Hugh Beckie was on hand during Nufarm’s field day at Ag-Quest’s Saskatoon location. Beckie is holding a GPS collar that researchers can attach to kochia plants to track how the weed disperses seeds as it tumbles across the prairie.

Herbicide-resistant weeds: don’t be in denial

Herbicide resistance is a growing problem that all Prairie farmers need to address

Dealing with resistant weeds is a little like dealing with alcoholism, according to a Nufarm executive. The first step is to acknowledge that you’ve got a problem. Lachie McKinnon heads North American business development for Nufarm, and is also the Canadian manager. McKinnon shared thoughts on managing herbicide resistance based on his experience working in […] Read more

Dry down before straight cutting canola

Dry down before straight cutting canola

Agronomy tips... from the field

Straight-cutting your shatter-resistant canola variety this season? Timing is of the essence, and you need your field to be ready for harvest. That’s why you may want to consider using a true desiccant for more precise control over your harvest timing. However, if controlling perennial weeds is a big concern — or you have a […] Read more


Grain buyers want you thinking about residues before you harvest

Grain buyers want you thinking about residues before you harvest

It hasn’t happened yet, but exceeding pesticide residue limits on exported grain could cause a ‘big problem’

Grain growers are again being urged to heed the labels on their pre-harvest pesticides and avoid going over maximum residue limits. “We’re selling our crops mostly into export, and our exports markets are very sensitive to residual levels of different crop protection products that we use,” said Alberta Wheat Commission chair Kevin Auch, who farms […] Read more

Speaking July 5 at the Crop Diagnostic School in Carman, Manitoba Agriculture’s Terry Buss shows a Roundup Ready 2 soybean plot dying due to dicamba drifting over from the Xtend soybean plot at left. (Allan Dawson photo)

Xtend soybeans expand options, but be dicamba-drift aware

New dicamba- and glyphosate-tolerant soybeans offer more weed control options and are another tool to address herbicide-tolerant weeds, but farmers need to take steps to avoid dicamba drift and spray tank residue, Manitoba officials say. What’s been happening in Arkansas underscores the risk dicamba drift presents. The U.S. state of Arkansas on Friday announced a […] Read more


Critical weed-free period in corn

Critical weed-free period in corn

Keeping your corn crop weed free through the key stages can lead to higher yields

The critical weed-free period (CWFP) in corn takes place from emergence to V4 stage (six-leaf stage). Although corn is typically seen as a longer-season crop, maintaining a clean, weed-free field during this period is critical. A weed-free field is important during all stages of the CWFP. Corn isn’t a very competitive crop, so during the […] 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


(Video screengrab from Enlist.com)

Dow’s Enlist corn cleared for Canada

Corn growers in Canada can begin ordering Dow AgroSciences’ genetically modified Enlist corn later this summer, now that China will allow imports of grain grown from corn with the Enlist trait. Dow Agro announced Wednesday the glyphosate- and 2,4-D-tolerant corn will be commercially available in Canada and the U.S. for use in the 2018 growing […] Read more

Play it safe with pre-harvest glyphosate

Play it safe with pre-harvest glyphosate

Follow the label and consult grain buyers for guidelines

When it comes to pre-harvest perennial weed control, Prairie farmers need to play it safe this fall. As of this year, grain from crops treated with glyphosate might have market access concerns, according to the Keeping it Clean program, a joint initiative of the Canola Council of Canada, Cereals Canada and Pulse Canada. “Glyphosate residues […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

EU to propose 10-year licence renewal for glyphosate

Brussels | Reuters — The European Commission will propose extending by 10 years its approval for glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday. A transatlantic row over possible risks to human health has prompted investigations by congressional committees in the U.S., and in Europe has forced a delay to […] Read more

(CaseIH.com)

Glyphosate clears Health Canada re-evaluation

Crop protection companies selling glyphosate have two years to make minor changes to parts of their product labels, as the 43-year-old herbicide formally clears Health Canada’s re-evaluation process. The re-evaluation, launched in late 2009 in a standard federal practice for registered pesticides in Canada, has ruled that products containing glyphosate — when used following the […] Read more