CNS Canada –– Officials in North Dakota continue to hunt down suspicious plants in a bid to keep the aggressive weed Palmer amaranth from establishing there. Palmer amaranth, a pigweed species, made its first confirmed appearance in North Dakota last month, in a soybean field in McIntosh County, in the south-central area of the state. […] Read more
North Dakota still on lookout for Palmer amaranth
There’s lots of seed choices — and approaches to picking them
Some farmers consult, some decide on their own, and others react to what just happened
Reading Time: 4 minutes Are you happy with the seed varieties you chose this year? More importantly, is your approach to picking varieties working for you? Seed selection tends to be a very linear game. Seed companies typically contact seed growers with new varieties that may perform well and appeal to their customers. From there, the seed growers will […] Read more
Going beyond grass: The case for forage legumes
Alberta producers offer the wisdom of their experience — and their gains — from high legume pastures
Reading Time: 2 minutes If you’re fearful that seeding pasture with legumes will be a waste of time and money, several Alberta producers have some tips for you. A new video from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry features producers offering their advice — some of it hard earned — on topics such as seedbed preparation, nutrients, and weed control. Having […] Read more
Richardson buying two Alberta crop input retailers
Two independent crop input retailers in northeastern Alberta will become part of Richardson Pioneer’s ag retail chain starting Friday. Richardson on Monday announced it will buy Webb’s Crop Services Ltd. at Vermilion and Agro Guys Inc. at Forestburg, about 165 km southwest of Vermilion, for undisclosed sums. Both deals are expected to close Thursday, with […] Read more
Hogs seen as key factor in input cost hikes
CNS Canada — Canada’s Farm Input Price Index has climbed slightly for the first quarter of this year. Canada-wide, the index rose 1.3 per cent for the first quarter of this year compared to the final quarter of 2016. When comparing this year’s first quarter to last year’s first quarter, however, input prices in the […] Read more
Seed will be available for late planting, say marketers
But popular varieties will be in short supply, and germination and fusarium are going to be key issues
Reading Time: 3 minutes Nearly a million acres of unharvested crops to deal with means late seeding will be common this year. But will there be enough seed to meet the demand? Yes, say marketing reps, but farmers need to act quickly and keep their expectations realistic. “This spring, more than ever, timing is going to be of the […] Read more
Another hangover from last year’s dismal weather
Pea leaf weevil have been spreading north and last summer’s wet conditions will give them a boost this year
Reading Time: 3 minutes Research shows that treating pea seed with a systemic insecticide product is the most effective control measure to prevent pea leaf weevil damage. Legume crops such as field peas and fababeans produce most of the nitrogen they need, but pea leaf weevils “greatly compromise” that process, said provincial crop specialist Neil Whatley. The pest showed […] Read more
Don’t delay if you haven’t lined up seed
All that rain last year has elevated fusarium levels and lowered germination rates
Reading Time: 3 minutes The quality of cereal seed in Alberta is down — and disease pressure is up — across almost all classes, say players at the front lines of the upcoming growing season’s seed outlook. “Disease levels are a little higher this year and that’s having an adverse effect on quality,” said Trevor Nysetvold of BioVision, a […] Read more
Tough farm conditions right time for merger, Agrium CEO says
Reuters — Plunging crop and fertilizer prices may not have hit rock bottom yet, and the market’s weakness makes it the right time to merge leading farm input suppliers, the CEO of Agrium said on Tuesday, making his pitch to skeptical investors for a US$26 billion union with PotashCorp. “Are we at the bottom yet? […] Read more
Is it better to save seed or buy certified seed?
Reading Time: < 1 minute The recently released Overview of Certified Seed and Farmer Saved Seed study can help wheat producers choose the type of seed to plant. The report compares the costs of saving and cleaning seed to purchasing certified seed. “Based on the data, the results show that in only two out of the 10 years covered by the […] Read more