The Lalondes say there is good co-operation between farmers and beekeepers.

Beekeepers co-operating with farmers

Top Saskatchewan apiarists talk about farmers, bee habitat and neonic bans

Apiarists Simon and Dan Lalonde have seen a lot of changes in the bee industry since their father, Tony, began the beekeeping operation near Clavet, Sask., in 1979. Tony and his sons gradually grew the business and today they run approximately 45,00 hives. As well as selling honey in bulk, their company, Tony Lalonde Sales, […] Read more

This photo shows just three of the several different species of wireworm thriving on the Prairies.

Wily wireworm remains a mystery

Lack of effective control allows pest to flourish

Dallas Leduc says he hasn’t noticed any particular yield losses he can blame on wireworm damage in crops on his southern Saskatchewan, grain, oilseed and pulse crop operation, but then for many years they’ve also made a point of using recommended seed treatments as well. “The pest is out there and we may have the […] Read more


What’s up honey?

What’s up honey?

The truth about honeybees’ importance in North America. Hint: it’s less than you think

In the last few years the general public has been bombarded and brainwashed with the supposed tremendous importance of honeybees in North America. Let’s get down to the facts. First of all, honeybees can technically be classified as invasive pests since the honeybee, Aphis melifera, is not native to the Americas — or Australia or […] Read more

Wireworm: hard to control and on the rise

Wireworm: hard to control and on the rise

Without Lindane, there’s very little that cereal growers can do to control this pest

Wireworms ruin many cereal crops, and they’ve been on the rise since the federal government banned lindane for use as a pesticide in 2004. Lindane killed the bugs outright says Dr. Bob Vernon, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), and since its banning “there is really nothing that will kill them.” “Wireworms […] Read more


Canola is typically sold with a seed treatment that includes both a 
fungicide and insecticide.

Are seed treatments worth the cost?

Ask the Experts: Seed treatments come at a price, but some say they add enough benefits to pay that bill

Some farmers consider seed treatments an insurance policy to try and ensure their crop has every opportunity to germinate and establish healthy plants. Others see them as another added cost they don’t need, especially if they haven’t had any serious disease issues for a while. Invariably though, once a farmer has had a disease problem […] Read more

Dr. Ieuan Evans says producers must continue to use good bee-safe management tools and beekeepers need to control the pest infestations in their hives and to collaborate with responsible farmers.

Facts about bees, birds are next

Something is afoot in the bee community, but is agriculture really to blame?

We’ve heard a lot about honeybees in the last couple of years, particularly concerns that some crop protection products are a leading cause for the decline in bee numbers. The finger has most recently been pointed at a chemical compound known as the neonicotinoid class of pesticide, which in the past decade or so has […] Read more


bee on canola flower

Farmers can manage bee risk

While neonicitoids poise risks to bees, farmers and the ag industry can manage these risks

Neonicotinoids pose risks to bees in three ways, says a researcher. But farmers and the ag industry can manage the biggest risks, he told delegates at the International Rapeseed Conference in Saskatoon this past summer. Dr. Udo Heimbach researches pesticide use and environmental effects with Germany’s Julius Kuhn-Institut. He presented research studying neonics’ effects on […] Read more

canola field at 50 per cent bloom

Insecticide rotation for canola growers

The need to rotate herbicides gets lots of attention. It’s also necessary to rotate insecticides

Insecticide rotation is common practice for horticultural growers, particularly potato growers, as a management tool in combatting insecticide resistance. But according to John Gavloski, an entomologist for Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, based at Carman, Man., insecticide rotation is important for canola and other field crops as well. “Insecticide rotations are recommended for field […] Read more