wheat stem sawfly

How farmers can help map, monitor and forecast pest outbreaks

Researchers can help producers develop pest management plans — but farmers’ help is needed to know which pests are where, and how many

Prairie scientists conducting research into field crop pests can always use more help from producers — whether it’s by granting access to farmland, or just by reporting what they see in the field.

kochia

New Group 14 tank mix partner may be on horizon

A Japanese firm’s new chemical isn’t like the other PPO inhibitors

Not yet registered in either Canada or the U.S., the Japanese active ingredient-in-waiting could be needed sooner than later, because many growers in Saskatchewan and Alberta are struggling with herbicide-resistant kochia.


kochia in saskatchewan

Kochia’s expanding herbicide resistance puts pressure on no-till systems 

Kochia populations in Saskatchewan and North Dakota are now resistant to group 14 herbicides, leaving fewer options for Prairie farmers

Based on preliminary data from a recent Prairie-wide kochia survey, AAFC’s Charles Geddes suspects Group 14-resistant kochia is now present in multiple fields in Saskatchewan and expects it could soon be confirmed in other regions as well.

Vyconic soybeans are expected to be released in Canada for the 2027 growing season.

New Bayer genetics to open up soybean herbicide tolerance

Bayer’s Vyconic genetics to be integrated with the company’s soybean varieties in coming years

If all goes according to plan, by 2027 soybean farmers throughout Canada will have new soybean varieties with tolerance to five key herbicides. Bayer Crop Science Canada on Monday announced its Vyconic soybean trait set, calling it “a leap forward in weed control, enabling farmers to manage their fields with unparalleled flexibility.” Vyconic features tolerance […] Read more


wild oats and green foxtail

Rethinking weed management

Not every weapon against herbicide resistance comes out of a sprayer

Farmers up against herbicide-resistant weeds need to rethink their cropping systems and add more angles in their approach to long-term weed control. This advice came from Dr. Drew Lyon of Washington State University during his presentation at the Manitoba Agronomists’ Conference in December. While Lyon’s discussion primarily focused on integrated weed management (IWM) in dryland […] Read more

oerth bio protac

Herbicide researchers pick new fights

Different modes of action may overcome a lull in herbicide discovery

Herbicide development has slowed in recent years, but innovative research methods could soon drive significant progress in the field. For decades, the pace of discovery of new modes of action — that is, how a herbicide interferes with the plant’s normal functions — was robust. From the 1950s through the 1980s, an average of one […] Read more


Boom stability, boom height and travel speed are critical to uniform herbicide application and curbing variability in spray coverage.

Tackling herbicide resistance with smarter spraying

Tom Wolf from Sprayers101.com shares insights on how spraying techniques and technologies can help farmers stay ahead of resistance

With herbicide resistance on the rise, farmers can no longer spray their way out of weed problems — but smarter spraying can help prevent making resistance worse. That was the message from spray application specialist Tom Wolf, who spoke recently at the Manitoba Agronomists’ Conference. Wolf, from Saskatoon, is known for his contributions to Sprayers101.com, […] Read more

volunteer canola in soybeans

The evolving fight against volunteer canola 

As its prevalence grows, farmers are adopting integrated strategies to manage one of the Prairies' most persistent weeds

While chemistries out there continue to work for most farmers, the days of spraying their way out of volunteer canola issues are receding in the rearview mirror.  “I’m not going to say that herbicides don’t work because there are quite a few herbicide options still to manage volunteer canola,” says Charles Geddes, a research scientist […] Read more


wild oats

Herbicide combo launched against resistance in wild oats

Product features a dual mode of action with Group 1 and Group 2, meant to remove guesswork from weed control

Glacier FarmMedia – Wild oats and kochia are the most problematic weeds in Western Canada. They’re everywhere, and often come with resistance to herbicides. “The story behind wild oat being one of the biggest grassy weed issues and kochia being one of the biggest broadleaf weed issues, is generally consistent across the board for the […] Read more

wild oats

Maul of the wild

Farmers who missed two-decade-old advice on wild oat management now face the fallout, but new research and technology might still turn the tide

Any Prairie farmers who ignored a 2005 paper on managing herbicide-resistant wild oats, back when it first dropped, might feel like they’re getting an “I told you so” finger wag if they were to read it today. Authored by Hugh Beckie, a former AAFC researcher known for his contributions to weed management and herbicide resistance […] Read more