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Tag Archives Horticulture

illustration of cash flow adjustments
Columns, Crops

Challenges for 2024 cash crop economics

Cash flows must be managed carefully against rising costs and falling commodity prices

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As we embark on a new production year, there are several new challenges. A recent Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) report says “the cost of critical farm inputs such as fuel, fertilizer, feed, machinery, pesticides, land and labour has increased dramatically. “When coupled with high inflation, interest rates and a price on carbon for essential […] Read more
AAFC’s Breanne Tidemann says kochia (seen here) appears to be spreading to areas of Alberta where it wasn’t seen previously.
Crops, Features

Into the weeds: 2024 in preview

Prairie specialists consider which weeds are most likely to succeed as the season proceeds

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The past few seasons have been a challenging time for farmers on the Canadian Prairies. Extreme heat, lack of precipitation and steep increases in production costs have caused some sleepless nights for many producers. As if those weren’t enough to contend with, another potential threat to crops will soon rear its ugly head: weeds. Grainews […] Read more
More seeds than I need from Seedy Saturday -- but good for sharing.
Columns, Farm Life

Seedy Saturdays

First We Eat: A freshly pulled carrot from the garden will remind you why this vegetable is such a mainstay

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Back in March, I joined a crowd of people purposefully moving from booth to table to booth at St. Mary’s Wellness and Education Centre in Saskatoon. The occasion was the annual Seedy Saturday, an opportunity amidst the snow and ice for gardeners to buy seeds and think about spring. Seedy Saturdays occur across Canada under […] Read more
An aerial view of spraying operations at Jake Ayre's family farm near Minto, Man.
Crops, Features

Spraying facts, fallacies and forethought

Experts share tips on what you need to know before you spray

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To spray or not to spray? That is the question many farmers will be asking themselves in the coming weeks. While it’s still too early to say what pest and disease forecasts will look like this season, it’s never too soon to start thinking about temperature and other factors that can help to determine the […] Read more
How many ounces do you get in a pint? That depends on where you are — or, at least, where your pint glass came from.
Columns

The facts we stumble over

Why the frost on your windshield didn't kill your crop, and other nuggets of wisdom

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When I undertook field research trials in Alberta in the 1970s on fungicides and insecticides for disease and insect control, I was often stymied by the Imperial (Canadian), U.S. and metric measurement systems. While the metric system was fairly straightforward and in its Canadian infancy, I had a hard time reconciling U.S. and Canadian measurement […] Read more
The citrus and honey mustard dressing recipe you’ll see below is as good on fruit or fish as it is on greens.
Columns, Farm Life

Eating while retreating

Homemade dressings can help with mindful eating while elevating any salad

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I am standing in a laneway lined by a double row of blue spruces, a shelled bit of peanut on my ungloved palm. It’s only a few seconds before a black-capped chickadee settles on one of my outstretched fingers, its tiny wire claws gripping my skin tightly. It’s an alien feeling, and I work hard […] Read more
A tomato harvest from planter boxes in Winnipeg.
Columns, Crops, Practical Tips

Tomatoes and onions in gardens everywhere

Part 7 of a series: On all farms, tomatoes should go into ground not previously used for tomatoes

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Tomatoes Tomatoes originated in South America from wild plants with grape-sized fruit. They were developed by the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. They were first brought to Europe in the 1540s, to Italy in particular by the 1550s. North Americans were slow to pick up on tomatoes, regarding them as poisonous until almost the year […] Read more
Wild foxtail barley on the edge of a canola field.
Crops, Features

Garden seeds lead to problem weeds

The names in the garden catalogues may sound pretty, but the plants are far from that in pastures or fields

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Glacier FarmMedia — Manitoba rancher Herman Bouw was casually perusing a gardening seed catalogue when a particular ornamental grass item caught his eye. The plant was listed as “squirrel tail grass,” but Bouw thought it looked awfully similar to a species with a more cursed name on the Prairies. A comparison of scientific names confirmed […] Read more
Researchers now recommend allowing one or two years between terminating an old alfalfa stand and reseeding.
Columns, Forages, Practical Tips

Alfalfa replant disease and related disorders

Whatever the cause, we can realize it's a problem and try to avoid it

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Back in the 1980s I spent a lot of time on alfalfa diseases, particularly the verticillium wilt disease problem that was spreading across the Prairies, particularly in southern Alberta. In a few snow-free and cold Decembers in those years, a lot of damage was done to alfalfa, winterkilling entire fields of three-year-old stands. Even white […] Read more
This is a closeup of superb Valentine bleeding heart flowers. The plant likes soil to be evenly moist but not constantly wet. Allow surface soil to become dry to an inch deep or more between waterings. An eastern exposure is ideal and filtered light or mostly shade is preferred much of the day. Avoid scorching the plant from too much direct sunlight and excess heat. As soon as the first crop of blooms begins to show signs of exhaustion, cut back the entire plant once flowering is done. Sprinkle a complete fertilizer on the surrounding soil, moisten in and wait. If autumn frost doesn’t arrive too early, you’ve a good chance to enjoy a second flowering of bleeding heart during fall.
Columns, Farm Life

Odes to purple potatoes and to horticultural hearts

Also: an Alberta reader is on the hunt for a Bird of paradise

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What’s it going to be this Valentine’s Day? Red roses, a box of chocolates and a corsage along with a singing card are standard. Or maybe you’ve created a one-of-a-kind, original Valentine’s Day card of your own? Perhaps a night out in town with a reservation for two at Mr. Mikes Steakhouse hits the spot. […] Read more

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