Volunteer canola: Western Canada’s fourth most abundant weed
Volunteer canola is thriving in Western Canada. In the 1970s, volunteer canola was the 18th most abundant weed. Today it is the fourth most common in Western Canada. Volunteer canola is especially problematic where herbicide-resistant crops, like soybeans, are added to the rotation. Volunteer canola is a unique weed because it is derived from growing […] Read more
Dutch manufacturer updates its SP sprayer with enhanced spraying ability
In early February, Dutch sprayer manufacturer Agrifac introduced an updated version of its Condor Endurance, the Condor Endurance II, at a launch event in Steenwijk, the Netherlands. Company director Peter Millenaar says since their launch in 2015 the original Condors now have some 18.5 million acres under their belts, and the new model encompasses Agrifac’s […] Read more
The weed’s movement into Manitoba calls for more vigilant field scouting
Waterhemp was found for the first time in Manitoba in 2016, southeast of Winnipeg in the area around the RM of Taché. The discovery led to the establishment of a waterhemp surveillance program led by Manitoba Agriculture in 2017. More waterhemp was found at a second site closer to the U.S. border. In both circumstances, […] Read more
First, choose a yield target. Then figure out how you can get your crop there
Fertility is the first thing that usually comes to mind when thinking about canola yield targets, but should it be? Deciding how you’re going to get there when you don’t know where you’re going is like putting the cart before the horse. Warren Ward, agronomist with the Canola Council of Canada, says growers need to […] Read more
Researchers working to develop canola agronomy with precision planters
As more and more Western Canadian growers move into soybeans and invest in precision planters, there’s increasing interest in adapting those planters for other crops as well, like canola. Can precision planters be used to grow canola better, and if so, how? Farming Smarter Research Manager Mike Gretzinger set out to answer the agronomic questions […] Read more
Soybean potassium fertility trials leave researchers scratching their heads
While it has generally been known that Manitoba’s lighter-textured soils are low in potassium, it took soybeans to really bring the issue to light. With soybeans taking up more and more acres, researchers felt it was time to conduct potassium fertility trials. While preliminary results are in, results are mixed. More data will be needed […] Read more
Good management practices still the best way to control aphanomyces in the field
While improving management practices and reducing risk factors are still the best ways to avoid root rot in pulse crops, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) researchers hope to find other tools. Syama Chatterton, an AAFC research scientist whose areas of expertise include diseases in pulse crops and soil borne diseases, is working on research projects that focus […] Read more
Researchers are evaluating the value of wheat stem sawfly’s natural predators
Wheat stem sawfly can cause major yield losses. Scientists are investigating parasitoids, small wasps and nematodes, as well as fungi that can be used to control the pest. Héctor Cárcamo, research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has been conducting research on beneficial insects that attack wheat stem sawfly larvae. Sawfly, said Cárcamo, has a […] Read more
2017 survey results showed a high prevalence of root rot in Prairie pulse crops
Root rot is a soil-borne disease that affects the roots of developing peas and lentils. Root rot can infect crops at any stage, and once it sets in there is no way of stopping the infection. Saskatchewan Pulse crop advisor Sherrilyn Phelps advises growers on best prevention practices. Disease prevention Proper rotation is important. Peas […] Read more
Experts recommend holding the spray until you scout, and counting beneficial bugs
Late last summer, a canola field heavily infested with bertha armyworm in western Manitoba created a lot of fuss on Twitter, proving, yet again, just how localized population spikes can be in some areas. While sudden population spikes can cause panic, experts recommend that growers only take measures after they’ve got a good handle on […] Read more
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