Black discolouration in the stem’s cross section is a sign of blackleg.

Scouting for blackleg in canola

The Canola Council of Canada recommends blackleg scouting a week or two before straight cutting or swathing. Don’t wait more than a week after harvest, the Council advises, or plants may be too decomposed to pick out symptoms. While scouting, pull plants and clip stems below ground level. Black discolouration in the stem’s cross section […] Read more

In provinces such as Manitoba and Ontario, fusarium head blight is now a given.

17 crop disease prevention strategies

Fungicides are key, but there are many other parts to an effective long-term strategy

As you can tell by the fact that this article includes 17, yes 17, strategies for crop diseases prevention, there are no quick fixes. Crop disease prevention is going to be an ongoing struggle. 1. Use multiple strategies: Understand that multiple strategies are the way to go. There isn’t one big hammer, rather lots of little hammers with […] Read more


The bronzing within the crop wasn’t occurring just in the low areas, but was happening on slopes and in higher areas of the field as well.

Crop Advisor’s Casebook: The case of the bronzing lentils

A Crop Advisor’s Solution from the July 22, 2014 issue of Grainews

Rob, a mixed grain and cattle farmer east of Swift Current, Sask., went on a week-long fishing trip in mid-July. Upon returning to his 3,000-acre farm where he grows canola, lentils, durum and barley, Rob noticed the plants in one of his lentil fields were turning brown and appeared to be dying. He called me […] Read more

VIDEO: The best time to spray canola with a sclerotinia fungicide

VIDEO: The best time to spray canola with a sclerotinia fungicide

Crop Diagnostic School: Here's a tip. It's a good sign if your pants get wet when walking through the field

Assessing your canola crop during the flowering stage is essential to discover if sclerotinia is present and if a fungicide can be of benefit. In this video from the 2015 Crop Diagnostic School, Anastasia Kubinec of Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (MAFRD), talks about the risk factors for the fungal disease and offers tips for canola […] Read more



blackleg infection on a canola stem

Does it pay to spray fungicide for blackleg?

When you’re looking to guard your canola against blackleg, does it pay to spray a fungicide? The short answer is yes — especially if you’re running a tight canola-wheat rotation. Short rotations put you at the highest risk of developing a blackleg infection, since the fungus can overwinter on diseased canola stubble year over year […] Read more



stripe rust

Producers, start scouting: stripe rust is spreading north

Producers in central Alberta — and even the Peace region — need to start scouting their winter wheat fields for signs of stripe rust

Stripe rust overwintering on three winter wheat fields in the Edmonton area is “concerning,” says a provincial winter wheat agronomist. “Last year, stripe rust overwintered in the central Alberta region, near Lacombe, Red Deer, and Olds, which was alarming because it really hasn’t overwintered in years,” said Janine Paly of Ducks Unlimited Canada. “Last year, […] Read more


aerial photo of a crop farm trial

Don’t overdo on-farm trials

On-farm trials are the perfect way to test new technology on your farm

Greg Stamp likes to keep on-farm field trials on his southern Alberta farm simple. If he’s evaluating the effectiveness of a new fungicide or herbicide, for example, he’ll make two or three passes with the sprayer with the new treatment and then two or three more passes for the check strip (no new product). He’ll […] Read more

lentils

Seed treatments maximize potential

Agronomy tips... from the field

Seed treatments can’t walk on water, but they’ll help to enhance the existing seed quality that you have. That’s why it’s very important to select the highest-quality seed you can possibly get. A good start to the year will put you in the best position to maximize the genetic potential of your pulse crop. If […] Read more