Recent research into harvest weed seed control is yielding some promising results. Breanne Tidemann, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research scientist based in Lacombe, has been studying how effectively the Harrington Seed Destructor chews up weed seeds. Tidemann and her colleagues collected chaff from a bag attached to the back of a combine, then ran the […] Read more
Mechanical harvest weed control
The Harrington Seed Destructor is a chem-free way to chew up weed seeds at harvest time
Getting to know your herbicides: Group 1
A look at how Group 1 chemicals work and what you can do to manage weed resistance
Although wild oats are an annual, Group 1-resistant wild oats have become a perennial problem on the Prairies. And wild oats aren’t the only weeds developing resistance to this chemical group. Grainews takes a look at how Group 1 chemicals work and what farmers can do to manage resistance. Group 1 herbicides are commonly applied […] Read more
Clubroot can damage more than just the bottom line
Along with economic and agronomic problems, clubroot causes emotional damage
Clubroot is a potentially devastating disease for canola growers in Western Canada. Severely infested fields may not be able to grow canola in the foreseeable future. Less-severe fields may see yield drops without a change in farming practices. That adds up to a financial hit for affected farmers. But while the economic and agronomic realities […] Read more
Reporter’s Notebook: When you meet a challenge, change
Whether you’re a farmer or a football player, adaptability is the key to success
In early December, I had the pleasure of taking in a talk by Canadian Football League Commissioner Randy Ambrosie, at Cavalier, Sask. (just north of Meota). Cavalier Agrow was holding its annual agronomy day, and Ambrosie delivered the keynote. Ambrosie played for the University of Manitoba before being drafted as an offensive guard with the […] Read more
Reporter’s Notebook: Getting women on board(s)
Whether and how to work to recruit women to ag boards has become a contested topic
Should farm groups be actively recruiting more women to their boards, or are mostly-male boards reflective of the demographic they serve? It’s a question that’s generated heated conversation this fall. As a non-farmer, I’m hesitant to tell any producer groups that they’ve got a problem, because frankly I don’t know what the climate is like […] Read more
Meet your farming neighbours: Tennille Wakefield
Every farm has a story. Here's Tennille Wakefield's story from Maidstone, Sask.
Every farm has its own story. No two farms (or farmers) are exactly alike. Everyone got started in a different way, and every farm has a different combination of family and hired staff who make the decisions and keep things running. But, in general, even after you consider all of the details, Prairie farmers are […] Read more
Get on board with these five tips
Much of rural life is governed by non-profit boards. Know how to give your best when it's your turn
Non-profit organizations and their legions of volunteers are essential to rural and urban communities alike. In small towns, non-profits are responsible for everything from running curling bonspiels to fundraising for medical equipment. It’s no secret that while some non-profits are well-oiled machines, others run more like a combine picking up lodged wheat in a rock-strewn […] Read more
Reporter’s Notebook: Moving from Twitter to real life
Twitter is bringing the ag community closer together, in many different ways
It’s a scenario familiar to anyone on Twitter who attends farm shows— the attempt to figure out if that stranger you’ve just met is actually someone you know through Twitter. But farmers and ag industry launched a simple solution this summer. It’s a black lanyard, with #agtwittercommunity printed on the fabric. The name tag includes […] Read more
Brewing canary seed
Will Canary Seed Blonde set the stage for a new market for your canary seed?
We all know that canary seed is no longer just for the birds. But is it for the brewers? It was a question on Lauren Wensley’s mind when she was discussing a new malting barley with a “friend of a friend” who works with Rebellion Brewing in Regina. Rebellion is known for trying out small, […] Read more
Hops: the flavour in your beer
These hop growers share their stories on everything from insects to the hop harvest
Francis Gagné and Anne-Marie Lessard wanted to make some changes. The St. Bernard, Quebec farmers raised hogs and broilers, and grew cash crops. But they wanted to exit the pork business, and start a new farm venture. After looking at everything from vineyards to fruit and vegetables, they settled on growing hops. That decision was […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
