disease Archives - Grainews

Machine learning may help get a leg up on blackleg

AI-backed research results may help growers better manage the risk of blackleg in canola crops

By Jim Timlick April 16, 2024

Results of a recent study by researchers in Manitoba and Alberta could help growers fight blackleg disease in canola more effectively. The study was done by a team of researchers at the University of Manitoba led by Dilantha Fernando, a professor in the school’s plant science department. They were joined by Michael Harding, a plant […] Read more

David Kaminski flicking a barley seed head infected with true loose smut at the Crop Diagnostic School.

Barley, Cereals Production Guide, Crops

Stamp out smut

Crop diseases: Disease prevention tips are available for barley producers

By Mark Halsall January 17, 2024

Smut is one of the most common diseases in barley and can be found anywhere the grain is grown. There are several distinct kinds, each caused by a specific fungus and producing slightly different effects. While smut affects other cereals, it’s particularly a concern for Prairie barley growers because of its impact on quality as […] Read more

a yellow combine covered in dusty pasty gunk

Crops, Features

Powdery mildew in 2023: a severe nuisance

At harvest, spore buildup can coat equipment, reducing visibility and creating a potential fire hazard

By Jim Timlick January 8, 2024

Ask any farmer on the Canadian Prairies which disease poses the greatest risk to their canola crops and you will likely get a list of the usual suspects that includes blackleg, sclerotinia, clubroot or verticillium stripe. One disease not likely to make that list is powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that penetrates […] Read more

Corn, Corn Guide 2023, Corn Production Guide

As corn acres increase, so could disease pressure

By Jim Timlick November 9, 2023

The number of corn acres in Western Canada is growing. Grain corn acreage in Western Canada nearly doubled in a recent 15-year span, rising from 210,000 acres in 2007 to slightly more than 414,000 in 2022, according to data compiled by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The trend has continued into 2023. While that development is […] Read more

Blackleg testing is relatively new and it can be difficult to understand or interpret the test results.

2023 Canola Guide, Canola, Canola Production Guide

Disease testing uptake low despite benefits

Canola disease tests help growers better manage their fields

By Jim Timlick September 14, 2023

Canola disease testing is available free of charge in much of the Prairies, but uptake among growers and agronomists remains relatively low, according to industry officials. In Manitoba, the Pest Surveillance Initiative (PSI) lab has been offering free clubroot testing since 2014. The Manitoba Canola Growers Association lab also offers free blackleg and verticillium stripe […] Read more

Federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture at their annual conference in Fredericton, New Brunswick in July 2023.
Photo: AAFC

Crops

Federal and provincial ag ministers meet in Fredericton

By GFM Network News July 21, 2023

Environmental issues remain a hot topic for provincial agriculture ministers. That and sustainable agriculture dominated discussions during the recent federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) agriculture ministers meeting in Fredericton, N.B. The annual conference was held from July 19-21. The focus on sustainable agriculture tracks, as this is the first time the ministers have met since […] Read more

Soybean growers in the Prairies should adopt prevention methods like those for clubroot as soon as possible to prevent major soybean crop yield losses.

Columns, Crops

Present and future plant disease and weed issues in the Prairies, Part 2

By Ieuan Evans March 21, 2023

It’s farm equipment that does the bulk of disease spread

In Part I of this discussion on plant disease and weed issues, I explored clubroot of canola. Now for the other nine listed and destructive disease and weed issues on my top 10 list. All nine of these disease and weed issues move from cropland to cropland in exactly the same way as clubroot of […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

It’s best to apply a ‘one health’ approach

If animals are healthy, then humans are healthy and it works vice versa

By Roy Lewis November 3, 2022

This year’s theme for Animal Health Week in October was a good one for the veterinary profession as it blended the idea of “one health.” If we protect the health of our animals and the environs in which they reside, it ultimately protects everyone’s health. This is especially true in farm animal production as our […] 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

By Alexis Kienlen, GFM Network News April 29, 2020

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

Farm Life, FarmLife

The reality of Alzheimer’s disease

When a loved one is diagnosed it’s devastating but there may be some ways to help reduce the risk of developing it

By Marianne Stamm March 9, 2018

Walter* has Alzheimer’s disease — but only his family and close friends know how deeply it affects his life. Walter meets us at the door, greeting us by name. “Good to see you!” He takes our coats and leads us into the living room; we make small talk about the weather; a perfectly normal conversation. […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soy futures set six-week low as China buys Argentine cargoes, snubs U.S.

U.S. livestock: Hogs rally ahead of USDA report

Canadian Barley Research Coalition pledges $1.8 million to USask Crop Development Centre

GFM Network News