Boosting populations of natural enemies such as Bracon cephi gives farmers a low-cost, sustainable way to reduce wheat stem sawfly losses without relying on insecticides that rarely work.
Features
Wheat stem sawfly: how a harvest tweak can protect yields, preserve parasitoids
Stubble height of at least six inches can help make a significant sawfly enemy right at home
Taking dairy wastewater to the irrigation pivot, via wetlands
A new nature-based solution could help dairy farmers in Alberta against water shortages
Many Alberta dairy farms rely on irrigation water to grow feed crops to sustain their cattle herds, but drought and water shortages in recent years has made that more difficult. Federal ag researchers are seeking one of those dairy farms to help develop a possible new source.
Swather-sprayer retrofit a clever solution to winter wheat’s tight planting window
A researcher and a zero-till pioneer develop a new way to get winter wheat right into spring canola stubble
A system to spray pre-seed herbicide at the same time as swathing isn’t just a clever labour-saver, but could help overcome one of the biggest obstacles keeping Prairie farmers out of winter wheat: the timing.
New genetics could lead to more camelina acres on the Prairies
Saskatchewan research hopes to take both winter and spring camelina varieties to the next level
Both winter and spring camelina might be on the cusp of better varieties to help boost production of the oilseed in Western Canada.
Demystifying biological inputs
A new partnership brings science-based field data to ag input listings to help growers sort fact from fiction
Biome Makers’ BeCrop Trials system measures changes in the soil microbiome after a product is applied. While the AgList/Biome Makers badge doesn’t validate efficacy, it signals a product has been through third-party field trials.
Alberta agronomist sees both sides of regenerative agriculture
Author Scott Gillespie offers producers advice on how to practically apply the soil regeneration movement to their farms
Alberta agronomist and author Scott Gillespie has seen farmers choose agricultural systems that seem right on the surface but don’t make a noticeable, economically sustainable difference.
Good news, bad news for fungicides meant to fight stem rot in canola
A report lays out various levels of resistance and adaptation found in disease samples
A report shows overall insensitivity of sclerotinia to three fungicide groups hasn’t changed in a big way between 2010 and 2024 — but shows some sclerotinia populations have been discovered with elevated insensitivity to all three.
Clubroot resistance: what new seed labels would mean for canola growers
Proposed label changes could provide growers with detailed info to rotate varieties and preserve resistance in canola crops
Improved seed labelling can help canola growers make better variety choices, reduce disease pressure and protect the long-term effectiveness of clubroot resistance.
Wildfire smoke threatens to hinder honey flow
Honeybees hunker down when there’s too much smoke in the air
In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, air quality advisories for long stretches of the last few months have been bad news for beekeepers. Simon Lalonde equates heavy smoke to a rainy day — without the benefit of rain.
Hazy conditions, clear decisions: How wildfire smoke affects spraying and crops on the Prairies
No direct research has yet been done on how wildfire smoke affects herbicide application
As wildfire smoke becomes more common on the Prairies, understanding its effects on herbicide performance and crop development can help farmers make better-informed spraying decisions and avoid costly delays.
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
