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

Emerging crops good to excellent condition, some insect damage, local flooding

Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending May 30

Seeding of the 2016 crop is almost complete. Ninety four per cent of the crop is now seeded, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. Cooler temperatures and rain during the past week have slowed field operations in some areas of the province; however, seeding progress is still ahead of the five-year (2011-2015) average of […] Read more


Seeding progress takes a leap forward, rainfall seen mixed

Saskatchewan Crop Report for the week ending May 23

Saskatchewan Agriculture – Great strides were made this past week, as 81 per cent of the crop is now seeded, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. Warm and dry weather has allowed producers to remain well ahead of the five-year (2011-2015) seeding average of 59 per cent. Many producers have completed seeding operations and […] Read more

cornfield

What to watch for in young corn

A strong start to your corn crop will ensure you a rewarding harvest

The first step in guaranteeing a profitable harvest is ensuring corn plants are thriving in the early stages of growth. At the planting to seedling stage, corn is most susceptible to seed and root rot diseases. Disease such as seedling blight, and root rots caused by pythium, fusarium or rhizoctonia could affect seedlings, particularly in […] Read more


Don’t misdiagnose soil compaction

Don’t misdiagnose soil compaction

Erosion or true compaction? A correct diagnosis is key to proper management

Subsoils are naturally compact, and what looks like a soil compaction problem might actually be a case of erosion removing the top, soft layer of soil and exposing the dense subsoil. “People assume they have a soil compaction problem, but exposed subsoil is often misdiagnosed as a soil degradation issue,” says David Lobb, a professor […] Read more

Canola is typically sold with a seed treatment that includes both a 
fungicide and insecticide.

Are seed treatments worth the cost?

Ask the Experts: Seed treatments come at a price, but some say they add enough benefits to pay that bill

Some farmers consider seed treatments an insurance policy to try and ensure their crop has every opportunity to germinate and establish healthy plants. Others see them as another added cost they don’t need, especially if they haven’t had any serious disease issues for a while. Invariably though, once a farmer has had a disease problem […] Read more


Set your soybeans up for success

Set your soybeans up for success

Many factors come in to play in getting your soybean crop off to a good start. Field selection, fertility, varietal selection and planting populations are some of the key elements to be considered during the planning phase. As the planning phase ends and you move to in-season practices, your early season weed control will be […] Read more

Fenugreek (shown) is used as both a culinary and medicinal herb and is a common ingredient in Indian food.

Should I grow the latest new crop?

Angela Lovell asks the experts whether or not getting in on a hot new trend is a good idea

Niger, quinoa, fenugreek. These are just a few of the new crops starting to appear on a very small number of acres across Western Canada, but the biggest question farmers should be asking about them is — who’s going to buy them? “With any new crop, farmers should make sure they’re not listening to marketing […] Read more


Farmer in wheat field

Perennial wheat more than a pipedream

It's still years from commercialization, but early perennial wheat research is promising

Doug Cattani is working on a long-term investment that will pay dividends down the road. The University of Manitoba plant sciences professor is currently in year five of a now much-publicized 15- to 20-year perennial wheatgrass breeding project. Perennial grain is something of a holy grail in plant breeding: a cereal crop that delivers high […] Read more

Volunteer canola.

Controlling seeds post-harvest

Can pulverizing weed seeds after harvest control weeds in Western Canada?

As buzz builds about Australia’s Harrington Seed Destructor, researchers are looking at whether pulverizing seeds after harvest will work on the Prairies. But preliminary research shows post-harvest seed control is unlikely to work for all of Western Canada’s weeds. Breanne Tidemann presented new research at the Herbicide Resistance Summit in Saskatoon this March. Tidemann, who is […] Read more