Reading Time: 2 minutes More people are interested in a career in agriculture these days and horticulture offers many opportunities, says a commercial horticulture specialist. “Increased interest in local production as well as the desire to know where and how food is grown means more people are looking to get into agriculture and primary production,” said Dustin Morton. Horticulture […] Read more
Opportunities abound in horticulture, says provincial specialist
The financial startup costs are typically lower and a host of information resources is available
A bad year for crops has been a good one for weeds
Dry conditions have allowed weeds — including herbicide-resistant ones — to thrive in many fields
Reading Time: 3 minutes Although dry conditions made weed control a challenge during the 2015 growing season, late-summer moisture and an early harvest may give farmers a decent chance to control perennial weeds. “I’ve heard it said that 80 to 90 per cent of successful weed elimination comes from a competitive crop,” said Matt Gosling, an agronomist in the […] Read more
Check your numbers. Is it worth spending money on a foliar fertilizer?
Producers probably won’t see a good return on foliar fertilizers and hype around micronutrients is mostly ‘marketing’
Reading Time: 2 minutes In a dry year like this one, investing in foliar fertilizer probably won’t pay off. “Conditions at the time of spraying are the trump card,” said agronomist Jack Payne at canolaPALOOZA in late June. “Herbicides are also absorbed through the foliage, but if the plant’s not actively growing — if it’s shutting down because of […] Read more
Ready to pull the trigger? Some thoughts on seeding early
A head start is tempting, but frost dates and saprophytic organisms may curb your enthusiasm
Reading Time: 3 minutes To seed early or not to seed early; that is the question. “If you have an early spring, there is that tendency to want to go early,” said Doon Pauly, agronomy research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development in Lethbridge. “I’m fully expecting that we will be in the field by the middle of […] Read more
Fungicide application offers best bang for your buck — in the right conditions
Expert says fungicides paid off big for wheat in wet conditions, but plant growth regulators and extra nitrogen weren’t worth the cost
Reading Time: 3 minutes You know the old saying: In order to make money, you’ve got to spend money. But spend it wisely, says an Alberta Agriculture research scientist. “There’s a lot of different agronomic practices out there that you can spend money on — but which ones are going to make you money?” Sheri Strydhorst asked attendees at […] Read more
Barley research updates now online
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Barley has posted up-to-date research project summaries on its website. The project summaries, written by researchers, detail the project’s timeline, project partners, total funding, and a description of its benefit to farmers. Updates on AgriInnovation Program projects are also on the website. The 27 projects, funded under the $11-million National Barley Research Cluster and […] Read more
Funding for research projects
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) and its partners in the Agriculture Funding Consortium are investing $1.5 million in 10 agronomic and breeding/genetic research projects. Five are focused on genetics, four on agronomic management, and one on both agronomy and genetics. “Research is a top priority for the commission with 40 per cent of AWC producer […] Read more
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