Reading Time: 5 minutes Producers have been hearing about weed-targeting spot-spraying sensors for some time, but it’s always seemed to be the stuff of science fiction. In some cases, however, the future is now while in others it’s coming quickly — it all depends on the type of sensor tech you’re interested in. Well-known spraying expert Tom Wolf separates […] Read more
Ready for prime time? Spot-spraying tech advancing quickly
Spot spraying in crop has a ways to go, but pre-seed burn-off may soon be commonplace
Wet fall and late spring a recipe for increased weed risk
Pre-seed burn-off will depend on what’s popping up in your fields, so scout early, says weed scientist
Reading Time: 2 minutes You won’t hear weeds complaining about the weather — which adds up to another headache for producers. “Because we were so dry last spring, there were quite a few fields that didn’t get a pre-seed burn-off because there was nothing growing yet. I don’t think that’s going to be the same circumstance this year,” federal […] Read more
Herbicide injury guide now online
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Herbicide Action and Injury guide is now available online. The guide looks at pesticides, their modes of action and the identifying symptoms of each herbicide action on susceptible plants. It is useful for the initial diagnosis of plant injury and for further investigation into the causes of crop damage from herbicides, crop specialist Harry […] Read more
Glyphosate-resistant wild oats are in Australia, and that’s bad news here
Aussies usually see resistance first, with Canada close behind – and that means a ‘scary’ scenario for Prairie farmers
Reading Time: 5 minutes Glyphosate-resistant wild oats have been found in Australia and that should be a wake-up call to any farmer who thinks it couldn’t happen in Canada. “This is the first confirmed case of glyphosate-resistant wild oats in the world,” said federal research scientist Breanne Tidemann. “It’s something we’ve been concerned about but no one has ever […] Read more
Unusual growing season brings unusual pest pressures
Weather conditions have brought late weed flushes and repeat attacks on crops, says specialist
Reading Time: 2 minutes This year’s unusual weather is causing pests such as weeds, fungal diseases and insects to emerge at unexpected times, says a provincial crop specialist. A dry spring, a later arrival of rain, and a cooler-than-normal growing season all played a role, said Neil Whatley. “While some producers waited for rainfall prior to seeding, most planted […] Read more
In the weeds: Canadian farmers can’t stay ahead of herbicide resistance
The problem is huge, rapidly getting worse, and non-chemical weed control is becoming a necessity
Reading Time: 4 minutes Farmers won’t be able to spray their way out of this — Canada is now third in the world when it comes to weeds able to survive pesticides that used to kill them. “We’re quickly being overrun by herbicide-resistant weeds,” said federal research scientist Charles Geddes. “There have been difficult herbicide-resistant weeds in the past, […] Read more
An early warning on using pre-harvest herbicides
Trio of crop organizations warning farmers about herbicides that are ‘products of concern’
Reading Time: < 1 minute A trio of crop organizations are getting a jump on harvest and warning growers not to use glyphosate as a desiccant. “Glyphosate is registered for pre-harvest weed control — glyphosate is not a desiccant nor is it a tool to speed up crop drydown,” Pulse Canada market access manager Mac Ross said in a joint […] Read more
Expect a full blast of kochia this spring
The tumbleweed already has the south in its grip and two years of dry conditions have made it stronger
Reading Time: 4 minutes [UPDATED: Mar. 26, 2019] Alberta kochia populations have exploded following back-to-back years of dry growing conditions. “Kochia was one of the worst weed problems across the southern Prairies last year,” said federal research scientist Charles Geddes. “If we have another dry year this year, there will certainly be issues with kochia management.” The past two […] Read more
No ordinary herbicide — glyphosate keeps making headlines
The world’s most widely used herbicide will continue to be one of agriculture’s biggest newsmakers
Reading Time: 4 minutes Two things happened to glyphosate over the past 15 years — it got a lot more popular and a lot more unpopular at the same time. There’s no question that most farmers love it. Although the most recent estimates are a few years old, farm use of glyphosate soared in this century. A major European […] Read more
Don’t forget about residue limits before you harvest
Reading Time: < 1 minute If you’re still considering pre-harvest weed control or a desiccation product, don’t forget about maximum residue limits. “Producers need to ensure they adhere to the pre-harvest interval which is the time from applying a product until it is either swathed or combined,” said Nevin Rosaasen, policy and program specialist with Alberta Pulse. Detailed information on […] Read more
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