Reading Time: 2 minutes Algiers | Reuters — Algeria plans to offer foreign investors concessions for farm land for the first time, according to an official document, as the oil producer seeks to boost food output and reduce reliance on imports. Under the plan, which is expected to be discussed by the cabinet this week before being submitted to […] Read more
Algeria to open farming concessions to foreigners
Out-competed
Again, the Australians are showing us how we’d market our crops if we had our act together
Reading Time: 7 minutes Is the Canadian grains sector being out-marketed globally? This is a question that has nagged me since February 16, the date the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre released new information brochures for Australian wheat, barley, oats, canola and pulses. “These publications are aimed at international purchasers of Australian grain,” the association (AEGIC) said in its […] Read more
Pest Patrol: Tackling prostrate knotweed on today’s farms
#PestPatrol with Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA
Reading Time: 2 minutes Q: How do I get rid of prostrate knotweed in each of my major crops? A: In Ontario, prostrate knotweed is more frequently found in Huron County and on Brookston clay-loam soils under no-till or minimum-till production systems (Frick, 1990). It can thrive in compacted soils where other plants will struggle to grow well. Below […] Read more
More than a rotation crop for feed
Demand is increasing for this officially ‘heart healthy’ crop, but growers need to pay attention to quality
Reading Time: 5 minutes New varieties that consistently yield 120 to 140 bushels per acre. Increasing demand, with buyers paying a premium. Competitive against weeds, with good resistance to fusarium. That hardly describes a feed crop you seed last because you need it in rotation. Demand for milling oats is on the rise and processors have announced expansion. Some […] Read more
Growing quality oats
Recommendations for oat agronomy from the new POGA Oat Growers Manual and research across Western Canada
Reading Time: 6 minutes Soil and rotation Oats grow best in black and grey wooded soil zones that have higher moisture, but can grow on sandy loam to heavy clay soils as long as they have good drainage. To reduce disease pressure and optimize yields, oats should not be grown after cereals. The best rotational crops include canola, hay, […] Read more
The Catch-22 of oat production
Tests in central Alberta yield some useful information on N rates and the effectiveness of plant growth regulators
Reading Time: 4 minutes Linda Hall has a soft spot for the humble oat, mainly because she doesn’t think it’s really all that humble. “Milling oats are a high-value crop,” Hall says. “We’re seeing companies like Richardson buying up oat milling capacity, so the markets are there if we can grow the right kind of oat.” It all depends […] Read more
Get the facts before spending big money on micronutrients
Think you might have a micronutrient deficiency in your fields? Take these four steps before spending any money on micronutrient fertilizer, says Ross McKenzie, who became the province’s best-known fertilizer authority during his lengthy career with the province.
New cereal varieties for Eastern Canada
There’s only a handful of new varieties for planting this fall, but they’re worth a hard look
Reading Time: 2 minutes Increased winter wheat acres are good for Eastern Canada, not only because of crop diversity and longer rotations, but as a contributor to overall soil health. Despite the challenges of fall planting, farmers are clearly deciding there’s real value in maintaining wheat acres: the message is definitely getting through. Yet other, more immediate concerns are[...]
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Know how to identify these three seedling diseases
Seedling diseases can weaken cereals, leaving plants susceptible to other stresses, Brittney Kroeker told attendees at Bayer’s SeedGrowth Solutions Expo in Saskatoon this spring. Kroeker went through some of the top seedling diseases in cereals. Here are her tips for identifying three seedling disease in cereals.
VIDEO: Underground undies measuring the health of soil
Reading Time: < 1 minute Are you bold enough to soil your undies? The Soil Conservation Council of Canada (SCCC) is and it recently kicked off National Soil Conservation Week by burying several pairs of men’s cotton underwear up to the waistband. After 60 days in six inches of soil, what will it all mean? A healthy soil will show that the[...]
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A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
