Reading Time: < 1 minute 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
U.S. trade commission sues pesticide makers, alleging price scheme
The impact of delayed post-emergence herbicide in corn
#CropPatrol: Corn seen to be very sensitive to weed interference
Reading Time: 2 minutes Ontario farmers grow most of the corn produced in Canada, with 2.2 million acres produced in 2020, a value of more than $2 billion. However, the crop is sensitive to early weed interference. The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) reported an average corn yield loss of 50 per cent if weeds are left uncontrolled. […] Read more
Corteva to exit some markets, cut jobs in cost-saving push
Canada remains among company's 'core' markets
Reading Time: < 1 minute 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
Pest Patrol: Dog-strangling vine control with herbicides
#PestPatrol with Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA
Reading Time: 3 minutes An invasive perennial weed from the milkweed family, dog-strangling vine is extremely difficult to con-trol once it gets established (Figure 1). Progress has been made on biological con-trol of this weed in Ontario through the release of Hypena opulenta, a leaf-feeding caterpillar. However, integrated strategies that include both biological and chemical methods are often most effective […] Read more
Collaboration not competition
Large firms from different parts of the ag sector are working together to improve herbicide efficiency
Reading Time: 4 minutes Could agriculture be approaching a crossroads where biotechnology and chemistry can’t do the same jobs they’ve done in the past 20 years? Are resistant weed biotypes beginning to challenge chemicals to the extent that different approaches are needed? The answers are either “yes” or “probably,” further complicated by volatile prices and supply chain disruptions for […] Read more
Wild oat a growing resistance challenge
Keep an eye on your fields this summer and be ready to tackle the problem when you see it
Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – If you rely solely on crop protection products to fend off wild oats, you’re not going to like the eventual bottom line. Herbicide-resistant strains of the weed are going to mean you’ll eventually run out of luck. It’s not a new problem, but every year it gets just a little bit more […] Read more
U.S. Supreme Court again nixes Bayer challenge to weedkiller suits
Reading Time: 3 minutes Washington | Reuters – The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected another Bayer AG BAYGn.DE bid to dismiss litigation alleging that its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer as the German pharmaceutical and chemical giant tries to avoid potentially billions of dollars in damages. The justices turned away a Bayer appeal and left in place a lower […] Read more
Pest Patrol: The importance of doing a ‘jar test’ with your herbicides
#PestPatrol with Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA
Reading Time: 4 minutes Each year I get more questions about mixing the liquid fertilizer, ammonium thiosulphate (ATS), with herbicides. With reductions in atmospheric sulphur deposits, Ontario research has shown positive yield responses in some crops when sulphur fertilizers are applied, so it makes sense that farmers are looking at ways to add sulphur to their crop in an […] Read more
Lack of choice in herbicide options
There may be dozens of brands, but when it comes to choosing herbicide groups to avoid resistance, your options are limited
Reading Time: 5 minutes Given the possibility of supply shortages of agricultural inputs, including herbicides, I’ve spent more time this winter than most looking into which herbicides have the best fit for my farm. I would much rather purchase now than scramble in the spring, seeking herbicides unavailable or in short supply. Early planning has also prompted me to […] Read more
Pest Patrol: Best practices for weed control in identity-preserved “IP” soybean – Part 1
#PestPatrol with Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA
Reading Time: 2 minutes his three-part series will examine best practices and common weed management questions asked by farmers producing food-grade, non-GMO soybeans. Best practice #1: Budget for two herbicide passes, and hope you only need one The past decade of research trials has shown that “one-pass” post-emergence herbicide programs have resulted in poorer weed control (by 12 per […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
