Reading Time: 2 minutes Two years ago in the September edition of Country Guide, we ran a sidebar about a “complete systems” approach to production agriculture, including the depiction of a “production wheel.” The image comes from Don Lobb, an advocate for improving soil health and tile drainage. He created the guideline in a circular or wheel configuration, and […] Read more
The crop production wheel
Pest Patrol: Using the ‘Pest Manager’ app
Weeds and weed management information in the palm of your hand
Reading Time: 2 minutes We have good pest management information and research. The challenge can be to get that information to the farmers who need it. Earlier this summer, a smartphone app was launched called Pest Manager. Currently, only information on weeds and weed management is included, so I tell farmers it’s what you would get if a weed […] Read more
PHOTOS: Pest Patrol: Giant hogweed, and its look-alike that’s far more friendly
A farmer asks, “I’m worried about giant hogweed because I hear it causes severe dermatitis and blindness. How do I identify it?”
Reading Time: < 1 minute When plant parts of giant hogweed are torn open, the plant exudes a sap that contains light-activated chemicals known as furanocoumarins. When these compounds come in contact with the skin, they cause burn-like rashes and/or blisters, the severity of which will depend on how much sap you are exposed to. There is one very common […] Read more
The neonic debate on the future of bees gets real
With tough new regulations on the books, even some beekeepers are calling for compromise
Reading Time: 8 minutes Two months have passed and it seems the adage, “time heals all wounds” just doesn’t hold up. Instead, we’re further into the debate on neonicotinoid seed treatments, but farmers seem no closer to a solution. They may even be a step backwards. There is still no compromise with the beekeeping sector, or with provincial politicians […] 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
Making the case in the neonic debate
Can agriculture afford to lose to the non-science of neonic opponents? The costs would be even higher than you probably think
Reading Time: 13 minutes Here in early 2015, it’s becoming a recognized pattern in agriculture: another day, another article, another proclamation and another call for action, all revolving around farmers’ use of neonicotinoid seed treatments and the alleged damage this does to bees and bee colonies. To say there is an abundance of information on this topic is one […] Read more
Another European (farm equipment) invasion
Here’s a narrow-row drill that might be in your future, if you’ve got the horsepower to pull it
Reading Time: 5 minutes In 2014, all eyes seemed to be on high-speed planting, with John Deere launching its new entry early in the year, joining the ranks of European manufacturers Amazone, Horsch and Vaderstad. Horsch was the latest to join the ranks with a high-speed corn planter in 2013 while Amazone and Vaderstad have been mainstays for several […] Read more
Disease risk for soybeans high
Soybean Guide: With so many rotations thrown out of sync, extra disease vigilance is essential for 2015
Reading Time: 8 minutes There’s only one word to describe the outlook for soybeans in 2015. It’s “more.” With a reasonable spring, Eastern Canada’s soybean crop may hit an amazing 3.25 million acres. But acreage isn’t the only number that may be up. We’re also likely to see more fields with second-year and some with third-year soybeans. Then, if […] Read more
Seed inoculation gains ground
Soybean Guide: OMAFRA’s Horst Bohner now recommends always inoculating. “There are some real benefits.”
Reading Time: 6 minutes In the world of agriculture, there are very few constants. Most practices and standards last only until new research shifts our thought processes, or until a new challenge or a new opportunity changes the landscape. There are plenty of recent examples. Within the past decade, the hard-and-fast rule of always planting corn first has changed; […] 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
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
