The longest day of the year has come and gone and we are heading into the thick of summer crop-growing weather. With the heat (and in some cases downpours!) come the agronomy questions and Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson is ready to answer whatever it is you can throw at him. In this week's Wheat Pete's... Read More
Category: Crop Production
Bourgault has unveiled its 9000 series air seeder units, and early in-field use from this spring resulted in positive purchaser feedback. There are five new 9000 series models says Robert Fagnou, marketing specialist with Bourgault Industries: the 9650, 9950, and the 91300 Trailing models, as well as the 9650 and 9950 Leading models. The main... Read More
After the primary macronutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, come secondary macronutrients, sulphur, calcium, and magnesium. These secondary nutrients are needed in lower quantities, but just because sulphur is qualified as a secondary macronutrient does not mean it's not as important as those primaries. Sulphur deficiency can be diagnosed in wheat and corn for example, by... Read More
The amalgamated Cereals Canada, formed through the merger of Cereals Canada and the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi), has announced its first board of directors, as well as executive and governance committees. Todd Hames, who represents the Alberta Wheat Commission and farms near Lloydminster, Alta., will sit as chair. The board also includes: Jean-Marc Ruest,... Read More
Hops might possibly be the most intensive crop you could grow in Canada, and aren't for the faint of heart. Growing hops commercially has gotten a lot of attention in the last five years on the Prairies with the influx of craft breweries. Previously, hops were mainly grown in Ontario and British Columbia, and, in... Read More
It's time for RealAg LIVE! Q&A with resident agronomist, Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson. The regular host of Wheat Pete's Word is fielding questions from Western Canada, Ontario, and more in this quick discussion (summary is below) on nitrogen testing and rates, armyworm and predators, and tillage. Tune in Wednesday, June 24, LIVE! at 3 pm... Read More
Not all grasshoppers are pests, though few farmers would likely say they enjoy seeing them when they walk a field. Grasshoppers can, and do cause significant economic damage to crops in high population years, sometimes wiping out entire fields, but these insects also play a large role in the insect world as food. Dr. John... Read More
Pulse crops are efficient water users. Field pea, lentil and chickpea are all great at adapting to drought-like conditions, which makes them a great option in just about every soil zone of the Prairies. However, being well adapted for drought means that most pulse crops do not like wet conditions, which isn't really something farmers... Read More
The ratification of the United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA) has brought about trade changes for several industries — including agriculture. What's been less clear in the lead up to implementation on July 1 is the full impact of what some of the changes will mean on a day-to-day basis at the production and sale level. Many... Read More
It's time again to get into the best crop — wonderful wheat, as Wheat Pete would say! Kara Oosterhuis was delighted to be back in the field (not in front of the computer screen) with Jeremy Boychyn, agronomy research extension specialist with the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions on this episode of the Wheat School.... Read More