Farmers, crop consultants and retailers faced with the ever-growing challenge of selecting the right product for the right weed or insect at the best cost have a handy new web-based tool available. Savvy Farmer is a new website tool ( www.savvyfarmer.com ) developed by Warren Libby and technology partner Sam Vurrabindi. Many western Canadian farmers […] Read more
Savvy Farmer Cuts Through The Crop Protection Jungle
Trucking Impact On Cattle Under Study
Ongoing research into livestock transportation practices in Canada should help government regulators and the industry develop new guidelines for trucking cattle that hopefully will strike a balance between animal welfare and economic interests, says the lead researcher. The research project, that began in 2009 with a comprehensive survey of about 7,000 drivers of Canadian cattleliners […] Read more
Great Anchor Post Idea
John Zwaagstra of Rocky Mountain House, Alta. — west of Red Deer — sent in this tip for creating an anchor or corner post for a barbed wire fence. I thought I would run it before spring, but since it appears spring is never coming, I decided to put it in the May issue of […] Read more
Flea Beetle Remains A Factor Despite Wet Weather
With the late spring seeding conditions, there may not be much canola seeded and growing across Western Canada in early May, but it won’t be long after the crop emerges that farmers should be looking for signs of flea beetles, says an Agriculture Canada scientist. Admittedly, cool, and particularly wet conditions, are not conducive for […] Read more
Come On, Spring!
If there was any silver lining to the late spring across Western Canada it’s that most farmers probably had time to watch results of the federal election this week. While farmers contacted for this Farmer Panel say they usually can get a start on field work in late April and certainly by May 1, farmers […] Read more
Canola council needs producer co-operators
Researchers working with the Canola Council of Canada are looking for about 50 producers across Western Canada to help with a stand establishment study. If you’ve had some experience growing canola (i.e. well remember the rapeseed days) the Canola Council may be interested in talking to you about production and stand establishment practices and doing […] Read more
Forage seed warranty offer ends April 30
Farmers across Western Canada using an Agrowplow direct seeding drill to plant Viterra forage seed this spring can get a 100 per cent forage seed warranty from the companies. It is a limited time offer that has to be booked by April 30. So if you buy your forage seed from Viterra and plant it […] Read more
Here’s a fertilizer tip that will save you money – #1
Banding all fertilizer best under “normal” conditions While there have been some newer products and pitches advocating split fertilizer applications, an Alberta Agriculture soil scientist says a single application of fertilizer, banded at time of seeding, is the most effective means of providing adequate nutrition for a crop. Ross McKenzie, who is based in Lethbridge, […] Read more
VRT Seeding Targets Low Producing Sites
Wilf Pennell is a Saskatchewan farmer looking at whether variable rate seeding can increase yield on less productive sites in a field. After only a couple years of trying the new treatment on part of his Kamsack-area farm in east-central Saskatchewan, Pennell isn’t ready to draw any firm conclusions. But increasing the seeding rate of […] Read more
Few Are Serious About Supporting The Small Family Farm
Leo Hofer, who along with his wife Lorraine ranch near Meadow Lake, Sask., says while there is lots of talk about supporting smaller family farms and keeping people on the land, there is little political and economic will in the country to keep smaller farms operating. Hofer, who has born and raised at Goodsoil, Sask., […] Read more