As Bayer hints it may soon exit the glyphosate business, the once-hypothetical scenario of farming without Roundup is suddenly on the table.
Tag Archives weed management
What would happen if Roundup disappeared?
Bayer hints it might stop selling Roundup due to legal problems. What could it mean for farmers?
Get your kochia under control — by burying it
An AAFC scientist found covering kochia with chaff was the most effective at killing it
For the last few years, AAFC scientists in Saskatoon have been studying methods to “artificially” bury kochia seeds in the soil as a possible way to control the tumbleweed.
A Saskatchewan farmer is combining weed control with harvest
The Seed Terminator, an attachment that destroys weed seeds on their way out of the combine, is being put to work on a farm north of Saskatoon
Josh Lade’s farm is all-in on a combine attachment called the Seed Terminator, on which he’s spent mid-six figures over the past seven years, making sure it’s put to work on every acre controlling what he calls “the fittest weeds of the year.”
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
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
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
Integrated weed management faces new future
Intercropping, predictive weed control could redraw battle lines in the fight against herbicide-resistant weeds
Glacier FarmMedia — Herbicide resistance in weeds is rising and there are no new chemistries on the horizon, so farmers will need fresh approaches to integrated weed management strategies. “I think the best management practice that someone could do for weed resistance is the one you’re not currently doing on your farm,” says Rory Cranston, […] Read more
Plants and their identity crises
A Little Bit Western: One person’s weed is another person’s useful and cherished plant
Like many farmers and ranchers, I’ve always been curious about plants. After all, we are surrounded by plants, and humans depend on them for everything from food and forage to fibre and fun. Throughout the growing season, as interesting plants pop up in ditches, fields and pastures, I get texts, tweets and messages with photos […] Read more
Wake weeds up and let Mother Nature sort them out
Researcher finds value in wood vinegar in unique weed-killing process
Glacier FarmMedia — It makes some intuitive sense: stimulate weeds’ growth at the wrong time of the year and let the winter frost kill them off. The challenge, says a scientist, is finding the right stimulant to wake them up. Shaun Sharpe, a weed researcher with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in Saskatoon, may have […] Read more
Electrocuting weeds
U.K. companies set to introduce a chemical-free way to control weeds
As concerns over chemical usage and weed resistance increase, different technologies have been offered as alternatives to weed control. Recently, two U.K.-based companies have teamed up to produce a system that uses electricity to kill weeds. “The principle of electric weeding has been around since the late 1800s,” says Jonathan Henry, managing director at Garford […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
