Features & Production Tips

Viable substitutes for neonicotinoids

Some groups are calling for bans on neonic pesticides. Get the scoop on alternatives for your farm

By Michael Flood January 28, 2015

In September Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne mandated Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture Jeff Leal to start working to reduce the use of neonicotinoid (also known as neonic) pesticides in the province after 2016. The reduction may include bans or severe restrictions on approved uses. Several countries across the European Union have suspended use of several common […] Read more

Crops, Features

Grass seed industry has solid niche

Not everyone seeds forage, but moving into grass seed production may be beneficial for some

By Patty Milligan January 27, 2015

At least 8,000 years have passed since humans first started harvesting grasses. In that time, cereal grains have become quite different from their grassy ancestors. They still have enough similarities though, that farmers can incorporate grass seed into their cereal and oilseed operations fairly easily. For instance, there’s no need for specialized equipment. They still […] Read more

Features, Forages

Getting into growing grass seed crops

Growing grass seed can fit well into a rotation. Here are seven tips for beginning grass growers

By Patty Milligan January 27, 2015

Terry Andersen seeds about 25 per cent of his 2,700 acres at Anderseed Farms near Bon Accord, Alta., to grass primarily for reclamation. He first planted grass seed in 1992 because he was told that he could make more money with it than with grain. While prices haven’t always been good, Kowalchuk confirms that they’ve […] Read more

Crops, Features

Five tips to get your seed off to the right start

Seed growth specialist Nick Petruic has 5 tips for getting your seed off to the right start

By Leeann Minogue January 26, 2015

Nick Petruic is a seed growth specialist for Bayer, based at Avonlea, Sask. He likes to remind his customers that it doesn’t matter how much nitrogen you’ve put on or how weed-free your field is if your seed doesn’t get out of the ground. Petruic has five tips for getting your seed off to the […] Read more

Features, Soybeans

Soybean sudden death

Sudden death syndrome has not yet been found in  the Canadian Prairies, but vigilance can’t hurt

By Michael Flood January 23, 2015

Soybeans are one of Canada’s major pulse crops. As new shorter-season varieties are developed, the soybean-growing area is increasing. All the more reason to be vigilant for new and emerging threats like Sudden Death Syndrome. Sudden Death Syndrome (or SDS) in soybeans is a relatively new fungal disease, first discovered in Arkansas in 1971. In […] Read more

Crops, Features

Quinoa: the new ancient superfood

With growing demand, Northern Quinoa plans to triple its contracted acreage for the 2015 growing season

By Andrea Hilderman January 23, 2015

Quinoa has been cultivated for thousands of years. During that time it has been variously revered as sacred, relied on to feed a people and it has also been misunderstood and under-appreciated. Quinoa can be grown in many geographies given the right conditions, but its origins are high up in the Andes Mountains of South […] Read more

Buckwheat requires cross-pollination. Even with self-pollinating varieties farmers will experience much higher yields if they place hives on their fields. Buckwheat is not as expensive to grow as wheat or canola.

Cereals, Features

Re-building buckwheat production

Buckwheat is difficult to grow and hard to market. But there is money to be made when things go well

By Patty Milligan January 23, 2015

Buckwheat is a curious crop. It’s not new or exotic; it was planted in Western Canada as early as 1925. It’s familiar to most Canadians in its various forms — pancakes, soba noodles, or groats (also known as kasha) to name three. There is high demand for it on the Japanese market yet only a […] Read more

Female Palmer amaranth plants can grow to over 10 feet tall.

Crops, Features

Palmer amaranth is a looming concern

This aggressive, herbicide resistance weed has been travelling north, and may be in our fields soon

By Julienne Isaacs January 21, 2015

Prairie farmers may soon have a new problem Palmer amaranth, an aggressive, invasive weed species native to the desert regions of the southern United States and Mexico, is spreading into the Northern Plains. A few patches of the weed were spotted last year in Aberdeen, South Dakota; North Dakotans are on high alert. According to […] Read more

Crops, Features

Practical ways to fight herbicide resistance

Do you have herbicide resistant weeds growing in your field?  

By Leeann Minogue January 14, 2015

Brian Wintonyk wants farmers to be able to identify herbicide resistant weeds in their fields and know what to do about them. Wintonyk, western crops agronomist with Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc., was on the agenda at the third annual Grain Expo, a crop production conference held in Regina in conjunction with Agribition in November. He […] Read more

Barley, Features

Barley varieties for 2015

The Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre has released its list of varieties for the next crop year 

By Leeann Minogue January 14, 2015

The Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC) is made up of members of the malting barley, malt and brewing industries, and partially funded by farmers. The CMBTC distributes an annual list of recommended malt barley varieties, based on input from grain companies, maltsters, brewers and other organizations. The CMBTC says in its press release, “The […] Read more

GFM Network News

ICE Weekly: No upside for canola if China situation continues: trader

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures drop on Trump call for lower prices

U.S. grains: Soybean futures inch higher on China trade optimism

Features

Viable substitutes for neonicotinoids

Grass seed industry has solid niche

Getting into growing grass seed crops

Five tips to get your seed off to the right start

Soybean sudden death

Quinoa: the new ancient superfood

Re-building buckwheat production

Palmer amaranth is a looming concern

Barley varieties for 2015

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