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Herbicide carry-over concerns on the Prairies
Columns

Herbicide carry-over concerns on the Prairies

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The 2023 growing season was drier and warmer than normal resulting in lower-than-normal crop yields over much of the Prairies. The worst affected areas are in the Brown and Dark Brown soil zones. Figure 1 shows an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada map of soil moisture conditions across the Prairies at the end of July 2023. […] Read more
(Dave Bedard photo)
Crops, Markets

Flax production lowest since 1967, StatCan predicts

Returns on effort invested 'not attractive right now'

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MarketsFarm — After going into its least acres seeded since 1950, the 2023-24 Canadian flax crop is projected to be at its smallest in decades. Statistics Canada (StatCan) reported in its principal field crop estimates on Thursday that 267,900 tonnes of flaxseed are expected to be produced in this year’s harvest. The total not only […] Read more
The GxExM equation 
Crops, Wheat & Chaff

The GxExM equation 

Q & A with an expert

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Q: What should I be looking at when focusing on crop planning for the coming year? A: As the cropping season creeps into focus, growers and agronomists are making final changes and alterations to crop plans. We work diligently to make sure these crop plans are thorough, robust and account for as many variables as […] Read more
Sheri Strydhorst says a couple of weeks after the crop is up and growing, farmers should be scouting fields, checking as many acres as possible and making an assessment of what’s “normal” and “not normal.” Look closely at plants above ground, at ground level and dig up a few to examine the roots. Strydhorst cautions against getting lazy or complacent — nothing beats having boots in the field to identify problems before they get out of hand.
Crops, Features

Get boots in the field as variables increase

Field scouting is even more important this year as farmers face an increasing number of variables

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There are a few good reasons to put some real effort into field scouting this coming season. Crop growth and development, particularly with wild weather, can be much different than “normal.” And knowing what pests are out there or not out there, or the degree of severity if they are out there, makes for much […] Read more
Targeting a seeding rate to produce 38 wheat plants per square foot, Wade McAllister was impressed with the uniform seed placement delivered by the SeedMaster Ultra SR drill, which, in turn, resulted in very even germination of CPS Penhold wheat.
Crops, Features

Profitability isn’t always about yield

Efficiency increases and cost reductions more than cover yield shortfall with a 60-foot single rank air drill on 15-inch row spacing

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As Wade McAllister heads into his second full seeding season this year with a single rank 60-foot drill on 15-inch row spacing, he is convinced there are more factors that contribute to farm profitability than just yield. The central Alberta farmer agrees that, yes, yield is important, but with the new drill — which is […] Read more
Canola south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 3, 2017. (Dave Bedard photo)
Canola, Crops

Supply chain working but canola groups have concerns

Federal field trials need to continue and growers need protective equipment, they say

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There have been no issues so far with supplies of inputs and parts, transportation or oilseed processing during the pandemic, canola industry officials report. “We’ve been really focused on making sure farmers have access to inputs and resources to get the 2020 crop in the ground,” Canola Council of Canada president Jim Everson said during […] Read more
The amount of damage caused by cutworm feeding on canola seed-treated with an insecticide was measured. Manned aircraft were used to collect images on 90 acres. Field and data analysis was performed to develop relative density, and per cent cover maps were created to provide an objective estimate of cutworm damage.
Crops, Features

How to use remote sensing for crops to its fullest potential

Images from drones and satellites can be part of a much bigger picture

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Remote sensing tools can produce a lot of valuable information about what’s happening on farmland and within your crops, but the full potential has yet to be properly harnessed, says a north-central Alberta agronomist after studying the technology for a couple years. Satellite imagery, aerial photography and images captured by unmanned drones are all forms […] Read more
'Winter combining' (read further down for more info) This photo is reproduced with permission of the Rosetown Eagle and the Rosetown Library Archives. A shout out for our local weeklies that provide local information not available anywhere else.
Columns, Crops

Les Henry: Where will Prairie agriculture be in 2030?

Les Henry predicts eight changes coming to agriculture in the next decade

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At the start of a new decade it is time to take stock and think ahead to what our industry might be like at the end of this decade. The last time I tried such an exercise was in December 1979, looking ahead to what the 1980s would bring. I predicted that at the end […] Read more
Planning for a fresh crop season
Crops, Wheat & Chaff

Planning for a fresh crop season

Q & A with Nutrien Ag Solutions

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Q. After a challenging harvest, what do I need to look at for next year? A: Crop planning can be hard to do with uncertainty in the markets, however, doing it sooner rather than later is important. Acting while agronomic issues encountered in last year’s crop are fresh in our minds is key, as some […] Read more
All of Fred’s canola seed was planted at a consistent three-quarter inch depth, so why the uneven emergence?
Crops, Features

Crop advisor casebook: Spotty canola emergence baffling

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the October 15, 2019 issue of Grainews

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I received a call from Fred last May after he came across a problem while out scouting his canola fields. He’d observed some spotty emergence of canola seedlings in one of his fields and was wondering why emergence was so much better in the adjacent fields that had been planted around the same time. Fred, […] Read more

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