Conditions are right for a western bean cutworm year in Ontario corn and it’s time to scout — but likely not yet to spray. Western bean cutworm (WBC) is now the most economically damaging pest in Ontario corn. It feeds on the tassel and ears of corn and doesn’t particularly affect yield, but the feeding […] Read more
Ontario’s winter wheat crop is living up to its great expectations after a warm winter and lots of spring rain got it off to a great start. Farmers have been harvesting the crop for two weeks in the southwest of the province, but are just getting going in other areas. “I think the wheat’s looking […] Read more
During a recent canola growers’ day at Arthur, Ont., Dan Orchard, an agronomist with the Canola Council of Canada, brought his years of experience managing clubroot in Alberta to Ontario growers. Canola fields affected by clubroot were first found last year in Ontario. With some diligence, Orchard said, the problem should be able to be […] Read more
UPDATED, July 21, 2017 — There appear to be few dicamba drift problems in Ontario, unlike in other soybean-growing areas in the U.S. The provincial environment and climate change ministry, the body to which spray drift problems are reported in the province, has heard of some anecdotal cases this year, but nothing significant, according to […] Read more
The law of supply and demand may usually prevail, but it’s having a bit of trouble working in the Canadian sheep industry. “The No. 1 challenge we face is a shortage of supply,” said Miles Kliner, general manager of Sungold Specialty Meats in Innisfail. “That has been going on for 15 to 16 years. We […] Read more
If you choose an aerial applicator to apply your fungicide, be aware of timing and water volume
Dr. Tom Wolf, researcher and owner of Agrimetrix Research and Training, says aerial applicators are “tremendously important.” “They apply spray under conditions that a ground rig can’t — for example, with soil moisture. They cover much more area than a ground rig ever can so they can be more timely. ”Jill Lane, executive director of […] Read more
Improve your productivity by starting where water leaves your farm, and then work backwards
In the chase for higher yields and improved production, farmers have tapped into everything from precision ag systems to a return to cover crops. Now comes a concept that might not only boost yields and enhance soil health, it might also alleviate some of the pressure on farmers that starts with surface run-off heading into […] Read more
Two natural predators can help with wheat midge problems if you foster their populations
Wheat midge, a non-native pest that feeds on developing wheat kernels, is a serious economic threat to farmers, especially in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. But the pest is now a growing problem in Alberta, including Peace River country, and starting to attack Montana’s wheat crops. However, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researchers know ways to reduce its […] Read more
By targeting their strengths, these two technologies can complement each other
For “eye-in-the-sky” technology, the last three years have seen some stunning advances, especially in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and satellite imaging systems. Yet while both made headlines about the same time in 2011, both also had limited success on the farm, as is often the case when new technologies first get into […] Read more
Can I do anything to get rid of vetch before seeding soybeans?
In my last column, I discussed my optimism for vetch control in soybeans using a few different pre-plant burn-down herbicides. Specifically, I had been impressed by some preliminary results when either flumioxazin (found in Valtera, Step-Up, Fierce and Guardian Plus) or saflufenacil (found in Eragon, Integrity and Optill) was mixed with glyphosate and the adjuvant Merge. […] Read more
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