Boosting populations of natural enemies such as Bracon cephi gives farmers a low-cost, sustainable way to reduce wheat stem sawfly losses without relying on insecticides that rarely work.
Tag Archives Variety development
Wheat stem sawfly: how a harvest tweak can protect yields, preserve parasitoids
Stubble height of at least six inches can help make a significant sawfly enemy right at home
VIDEO: Cereal drought tolerant ratings hard to compile
Farmers rely on anecdotal information to select drought hardy varieties
Cereals and most crops have ratings for disease resistance, yield potential, straw height and other traits, but not drought tolerance. Right now, that sort of information is anecdotal
Clubroot resistance: what new seed labels would mean for canola growers
Proposed label changes could provide growers with detailed info to rotate varieties and preserve resistance in canola crops
Improved seed labelling can help canola growers make better variety choices, reduce disease pressure and protect the long-term effectiveness of clubroot resistance.
Canadian Wheat Research Coalition funds AAFC variety development
The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition has pledged nearly $20 million in funding for wheat variety development over the next three years.
Finding the right fit: Choose your canola varieties carefully
The best one for your farm might be different than your neighbours’
When it comes to canola variety selection, short-sighted decisions can harm your long-term success, a panel told farmers attending Manitoba Ag Days. While the cost of seed and the potential returns are factors that influence many producers’ choices, they must also consider weed control, spring soil conditions and disease, agronomists said. Karen Fatteicher, an agronomist […] Read more
New tools could speed up development of cereal varieties
Selection is a business of evaluation, identification — and yes, rejection
When it comes to developing new varieties of cereal crops, the focus of those efforts can be as much about what doesn’t work as what does, says one breeding expert. Francois Eudes is the director of research, development and technology for the science and technology branch at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) at Lethbridge. As […] Read more
New soybean varieties for 2025
Beans with high yields, improved standability, strong defence packages and more are on offer
Farmers in Western Canada have 15 new soybean options to choose from next year. BrettYoung, Corteva, Dekalb, NorthStar Genetics, Proven Seed, SeCan, Syngenta and Thunder Seed are all releasing new soybean varieties for the coming growing season. Note: the following list includes only brand-new releases for 2025. BrettYoung Corteva: Brevant Seeds Corteva: Pioneer Seed P003Z08E […] Read more
Changing weather, changing varieties
With growing conditions in flux, adaptability is a consideration for soybean developers
Climate change has had a huge impact on farm operations in Western Canada for some time. Those shifting temperatures and weather patterns are also playing a key role in how future varieties are being developed. Grainews recently spoke with several prominent seed companies about new soybean varieties they have in the development pipeline and the […] Read more
Editor’s Rant: Seeds, saved
Against a changing climate, this is how we adapt
Before we all get much farther into this book, it needs to be said: Folks, we’re not trying to bright-side climate change here. It’s far beyond dispute that Earth’s climate is changing — in part due to natural factors over time such as changes in the sun’s radiation and the occasional volcano, but mainly due […] Read more
Possibilities prevail for the Prairie soy sector
Choices include the introduction of gene-editing and opportunities in the food market
Glacier FarmMedia — Canada has a small but growing soybean industry that faces some forks in the road. Soy Canada executive director Brian Innes tells growers from across the country that they should relish the options that lie before them. “Where do we want to go from here? The choice is ours,” he said repeatedly, […] Read more
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