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While not all barley growers are aiming their product at the malt market, if you are, here are some agronomic tips to help you make the grade
For many farmers, barley is a good crop choice to include in their rotation, but the standards for malting quality are understandably high. Dr. John O’Donovan, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research scientist, notes that “only about 20 to 25 per cent of the barley in Western Canada is accepted for malting every year.” Farmers […] Read moreIf you’re targeting the malt market, find out what your buyers want and what they’re planning to do with it
At malting companies like Rahr Malting, all of their contract with barley growers require barley samples to be prequalified as malting quality. With certain contracts, storage payments will be provided if they don’t take the barley immediately, though the amount of time the farmer holds the grain is negotiable. It is rare that farmers would […] Read moreFor effectiveness and to reduce the risk of herbicide resistance more farmers are using herbicide blends against weeds
What’s your weed-of-choice these days? That answer seems to be a moving target not only across Western Canada but on individual farms. Farmers interviewed for the Farmer Panel say one weed seems to be a problem for a while — they get that dealt with and then other species come along to pose a challenge […] Read moreWhile high costs are still a hurdle to overcome, bioherbicides are in the works and could be a weapon in the struggle against herbicide resistance
While high costs are still a hurdle to overcome, bioherbicides are in the works and could be a weapon in the struggle against herbicide resistance. Researchers in Canada and the United States are developing bioherbicides that will not only give organic and conventional farmers more weed control options, but also, in some cases, control herbicide-resistant […] Read moreFind out the story behind that “Ag More Than Ever” plastic wrap on the bale you’ve been driving by all winter
If you’ve been to a farm show this winter you’ve seen the “Agriculture More Than Ever” promotion. You probably have a tote bag. Or maybe you’ve spent the winter driving by a bale wrapped with an “Ag More Than Ever” logo. Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is behind this campaign to spread the word that there […] Read moreIn this second part of a three-part series, Angela Lovell looks at how a changing climate could change yields and growing conditions
Most plants respond positively to elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and low levels of warming, but higher levels of warming often negatively affect growth and yields, says a 2009 report by the U.S. Global Change Research Program (GCRP). As CO2 levels rise, the positive effect on plant growth is likely to be soon overtaken by the […] Read moreIf you’re going to grow chickpeas, you’re going to need the right variety, good rotation practices, and, of course, a lot of fungicide
While chickpea production in 2012 was higher than 2011, there’s no doubt that Prairie production has been held back by ascochyta. When left uncontrolled, Ascochyta rabiei has been responsible for yield losses as high as 70 per cent. Although plant breeders are working on new varieties with higher resistance, the disease still needs to be […] Read more
