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?
Getting the facts on pesticide residues
Independent testing gives 15 watersheds a clean bill of health for pesticide concentrations
Reading Time: 5 minutes Alberta farm groups have done their homework to prove that farmers are good stewards of the province’s watersheds. Using an independent testing company and lab, the project extensively sampled 15 watersheds in central and southern Alberta for a panel of 129 pesticides. No instances of pesticide residues above prescribed limits were found. Team Alberta Crops, […] Read more
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
Corteva to exit some markets, cut jobs in cost-saving push
Canada remains among company's 'core' markets
Reuters — Seeds and pesticides company Corteva on Tuesday announced plans to exit about 35 countries and lay off roughly five per cent of its global workforce as part of the company’s cost-cutting plans. A surge in inflation this year to four-decade highs has forced Corporate America to slash planned spending and roll out measures […] Read more
Oat growers warned on chlorpyrifos
Reading Time: < 1 minute A U.S. ban on the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos on food crops has prompted a warning from the Canadian division of Grain Millers, which processes about one-quarter of the oats grown in North America. The ruling by the Environmental Protection Agency means oats treated with the pesticide, commonly known by the trade name Lorsban, […] Read more
Scout your fields to keep on top of this year’s pest insects
Drought followed by moisture has created unique pest situations in many parts of the province
Reading Time: 4 minutes If there’s one message to keep in mind this growing season, it’s to scout fields for pests. Last year’s drought, followed by this year’s wet conditions, made for some interesting insect problems on the Prairies. Cabbage seedpod weevils are active again, said Keith Gabert, an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada who covers […] 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
Dispose of old livestock medications safely
Reading Time: < 1 minute During the week of Oct. 25-29, producers can dispose of obsolete livestock, equine and poultry medications safely and securely at 20 locations in the southern half of Alberta. However, the drop-off at each location is for one day only (from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) so producers should check the map at the ‘Unwanted agricultural […] Read more
Next-gen DNA sequencing aims to find the best beneficial bugs
U of A researchers using advanced tech to find what’s on the menu of your insect allies
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s like a scene out of the movie “Jaws.” The intrepid scientist reaches his hand into the gut of a shark and pulls out what it had for dinner — a different fish or maybe, in the case of sharks, a tin can. He knows, just by examining those contents, what this predator likes to […] Read more
Quebec to reduce onus for farm workers seeking workers’ comp for Parkinson’s
Amended rule would grant 'presumption' for pesticide exposure
Some Quebec farmers and farm workers with Parkinson’s disease may soon have an easier path to seek workers’ compensation — if they can show at least a certain amount of exposure to pesticides. Provincial Labour Minister Jean Boulet on Tuesday tabled an amendment to bill 59, draft legislation that includes updates to Quebec’s workplace health […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
