wheat stem sawfly

How farmers can help map, monitor and forecast pest outbreaks

Researchers can help producers develop pest management plans — but farmers’ help is needed to know which pests are where, and how many

Prairie scientists conducting research into field crop pests can always use more help from producers — whether it’s by granting access to farmland, or just by reporting what they see in the field.


kochia

New Group 14 tank mix partner may be on horizon

A Japanese firm’s new chemical isn’t like the other PPO inhibitors

Not yet registered in either Canada or the U.S., the Japanese active ingredient-in-waiting could be needed sooner than later, because many growers in Saskatchewan and Alberta are struggling with herbicide-resistant kochia.



alfalfa in flower

Grow forages, starve weeds

Forages disrupt weed routines and slow herbicide resistance — if you can use them

“Forages actually can be used to combat resistant weeds,” Kim Brown says. “A perennial forage stand will last for several years, but in a spring annual crop rotation, you’re dealing almost exclusively with annual crops most of the time.”

canola seedlings

Concerned over canola? Focus on agronomy

In a stressful market environment, best practices can reduce risk and drive profit

The best option for canola producers in the current market environment may be to apply agronomy practices that can improve profits for little to no added cost, the Canola Council of Canada says.


Reducing wild oat populations through rotations

Reducing wild oat populations through rotations

Science Brief: Combining harvest weed seed control with early-maturing crops may limit wild oat populations

Breanne Tidemann has led several research projects looking at whether harvest weed seed control can effectively control weeds. She’s found that combining harvest weed seed control with early-maturing crops may limit wild oat populations, and may lengthen the effectiveness of available herbicides. Harvest weed seed control, developed in Australia, uses equipment such as the Harrington […] Read more

kochia in saskatchewan

Kochia’s expanding herbicide resistance puts pressure on no-till systems 

Kochia populations in Saskatchewan and North Dakota are now resistant to group 14 herbicides, leaving fewer options for Prairie farmers

Based on preliminary data from a recent Prairie-wide kochia survey, AAFC’s Charles Geddes suspects Group 14-resistant kochia is now present in multiple fields in Saskatchewan and expects it could soon be confirmed in other regions as well.


a seed terminator unit attached to a combine

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.”

wild oats and green foxtail

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