Crop rotation is of utmost importance to manage residue and soil-borne diseases, and many insect species,” says Randy Kutcher, cereal and flax pathologist, University of Saskatchewan. Knowing this, it’s surprising that many growers still don’t heed rotation recommendations, especially with the potential for devastating diseases like blackleg. Blackleg is a residue-borne disease, he explains. “Residues […] Read more
Canola rotations are key
Recommended crop rotations lower inoculum levels and risk of disease
Why nodulation fails
When nodules don’t form, yield will suffer. These recommendations could stop fixation failures
Nodulation failure can be disastrous to crop yields. In some cases, yield may be salvaged. In other cases, it will be too late. Two experts offer recommendations to avoid nitrogen fixation failures. Pre-farm failure Nitrogen fixation failures can occur at three points, says Garry Hnatowich, research director at the Irrigation Crop Diversification Corporation at Outlook, […] Read more
Fertilizer needs in canola
Without enough nutrients, canola yields suffer. Try these tips for nutrition
Canola production relies heavily on access to adequate plant nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur and potassium. Since the nutritional level of an individual plant will affect its response to stress factors (including adverse weather and disease pressure), poor nutrition could mean the difference between profit and loss. It’s not just about profit, though. A good […] Read more
Up seed rate to add pea yield
Prairie researchers looks at the costs and benefits of combinations of four pea input treatments. Try their results on your farm
While individual aspects of field pea production have been researched, combined agronomic factors have not been evaluated simultaneously before. Led by Laryssa Grenkow, research manager at Western Applied Research Corporation, a team of researchers, including Eric Johnson, Anne Kirk, Stewart Brandt, Sherrilyn Phelps, Chris Holzapfel and Bryan Nybo, determined which agronomic practices contribute most to […] Read more
Inoculant: Finding the right formulation
Liquid, peat or granular? Choose the best one for your fields
Inoculants can offer tremendous value to growers at a reasonable price. Under ideal conditions, all three formulations — liquid, peat or granular — can be equally effective. As conditions deteriorate, though, differences can occur. The different types of inoculants refer to the substrate that the rhizobium bacteria are applied to, says Dr. Diane Knight, soil […] Read more
Minimizing the impact of Aphanomyces
There are no in-crop solutions to root rot in peas and lentils. But there are ways to minimize your risk of losing yield to Aphanomyces
Given the wet springs and dry summers we’ve seen in recent years, Aphanomyces euteiches — Aphanomyces root rot — has become a real problem for pea and lentil growers. First confirmed in Saskatchewan in 2012 and then in Alberta in 2013, the disease has been slowly creeping across the country, destroying crops in its wake. Making […] Read more
When you have to broadcast seed canola
Broadcasting seeding is always a last resort for canola growers. But if you have to do it, here are some suggestions to increase your odds of getting decent yields
Typically, broadcast seeding in canola is considered questionable at best. But it comes to mind when weather causes delays. “Broadcast seeding is acceptable as a last resort late in the seeding season under wet conditions,” says Murray Hartman, oilseed specialist with Alberta Agriculture. “Wet soil can plug up openers and packer wheels, and the seedbed […] Read more
PCR tests for clubroot in canola
Early clubroot infection is difficult to detect with the naked eye. But a PCR test will do the job
Clubroot is an interesting disease. It is neither virus nor bacteria; it is not a plant or an animal. It is, in fact, a protist. What are protists? Protists are a large, diverse group of organisms; they are all eukaryotic (meaning their cells contain a nucleus and other organelles enclosed within membranes), and many are […] Read more
Seed decay in Prairie soybeans
Phomopsis seed decay is the number one soybean problem in Ontario. Now it’s this disease-causing fungi may be coming to a field near you
Phomopsis seed decay is the No. 1 problem in soybeans in Ontario, says Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food plant pathologist Albert Tenuta. “The Prairie provinces are also starting to see some phomopsis issues as well,” he says. “Anywhere in the northern climate where you’ve got some delay of harvest, particularly under cooler weather conditions […] Read more
Be prepared for fire so your assets don’t go up in smoke
“That will never happen to us,” we all think. Until it does
At 4:30 am on June 6, 2012, dairy farmer Harry Byce woke up very suddenly to what he thought was the sound of rain on his hay. It was odd that he heard it before he smelled it, but that’s the way the mind works when deep asleep. Concerned about his hay, he jumped out […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
