Reading Time: < 1 minute Farmers are being asked to share their strategies on how to manage weed, insect and disease resistance. The contest offers prizes (iPads and Tim Hortons gift cards) for winning entries. “The Pest Management Challenge is an opportunity to get people talking and to encourage the adoption of resistance management best practices,” said Jennifer Hubert, an […] Read more
How do you manage resistant pests?
U.S. trade commission sues pesticide makers, alleging price scheme
Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Thursday sued two top pesticide manufacturers for allegedly entering into exclusive contracts with distributors that kept prices paid by farmers artificially high. The consumer watchdog agency was motivated to bring the case in part because rising costs and supply chain disruptions from Russia’s invasion of […] Read more
Weather swing prompts questions on spray water quality
Many areas have seen significant changes in water quality, which can affect the impact of herbicides
Reading Time: 2 minutes You may think you know what to expect when drawing water for the sprayer. That assumption may come at a cost, says expert Tom Wolf of Agrimetrix Research and Training. Swings in weather, from drought last year to wet this year, can affect water quality, said the author of the popular blog, Sprayers 101. “Things […] Read more
STICKER SHOCK: Plant 2022 has been unlike any other, say farmers
The sky-high prices are bad enough, but availability issues are also upping the stress levels for many
Reading Time: 4 minutes They’re calling it the most expensive crop that Alberta farmers have ever planted. But the skyrocketing price of fertilizer, fuel, herbicides and other inputs isn’t the only worry. Lately it’s often been about getting your hands on products you’ve paid an arm and a leg for. Clint Jacula thought he had the bases covered. He […] Read more
Get the lowdown on kochia control
Reading Time: < 1 minute Manage Resistance Now has put out a new fact sheet on dealing with herbicide-resistant kochia. “Herbicide-resistant kochia is one of the largest weed threats to crop production in Western Canada,” the organization, created by CropLife Canada, notes in the online resource (available in the Weeds section of manageresistancenow.ca. A combination of control methods is needed, […] Read more
Dealing with herbicide shortages
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley along with their Prairie counterparts have put out a five-page guide titled “Strategies for managing herbicide shortages.” (link below) It covers management practices (such as higher seeding rates and spraying when weeds are small) but also tank mixes. While going below product rates on the label is not recommended, there […] Read more
Two crop protection products added to advisory list
Reading Time: < 1 minute Keep it Clean has released its 2022 product advisory on potential market risks associated with specific crop protection products when used on some crops. Farmers are urged to review the list and its warnings. “We also recommend growers always consult with their grain buyers before applying any products on the product advisory to keep their […] Read more
Water quality can make a difference on herbicide efficacy
Glyphosate in particular is prone to being tied up by hard water, which may be more common this year
Reading Time: 4 minutes Water quality can change after a drought — and that can affect the efficacy of your herbicides. “It’s well known that there are certain things in water — chemicals, salts, metal cations — that can antagonize the spray,” said well-known spray expert Tom Wolf. “With much lower water levels, it’s conceivable that those antagonists will […] Read more
Be prepared for all sorts of supply shortages this spring
There’s a long list of ag products in short supply as the busy spring season begins to ramp up
Reading Time: 5 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – This isn’t going to be one of those springs where you can stroll into your local ag retailer and then walk out with everything you need. The list of products facing supply issues is long, and growing longer — herbicides, fertilizer, parts, certain feeds and even ear tags. “Our message is simple: […] Read more
A world without Roundup is a ‘real threat’
But reduced use is an option and can thwart both proposed bans and resistance
Reading Time: 6 minutes Glyphosate changed farming across the globe — but if farmers don’t want to lose the ‘chemical of the century’ entirely, they’d better use it less often. That’s the view of a seed grower from New Zealand who made farming without glyphosate the focus of his Nuffield research. It’s hard to overstate the impact of this […] Read more
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