Managing herbicide resistance

Managing herbicide resistance

Gowan Canada will host a speaker series 
on Wednesday and Thursday at Ag in Motion

Diversity is defined in the dictionary as “the condition of having or being composed of differing elements.” In weed control, diversity means using multiple strategies, or an integrated weed management approach. For herbicides, this means using all of the modes of action available to reduce the risk of weed resistance. This may be obvious, but […] Read more

Kochia in a wheat field.

Sociology and herbicide-resistant weeds

Think weed management strategies are all about agronomy? There are other factors

Would you tell your neighbour how to farm? Not likely. On the other hand, what if this reluctance to “stick your nose in” was creating a real barrier to the adoption of practices that could help slow down the spread of herbicide resistant weeds? Scientists have a word for this way of thinking. They call […] Read more


Australia-based K-line Ag is entering the North American market this year with the official 
product launch of its Speedtiller high-speed disc.

K-line Ag officially launches the Speedtiller

Australian firm stakes a claim in the Canadian marketplace

With so many growers in Western Canada having made the transition to no-till production a decade or more ago, some might find it surprising that the number of new tillage implements and once-unfamiliar brands has proliferated in recent years. But a variety of factors now have many looking at incorporating “strategic tillage” into their operations. […] Read more

Implementing strategies to stave off herbicide resistance can bring increased costs 
to individual farmers in the short term, while the economic benefits are delayed.

Managing herbicide resistance costs

Farmers considering herbicide resistance strategies are looking at the economics first

There are several reasons many farmers haven’t yet adopted herbicide resistance management (HRM) plans. These include a lack of information, the complexity of different management strategies and limited time. But a major reason is still economics. Many farmers worry about the costs of implementing a resistance management plan, especially if they’re uncertain about the potential […] Read more


volunteer canola

Tips for wild oat and volunteer canola control

Agronomy tips... from the field

Wild oats and volunteer canola are two prevalent weeds that need to be controlled each year. When selecting your wild oat herbicide, be aware of the chemistry groups that you are using throughout your crop rotation. Group 2 herbicides have become a popular choice for wild oat control, but be careful that you’re not overusing […] Read more

In my asparagus patch, September, 2012. Planting date was May 2002.

Getting to the root of the matter

In the third of a three-part series, Les Henry looks at roots of field and garden crops

This is the final of a three-part series. In part 1 (April 11, 2017) I talked about the folks that provided very detailed diagrams of many plant roots to the depth needed to get the complete picture. Part 2 (April 25, 2017) was perennial pasture and hay crops and weeds and part 3 is field […] Read more


This is my grandpa, Ernest Hart, getting a field prepared prior to seeding a crop in late 1920s. I don’t think he could have imagined an air seeding system 80 feet wide.

What a difference 100 years can make

Hart Attacks: The crop yields achieved by today’s famers would be a shock for our forefathers

As a new growing season begins, I am always impressed with the progress farmers have made in pushing the limits on crop production — striving to be more efficient, using improved agronomic practices and technology to increase yields and hopefully outsmart Mother Nature. I worked on a story earlier this year that described some global […] Read more

Corey Loessin feels fortunate he got the 2016 crop off last fall. If conditions dry out and temperature warms a bit he should be on track for the 2017 seeding season on his Radisson, Sask., farm.

Farmers facing mixed bag of conditions

Farmer Panel: Most farmers are on track for seeding, but many are dealing with last year’s crop

On schedule with one-third of the crop seeded, still about a week away, and scrambling to get some of last year’s crop harvested while working to get the 2017 crop in the ground — these are the range of reports from western Canadian farmers as of early May as they look at the cropping season […] Read more


Barley at sunset

Where to find your provincial crop protection guides

Spring is in the air. That means its time to get your new provincial crop protection guide for all the latest information on registered herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. Here’s how: In Manitoba: For an online copy, Google “Manitoba” and “Guide to Crop Protection” and Google will direct you to a “Guides and Publications” page with many […] Read more

Lay the groundwork for a strong soybean season

Lay the groundwork for a strong soybean season

Agronomy tips... from the field

Want to set the stage for a strong soybean crop? Start by seeding into warmer soils. Light tillage can help break up crop residue and spread it evenly across your field. Working up soil also attracts sunlight and heat more effectively. Aim to seed into moisture to give your beans a better start. If possible, […] Read more