Farmers and agronomists had a hands-on look at crops, weeds and pests at Saskatchewan Agriculture’s 2017 Crop Diagnostic School near Indian Head in July.


Four things to know about herbicide layering

Layer your herbicides to increase your odds of avoiding resistant weeds

Herbicide layering was on the agenda at Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Crop Diagnostic School near Indian Head this past summer. Cory Jacob, regional crop specialist in Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Watrous office, walked participants through the process. 1. What is herbicide layering? “We’re basically talking about layering on multiple herbicide modes of action and groups in sequential application. So, mainly your pre-seed and […] Read more

Bryce Geisel says that Group 2 herbicides are still important to Western Canadian farmers, despite resistance issues.

Developing resistance: Group 2 herbicides

Each herbicide group kills weeds differently. Weed resistance differs by herbicide group


When talking about herbicide resistance, Bryce Geisel likes to make sure people realize that spraying herbicides doesn’t cause resistance in a weed. Instead there are individual plants that, by chance, resist the herbicide. Those plants survive and pass on their resistance traits. “And with Group 2s in particular, it’s just altering the target site,” says […] Read more


Dicamba drift injury on non-dicamba tolerant soybeans causes leaf cupping, says Lionel Kaskiw, Manitoba Agriculture’s Farm Production Advisor based in Souris, Man.

Dicamba drift debacle decoded

Tom Wolfe blames inversions for much of the 2017 U.S. soybean damage

Saskatchewan Agriculture’s annual Crop Diagnostic School was held near Indian Head, Sask., this July. Tom Wolfe, owner of Agrimetrix Research & Training and sprayer specialist, was on hand to talk about sprayer technology and the dicamba problems that took place in the U.S. this summer. “This year was a defining year for spray technology,” Wolfe told Crop Diagnostic […] Read more

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


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

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


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

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