Reading Time: 4 minutes This summer’s dry growing conditions in Alberta have at least one silver lining — lower levels of disease in fields. “In those areas that have had very little rainfall this summer, you’re probably looking at limited development of diseases,” federal research scientist Kelly Turkington said in a July 6 interview. “Of more concern would simply […] Read more
Only upside to drought? Less spraying and less risk of crop diseases
But diseases like stripe rust, tan spot, or sclerotinia could be an issue if there’s been decent moisture
VIDEO: When to spray canola with a sclerotinia fungicide
Crop Diagnostic School: Wet pantlegs when walking through the field is a good indicator of timing your fungicide
Reading Time: < 1 minute Assessing your canola crop during the flowering stage is essential to discover if sclerotinia is present and if a fungicide can be of benefit. In this video from the 2015 Crop Diagnostic School, Anastasia Kubinec of Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (MAFRD), talks about the risk factors for the fungal disease and offers tips for canola […] Read more
Deciding if you should spray canola for blackleg
Longer canola rotations and switching varieties can reduce the need and cost of a fungicide
Reading Time: 2 minutes The best time to spray canola with a fungicide to control blackleg is at the two- to four-leaf stage, but there are things farmers can do to avoid having to spray at all. “Blackleg becomes a greater risk when you have seen blackleg in your field in the past and you’ve seen yield loss,” said […] Read more
Are you ‘always wrong’ at camp sclerotinia?
Your decision to spray essentially comes down to one simple equation
Reading Time: 6 minutes Ah, all the joys of summer camp… first loves, campfires and archery supremacy. And don’t forget wood ticks, swimmer’s itch and the stench of a cabin on weiners and beans night. In fact, it probably isn’t too big a stretch to say that the way we remember summer camp is probably as diverse as the […] Read more
Pest Patrol: Why are stink bugs in Ontario?
Stink bug damage found on two apple farms near Hamilton and Waterdown
Reading Time: 2 minutes Question: A couple of years ago there was a lot of talk about a new invasive insect, some sort of stink bug. I was told that it could take a few years before this insect reached populations that would negatively affect crops. What are populations of this insect doing in Ontario? For our answer, I […] Read more
Drift versus volatility when spraying your crop
Spraying on a quiet, still morning is the best way to cut your drift risk, right? (Answer: No!)
Reading Time: 7 minutes Just when farming already seemed complicated enough, here are more misconceptions that science is disproving. Except this time, the new findings will help more growers get more value from their crop protection dollar. The best part is, you’re probably one of those growers too. Drift — Physical Trying to paint drift as worse than volatility, […] Read more
Pest Patrol: Improving spray coverage and reducing drift
Working 9 to 5: What a way to kill those weeds!
Reading Time: 3 minutes Competitive broadleaf weeds, specifically lamb’s quarters and velvetleaf, are easier to kill when herbicides are applied during the day, generally between the hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Most will joke that this is simply because civil servants like me do not want to work before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. Touché. However, […] Read more
Fungicide question on wheat is settled
For these farmers, it’s every acre, every year… but always at the right crop stage
Reading Time: 8 minutes Kristjan Hebert knows exactly what his target is when he is spraying fungicide on his wheat. “One hundred per cent,” says the Moosomin, Sask.-area grain grower, who farms with his father. “Our goal is to get it all covered at the heading stage.” That’s a far cry from just a few years ago, when the […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
