Reading Time: 2 minutes Kochia is spreading through Alberta faster and further than ever expected. But how can farmers best manage the invasive weed?
Kochia spreading unexpectedly in Alberta
The invasive weed is now being spotted further north than ever before
Controlling herbicide-resistant kochia requires some different strategies
While tillage in general can harm soil health, a strategic targeted approach can help bury the seed
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s time for a new mode of action for kochia control, but not one found in a jug of chemical. “We’ve had several years in a row of favourable conditions for kochia growth. That also can contribute to selection pressure for resistance, when herbicides are some of the primary measures that we’re using to manage […] Read more
Wild oat a growing resistance challenge that can’t be ignored
Keep an eye on your fields this summer and be ready to tackle the problem when you see it
Reading Time: 2 minutes If you rely solely on crop protection products to fend off wild oats, you’re not going to like the eventual bottom line. Herbicide-resistant strains of the weed are going to mean you’ll eventually run out of luck. It’s not a new problem, but every year it gets just a little bit more concerning. “Resistance is […] Read more
Group fighting resistant wild oat has new resources for producers
The threat is already serious and poised to get much worse without concerted management efforts
Reading Time: 2 minutes When it comes to herbicide-resistant wild oat, the odds favour the bad guy. “The last herbicide-resistance survey (Beckie et al. 2020) indicates that 69 per cent of wild oat fields have herbicide resistance,” Alberta Wheat agronomy research extension specialist Jeremy Boychyn noted in an article in May. “Additionally, 62 per cent of those fields are […] Read more
The clock is ticking on old-school ways of weed control
Resistance is rampant and producers need a more strategic approach, including herbicide layering
Reading Time: 3 minutes Time’s just about up. Crop growers won’t be able to spray their way out of problem weeds for much longer if herbicide resistance continues to spread, says one of the country’s top weed scientists. “We’re seeing multiple-herbicide resistance show up in a few different weed species on the Prairies,” said federal research scientist Charles Geddes. […] Read more
A 50/50 chance your kochia is glyphosate resistant
Triple-resistant kochia has also been found in Alberta and Saskatchewan
Reading Time: 3 minutes There’s an easy way to tell if you have glyphosate-resistant kochia in your field — flip a coin. “Half the fields that have kochia in them now have resistant populations,” said federal research scientist Charles Geddes. Five years ago, only five per cent of kochia populations in Alberta fields were resistant to glyphosate (the active […] Read more
‘Wake-up call’ needed for resistance
Provincial crop expert says it’s time to stop pretending it’s not ‘a huge issue’
Reading Time: 3 minutes Weed resistance has been an issue in crop production for many years, but is coming to the forefront as increasing numbers of weeds are no longer responding to herbicides. “Most producers are aware of the issue, but unless it affects them directly, don’t see it as a huge issue,” said provincial crop specialist Harry Brook. […] Read more
Herbicide resistance is everywhere you look
This year it’s Alberta’s turn to be surveyed by Ag Canada — but researchers already know the news won’t be good
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you’ve found herbicide-tolerant weeds in your field, you’re not in the minority. Weed resistance is increasing worldwide, so it’s really important that Prairie growers understand growing herbicide tolerance, says one of the country’s top resistance experts. “Group 2 really overshadows all the other groups in terms of weed resistance,” said Hugh Beckie, a research […] Read more
Watch for herbicide-resistant weeds
There are 21 resistant weeds on the Prairies and 38 million acres have at least one of them
Reading Time: < 1 minute The first few weeks of the growing season is a great time to police fields for suspicious weeds. Look for weeds that survived pre-seed burn-off or post-emergent sprays while others of the same species have died. These few weeds could be resistant, and it would be good to nab them early. “It takes 14 to […] Read more
Herbicide-resistant weeds are just the symptom
Is resistance the problem, or is it farmers’ dependence on chemistry?
Reading Time: 3 minutes For decades, the experts have treated the growing problem of herbicide-resistant weeds as something solvable by the next new chemistry or biological breakthrough. But now more are stepping back and acknowledging it as a symptom of a much bigger issue in modern agriculture. In fact, one of the world’s leading experts in managing herbicide resistance […] Read more
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