Reading Time: 2 minutes You’ve been busting your butt during harvest and you’ve scouted your field many times during the growing season. But if you’re direct seeding, it’s worth scouting just one more time for winter weeds after you harvest. “It depends on what kind of production system a producer has,” said Mark Cutts, crop specialist with Alberta Agriculture’s […] Read more
Controlling winter weeds now will pay off later
It’s cheaper to control winter weeds in the fall, and they won’t compete with your spring crop
Working with producers top priority for irrigation research chair
Willemijn Appels wants to focus on research projects ‘that will really benefit local producers'
Reading Time: 2 minutes Calling all Alberta irrigators — Lethbridge College’s new irrigation science chair wants to know about your experiences and challenges with agricultural water management. In March, Willemijn Appels took up her new posting, which was created with a $3.1-million gift from the estate of Lloyd and Dorothy Mueller two years ago. “My job over the last […] Read more
Irrigation not forgotten in Bow River flood mitigation agreement
Keeping water levels lower behind the Ghost Dam provides capacity for capturing flood waters, but can mean less water is available later on
Reading Time: 2 minutes While irrigation districts are thankful that drought was considered in a recent flood mitigation agreement between the province and TransAlta, there is concern that more might be needed in order to ensure adequate water is available during dry spells. The five-year agreement will see TransAlta paid $5.5 million annually for keeping water levels at the […] Read more
Want to know how you stack up?
The latest edition of AgriProfit$ offers performance benchmarks for both crops and livestock
Reading Time: 2 minutes The latest version of AgriProfit$ crop and forages benchmarks is now available. “These averages are calculated from the individual producer’s data collected for the 2015 growing season through the AgriProfit$ program,” said crops economist Rawlin Thangaraj. This benchmark gives a good handle on the producers’ actual costs, revenues, and margins by soil zones for different […] Read more
Root rot rears its ugly head — and there’s no treatment
Peas are the biggest concern and even when fields look OK, root rot can still be there
Reading Time: 3 minutes Pulse acres have increased in Alberta this year, but unfortunately root rot has increased as well. “We’re hearing and seeing evidence of pretty extreme root rot in pulses, especially peas,” said Mike Harding, research scientist and plant pathologist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “It doesn’t look like it’s going to be a great year for […] Read more
Thin canola stands are sometimes the more economical choice
Under the right conditions, a thin plant stand may actually outperform a thicker one
Reading Time: 3 minutes Prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to a thin plant stand in your canola crop — because there really is no cure once the plants have emerged. “There’s a number of different things you can do to prevent a thin plant stand, but as far as a rescue, there’s nothing that’s […] Read more
Costly corn planter gives ultra-consistent canola stands
Craig Shaw loved the results, and lower seed cost, but the pricey equipment is a major barrier
Reading Time: 4 minutes It’s one of those farming Catch 22s. On the one hand, the high cost of canola seed makes it tempting to minimize one’s seeding rate — on the other hand, a strong and consistent canola stand is key to good returns. In the American Corn Belt, producers have found a solution by repurposing their corn […] Read more
Be skeptical about claims about ‘miracle’ fertilizers
Fertilizers no longer have to be proven effective in order to be registered
Reading Time: 2 minutes Producers should be wary of unproven claims about fertilizer performance, says a provincial crop specialist. “In agriculture, there’s no shortage of products that guarantee tremendous response for relatively low cost,” said Harry Brook. “Often, these products overpromise and underdeliver. A few years ago, the federal government changed requirements for fertilizer registration so that they only […] Read more
Pair of organic field days on offer
Reading Time: < 1 minute Organic Alberta and the Prairie Organic Grain Initiative will be hosting two field days on organic grain and field crop production. On July 11, there will be a tour of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge Research Station and Leffer’s Organic Farm. Federal researchers will talk about weed biocontrol, integrated pest management, soil health, and nutrient management. […] Read more
Think big — as in ‘52 bushels of canola per acre’ big
Is a 50 per cent jump in canola yields by 2025 possible? The Canola Council of Canada says, ‘You bet’
Reading Time: 3 minutes Stay slow and steady, fertilize appropriately, and cut down on your harvest losses. These and other strategies can increase your canola yields, and help the Canola Council of Canada achieve its ambitious target of an average of 52 bushels per acre by 2025. “It’s not an easy target,” said Clint Jurke, the canola council’s agronomy […] Read more
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