Since the first major outbreak in Manitoba in 1993, fusarium head blight (FHB) has established itself in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan and continues to move into western Saskatchewan, Alberta, and northern B.C. Farmers in some parts of the Prairies are now accustomed to dealing with the fungal disease and its dominant strain, F. graminearum, and […] Read more
Fusarium in the bin
A third of CWRS samples submitted to the CGC were downgraded due to fusarium. Now what?
5 steps to good inoculation
Pulse crops are still popular, but production declined in 2011. With the exception of soybeans, Statistics Canada reports a decline in overall pulse production for 2011 (an estimated 24.6 per cent for peas and 23.4 per cent for lentils, for example). The main reason for the decline in production was the thousands of acres of southern Saskatchewan […] Read more
Three Tips For Storing Seed
Temperature and moisture are the drivers behind effective seed storage. According to Blaine Timlick, program manager for insect control and sanitation for the Canadian Grain Commission, if farmers can manage those issues, their grain will stay in the best condition for the longest time possible. That, combined with regular germination tests throughout the winter, will […] Read more
ProTec Seed Coating Saves A Step At Seeding
With spring on the way (we hope), many of you are gearing up in earnest for seeding. Unlike other crops, pulses require an extra step, inoculating, before being put in the ground. Inoculating can be time-consuming, messy and dusty, and hauling an extra tank around at seeding can be cumbersome. To add to the time […] Read more
Contans Cleans Up Sclerotinia
Sclerotinia, that nasty fungus that can cause as much as 50 per cent yield loss in a tough year, poses a particular problem for many farmers. Not only is it found across the Prairies, several common crops are susceptible making crop rotations nearly useless for control. Capable of knocking back canola, dry bean, lentil, soybean, […] Read more
Company Is “Local, Whole Grain And Friendly”
Martin Munchies is pushing the envelope when it comes to the world of snack foodandthe world of barley. In the spring of 2010, the crunchy whole grain barley clusters debuted at two Edmontonarea farmers’ markets. Lesley Kelly is the development and marketing force behind Martin Munchies. Though she grew up on a farm, she never […] Read more
Warm, Dry Weather Means More Grasshoppers
Summer 2010 could see a substantially increased grasshopper risk across the prairies depending on the climate. John Gavloski, an entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture, Food, and Rural Initiatives, gives this message to farmers for 2010: “Be vigilant because if we have favourable conditions for grasshoppers — like dryer and hotter weather — we may see them […] Read more
Six Steps To Perfect Pulse Inoculation
The number of acres of pulse crops planted across the prairies is growing and so is the number of farmers who are becoming adept at cultivating them. Aside from their yields, they’re reaping added benefits, since pulse crops fix their own nitrogen. In order to do that, pulse plants team up with soil bacteria. Here […] Read more
New Seed Treatment Formulations For 2010
International consultants Kline & Company recently pegged the global seed treatment market at over $2.5 billion. They predict that the market will continue to grow since seed treatment is considered “a cost-effective method to protect the increasingly valuable seed.” Canada reflects this trend as more farmers plant treated seed. Most seed treatments involve applying a […] Read more
PRS-Probe: Not Just A Soil Test
PRS-Probe was designed to provide an accurate soil nutrient analysis for zero-tillage systems. Jeff Schoenau developed the Plant Root Simulator — PRS-Probe — at the University of Saskatchewan in 1992 to assess the contribution organic matter made to the success of the crop. Ken Greer is co-owner of Western Ag Labs, the Saskatoon-based company that […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
