Using your semi to haul in a profit

Using your semi to haul in a profit

Now that you have a semi on the farm, is commercial grain hauling a viable money-maker?

The next time you find yourself driving down any dirt road on the Prairies, take a look into the first (inhabited) farm yard you pass. And the next one. And the one after that. Chances are beyond the wind-whipped, tarp-covered shelter, the stock-piled ancient equipment and the friendly farm dog, you’ll notice a big rig. […] Read more

Is rotating your herbicides enough?

Is rotating your herbicides enough?

Integrated weed management can slow herbicide resistance, but rotation is just one piece

Integrated weed management (IWM) is not rotating herbicides or modes of action. IWM is combining one of more different weed management techniques, such as chemical, cultural, physical or biological weed control. Some IWM methods are easy to implement, such as making sure you select good, certified seed that will grow vigorously and out-compete weeds. Seeding […] Read more


Disease pressure is more likely to be a problem on fields that have been seeded to lentil for multiple years running, and treated with the same modes of action.

Apply fungicide when lentils start flowering

If you have valuable lentils out in your field, make sure you protect them from crop disease

Spray on time — don’t wait to see signs of disease. This is the advice Bobbie Bratrud, who farms near Weyburn, Sask., offers to first-time lentil growers. “Because they’re so valuable this year my advice would be to spray on time, and don’t wait to look for the disease. If you’re starting to see signs […] Read more

Running a 24-hour seeding operation

Running a 24-hour seeding operation

Once the drill is parked, Terry Aberhart takes time to look back at his seeding schedule

With the crop in the ground by late May and rainshowers moving in, Terry Aberhart says the post-seeding season will be a good time to think about how they will be approaching plans for the 2017 crop year on their east-central Saskatchewan farm. Aberhart, who along with family members operates Aberhart Farms at Langenburg, near […] Read more


field soybeans

Soybeans shine with no-till systems

Researchers studied corn and soybean response to different soil and residue conditions

Prairie farmers new to soybeans and corn are still figuring out how to adapt their practices to these crops. Researchers at the University of Manitoba are doing the same. Dr. Yvonne Lawley is part of three projects examining soil and residue management of soybeans and corn. The first project looked at seeding soybeans into wheat […] Read more

The severity of wheat midge this season will depend on the weather.

Protect yourself against wheat midge

Wheat midge may be on the rise this year, especially in southeastern Saskatchewan

Farmers in most areas of Saskatchewan need to be aware of wheat midge, says Scott Hartley, Sask­atch­­e­wan’s provincial special­ist for insect pest management. Specifically, eastern Sask­­­­atch­ewan, primarily east central and southeast. There’s another section from Prince Albert south, “extending quite a ways, at least down to close to Bethune.” Midge threats in Alberta aren’t as high, but are more pronounced east of Edmonton and in the Peace region. However, Alberta […] Read more


Watch for wireworms in potatoes

Watch for wireworms in potatoes

If wireworm is not on Prairie potato growers' radar yet, it will be in the near future

According to Bob Vernon, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Agassiz, B.C., since the organophochlorine pesticide Lindane was banned in Canada in 2004, followed by the organophosphate insecticide Thimet last year, populations of wireworm have been slowing in some areas and “booming” in others. Vernon was in Brandon, Man., to present a […] Read more

The striped flea beetle is becoming more predominant on the Prairies.

Protect your profits from flea beetles

Insect Management: In a warm dry summer growing season, flea beetles could have a chance to thrive

If you’re growing canola or mustard this year (or garden vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower) you might need to be concerned about the flea beetle, says Scott Hartley, provincial insect/vertebrate pest management specialist for Sask­atchewan. Climate conditions matter, though, when it comes to certain pests, and the flea beetle is no different. “If it’s going […] Read more


Grasshopper numbers are climbing in Alberta. They can thrive in dry weather.

Be on your guard for grasshoppers

Grasshopper numbers are up in Alberta. Warm dry weather will give them an edge

Grasshoppers were found in higher numbers in 2015 in Alberta. Unfortunately, the same is expected for 2016, says Scott Meers, Alberta Agriculture insect management specialist. The Peace region, the extreme north and northwest areas of Alberta, are expected to have high grasshopper numbers. Farmers west of Edmonton also saw high populations last year and the […] Read more

Moving on from the CTA Review

Moving on from the CTA Review

The Canadian Transportation Act has been reviewed, but changes are not finalized

The Canadian Transpor­tation Act Review has wrapped, but it’s far from a done deal. The federal government could shelve the report, but that’s unlikely given the stakeholder interest, says Steve Pratte, policy development manager with the Canadian Canola Growers Association. It’s also unlikely that the government will implement recommendations without consulting first, he adds. In fact, Transport Minister […] Read more