It’s been two years since French company Roquette announced its plan to build the world’s largest pea-processing plant in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. And while the company did break ground in September of 2017, construction was suspended in the spring of 2018, but began again this past October. Roquette expects the new plant to process […] Read more
Roquette tweaks pea plant plans
The pea-processing plant is still under construction, with expanded plans
Avoid nutrient deficiencies in your canola
With some advance planning, this won’t happen to you
Nutrient deficiencies in canola are rarely an issue for canola growers, but mobility and environmental issues can inhibit uptake. Having a good plan, though, goes a long way. Warren Ward, agronomy specialist, Canola Council of Canada, explains. When they do surface, nutrient deficiencies don’t show up in all corners of the field, but in irregular […] Read more
Get back to basics to fight kochia
Using multiple and rotating modes of action can reduce selection pressure
In recent years, kochia has become a real issue across the Prairies. Kochia loves hot, dry weather, and as a prolific seed producer, the tumbleweed-shaped weed can spread quickly. What’s worse, kochia has a growing history of resistance, which can make it a tricky weed to manage. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research scientist Charles Geddes […] Read more
Stripper headers an alternative for dry regions
Headers offer improved combine performance and soil moisture retention
While there are many options when it comes time to harvest a crop, for some farmers, stripper headers are the only choice. Designed with rotating teeth that lift grain into the combine and leave straw in the field, stripper headers are perfect for harvesting cereals, grass seed and rice, according to Adam Whitaker, product specialist at the U.K.-based […] Read more
New Cereal Aphid Manager app
Take this app on scouting and let it help you decide if you need to spray
Aphids can be a big problem in cereal crops, and populations can build quickly. Knowing if and when to spray can be tricky. Decisions are driven by estimated aphid populations and factors can impact them — weather and natural predators. The new Cereal Aphid Manager app can help. This app uses considers these factors to […] Read more
Beneficial insects versus four major pests
There are more than just pests in those sweep nets; don’t sweep it all away
Many insect pests feed on cereal crops and canola. But for every pest in the field, there are dozens of predators feeding on them. Knowing which beneficial insects feed on the major pests can help growers make better management decisions. University of Toronto postdoctoral entomologist Vincent Hervet explains. 1. Cereal leaf beetle The cereal leaf […] Read more
Dry pulse seed needs extra care
How to minimize losses from dry and damaged pulse seed this seeding season
In the fall of 2017, pea and soybean pedigreed seed came off the field on the drier side, which means that they’ll be going into the field drier this year. Manitoba pulse crop specialist Dennis Lange shares his expertise on how to make sure dry, damaged seed doesn’t impact your bottom line. Generally, seed quality […] Read more
Managing soil salinity through cover crops
For the growing problem of dry land salinity, try planting a cover crop
Dry land salinity is a major problem on the Prairies. In Alberta, about 1.6 million acres of dry land are impacted by secondary salinity. On average, Alberta crop yields are reduced by 25 per cent annually because of the problem. Salinity also impacts 3.3 million acres in Saskatchewan and 0.6 million acres in Manitoba as […] Read more
Wild buckwheat: A weed to watch
Glyphosate alone is just not enough. Why is buckwheat so hard to control?
Wild buckwheat consistently ranks among the top five problematic weeds in Saskatchewan weed surveys. Clark Brenzil, provincial weed control specialist at Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture, explains what makes this weed so tricky. Wild buckwheat is an annual weed found in cropland in the southern Prairies. Despite farmers’ best efforts, the weed is hardy and persistent […] Read more
Keeping canola out of your soybean fields
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
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
