Farmers across Saskatchewan are wrapping up seeding earlier than normal. As of May 23, 81 per cent of acres were seeded, compared to the five-year average of 59 per cent, according to the latest Saskatchewan Crop Report. Farmers in the northwest had 84 per cent of the acres seeded. In the Turtleford and Glaslyn areas, […] Read more
Sask. farmers nearing the finish line for seeding
Emerging crops see threat of flea beetles, cutworms
Guenther: Seeding in home stretch for dry NW Saskatchewan
Seeding is drawing to a close in northwestern Saskatchewan, largely due to warm, dry weather this month. On average, seeding in the northwest was over half done early in the week, according to the latest Saskatchewan Crop Report. Provincially, farmers are 51 per cent done, putting them miles ahead of the five-year average of 28 […] Read more
Reporter’s Notebook: Getting the hairy eyeball
I have a few cows in my parents’ herd. But they barely outnumber my hay-burning horses, so I’d never call myself a cattle producer. I haven’t decided how many cows I’ll collect in the long run. Right now they’re an excuse to help with the larger herd and a little extra income. This spring my […] Read more
Some Prairie pulses’ limited releases under review
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers wants your opinion on how they release pulse varieties through exclusive tenders. The grower group contributes levy funds to the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre pulse breeding program. In return, Sask Pulse holds exclusive commercial rights to varieties developed in the program. Most new varieties are released royalty-free to seed growers […] Read more
Slow resistance with layered herbicides
Gowan representatives say layering isn't just about dressing for fickle weather anymore
Layering herbicides is a way to manage or delay herbicide resistance on the farm. The key is to apply a residual before seeding. The residual creates a herbicide layer in the soil. That layer kills weeds as they try to push emerge. With fewer weeds, there is less selection pressure on herbicides used later in […] Read more
Reviewing the transport review
David Emerson't review of the transportation system isn't all great news for farmers
I think it’s fair to say David Emerson’s transportation system review was a bit of a let-down for the grain sector. There were a few bright spots in the report. It suggests an infrastructure program to fund capital investments in short-line railways. Producer car shippers should have the same protection as other shippers, the report […] Read more
Lower prices can bring lower moods
Farmers are resilient, but depression on the farm is no laughing matter
Instead of blaming arthritis for your aching joints, you may want to point your finger at the economy, according to researchers. “Overall, our findings reveal that it physically hurts to be economically insecure,” Dr. Eileen Chou said in a press release. Chou, a University of Virginia professor, led a team looking at links between economic insecurity and physical pain. The research, […] Read more
Controlling seeds post-harvest
Can pulverizing weed seeds after harvest control weeds in Western Canada?
As buzz builds about Australia’s Harrington Seed Destructor, researchers are looking at whether pulverizing seeds after harvest will work on the Prairies. But preliminary research shows post-harvest seed control is unlikely to work for all of Western Canada’s weeds. Breanne Tidemann presented new research at the Herbicide Resistance Summit in Saskatoon this March. Tidemann, who is […] Read more
Fighting herbicide-resistance
Herbicide resistant weeds aren’t a novelty anymore — now they’re just the norm
While herbicide resistance isn’t a new problem, it is a growing one. Today 80 countries report herbicide-resistant weeds, says a researcher. And Canada is near the top of that list. Dr. Ian Heap heads the international survey on herbicide-resistant weeds, and reported those findings at the Herbicide Resistance Summit in Saskatoon this March. “North America […] Read more
Betting on the biological business
Monsanto is investing big in bacteria, fungi and other organisms that benefit crops
Wondering where the future is for ag inputs? Monsanto is banking on biologicals, company researchers told reporters during a media event earlier this year. Biologicals include bacteria, fungi and other organisms that benefit the crop by controlling pests or helping roots access nutrients. For example, soybean and pulse growers will be quite familiar with inoculants that […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
