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As part of the proper annual maintenance of a row planter, technician Andrew Kippen removes row units to have a look deep inside the seeding system.
Equipment, Features, Machinery

Planter maintenance tips

Seed metering systems need to be checked for calibration and inspected for other wear-and-tear items

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A row planter specialist in southern Manitoba says this is the time of year farmers should be readying their seeding equipment for the 2022 seeding season. Andrew Kippen, manager of North Valley Precision Planting at Homewood in south-central Manitoba east of Carman, has been busy these days testing planter metering systems for accuracy. “You can […] Read more
Kochia isn’t fussy about where it grows and can flourish in almost any conditions.
Crops, Features

Keep kochia off your farm

Why kochia is one of Western Canada’s most problematic weeds, plus how to knock herbicide resistance on the head or prevent its development in the first place

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Prairie farmers are well known for their hospitality but there’s one visitor they want nothing to do with — kochia. Kochia has become one of the most problematic weeds in Western Canada. A single kochia plant can produce up to 25,000 seeds and can achieve a germination rate of 60 per cent or higher depending […] Read more
Among the most serious weed resistance concerns on the Prairies are wild oat and green foxtail, both seen here in this photo from Manitoba’s Interlake region in 2020.
Crops, Features

How to scout for herbicide-resistant weeds

What to look for and when, plus prevention tips and an update on herbicide-resistant downy brome in canola

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Get out and scout. Next to diversifying your rotations and herbicide selection as much as possible, it’s a critical part of managing herbicide-resistant weeds on your farm in 2022. Scouting is important because without an accurate and thorough picture of what resistant species exist in your fields, you can’t make the best management decisions. More […] Read more
The pod shatter ratings system developed by the Canadian canola industry rates cultivars relative to two designated checks, 45H33 and L255PC, which anchor the numerical/descriptive claim based on seed provider data. The “seeds” in the graph depict a greater amount of potential shatter at low ratings to a lower amount of potential shatter at high ratings. They do not represent the exact amounts of seeds that could shatter out, but rather the relative trend in shatter risk.
Canola, Features

New tool helps canola producers understand variety-specific pod shatter risks

Rating system provides information needed to make harvest timing decisions

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The Canadian canola industry has a new tool for growers who wish to assess the risk of pod shatter in their canola cultivars. Intended to help producers make better harvest timing decisions and analyze crop loss, this system rates pod shatter resistance in canola cultivars on a scale of one to nine. It was designed […] Read more
How much do you know about canola seed traits?
Canola, Crops, Features

How much do you know about canola seed traits?

Take the Canola Council of Canada quiz to find out

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Through my @CanolaWatch Twitter handle, I put up a poll in January with the question, “Canola growers, how many different hybrids will you grow this year?” The options were one, two, three or four-plus. “Two” was the most common answer, with 35.7 per cent. “One” was second, with 27.9 per cent. When I shared the […] Read more
Researchers at Farming Smarter in Lethbridge, Alta., tested the Spornado in different crops to determine if the location of the sampler made a difference. Generally, an open area of the field is preferred, and try to avoid field edges or being next to a gravel road where dust could overload the collection cassette.
Crops, Features

Keep tabs on crop disease risk

Even the occasional rain event during a dry growing season can stimulate a crop disease outbreak

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Is there a need for an early-warning system for crop diseases during a dry growing season? Generally, most farmers and agronomists agree with dry or drought conditions the risk of crop disease outbreaks is greatly reduced, if non-existent. And that is true to a large extent. Looking at the classic crop disease triangle, the three […] Read more
Jesse Meyer says winter cereals have been a big part of his family’s Peace River region farming operation for about 30 years. Winter cereals help spread out the workload, are an important part of risk management and are sought after in the marketplace.
Cereals, Crops, Features

Crop rotation built around winter cereals

For more than 30 years fall-seeded crops have been a key part of this Peace River region farm business plan

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Growing winter cereals is anything but an afterthought on the Meyer farm in the central Alberta Peace River region. For the past 30 years, the family farm at Woking, which is about 45 minutes north of Grande Prairie, has included winter cereals in the rotation, and particularly over the past 10 years, winter crops have […] Read more
A chickpea and flax intercrop mix on Colin Rosengren’s farm in Midale, Sask.
Crops, Features

Safe bets for intercrop mixes

An experienced Saskatchewan farmer shares how two intercrop mixes have provided several benefits for his operation

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Intercropping has been used for ages by farmers around the world as a way to boost overall crop production. With monocultures now dominating Prairie farms, you don’t see much of it these days. However, that could change as regenerative agriculture practices like intercropping continue to gain a foothold in Western Canada.  Colin Rosengren is a […] Read more
How much do you know about 4R nutrient management?
Canola, Crops, Features

How much do you know about 4R nutrient management?

Take the Canola Council of Canada quiz to find out

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All farms will benefit from applying the right fertilizer source at the right rate, right time and right place. These are the 4Rs of 4R nutrient management, as outlined by Fertilizer Canada. Following the principles of 4R can improve the return on investment for fertilizer, improve overall farm sustainability, and reduce nutrient runoff into waterways […] Read more
Count your canola for best results
Canola, Crops, Features

Count your canola for best results

Online tool helps producers assess plant stands and minimize seed loss

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Say it’s been about a month and a half since your canola has been in the ground. Do you know if you’re on track toward an even plant stand and optimum yield, or do you still have some work to do? A new online tool can help producers find out by entering a few numbers […] Read more

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