farm family — had installed an aboveground pool. Man, a pool would have been great during those hot humid, eastern Ontario […] Read more
Expected the unexpected in agriculture
Ranchers in parts of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan dealing with TB quarantines on cattle — some strain from Mexico, where did that come from? How did that get into some 100-year-old herds? Further north, farmers in central and northern Alberta and Saskatchewan are looking at anywhere from 10 to 30 per cent of crops out […] Read more
Canola challenge comes down to the wire
Canola 100 Challenge: Will there be a farm with a verified 100-bushel canola yield this season?
Is there a winner? Stay tuned to learn if any of the 21 Western Canadian farm “finalists” in the first Canola 100 challenge actually hit the target of producing a 100 bushel per acre canola yield in 2016. The results and winner, if any, will be announced at the annual Agri-Trend Agrology Farm Forum conference […] Read more
The Saskatchewan experience
Canola 100 Challenge: The contest might be a personal challenge to see what it takes to produce top yield
Kris Mayerle says a 100-bushel canola yield just doesn’t fall into your grain cart. While cranking the nutrients onto a 100-acre field on his northeast Saskatchewan farm did increase yields in 2016, he’d still like to find the practices that are needed to hit or at least close in more on that elusive high-yield target. Mayerle, who along with family members […] Read more
Good ranch story, makes a great gift
If you’re looking for a stocking stuffer or any-season gift for someone who enjoys stories about real ranch life, Grainews columnist Heather Smith Thomas is a long time published author with several books to her credit. Here are three titles that so aptly capture the experiences of raising cattle, horses and other critters. Horse Tales: […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
