Dozens of different beneficial species, including beetles, may be in your fields chowing down root maggots and other pests
It’s easy to forget about the beneficial insects in your crops when you are focused on eradicating pests of all kinds. “When you calculate the economic loss from your pest insect, add about 20 per cent to it, and think about the beneficials that are in there,” said Jim Bratch, an entomologist with Alberta AgricultureDon’t paint all insects with the same brush
Sucking instead of blowing to seed canola
A group of researchers is testing to see whether it’s better to suck than to blow when seeding canola. They’re experimenting with a vacuum planter, which works opposite to an air seeder — a vacuum pulls seeds into rotating plates which place the seed into the soil. The attraction is seed “singulation” — the ability
Know your plants: Understanding how grasses grow is key to maximizing pasture production
Grazing expert says producers need to gauge “range readiness” and carefully monitor the amount of defoliation
Good pastures start with a good understanding of how plants grow. Attendees at the recent Original Grazing School for Women were given some key pointers by Edward Bork, who is director of the Rangeland Research Institute at the University of Alberta and also operates a grain and beef operation with his family near Chipman. GrassesFlea beetles: A shifting pest
Flea beetles are already costing Prairie farmers $300 million a year and their populations are growing, an entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada says. Julie Soroka told a recent Alberta Canola Industry Update seminar scientists don’t know why the beetle species populations are shifting, but they do know the populations are rising, particularly for the
Ethiopian mustard a new biofuel option
Some of those yellow flowers you see blooming in Western Canada this summer might not be canola, but Ethiopian mustard, a new brassica crop intended for biodiesel and bioproducts. Kevin Falk, a research scientist with Agriculture Canada, specializes in breeding Polish canola and Ethiopian mustard, and has been working with them since 1995. He told
Researcher tests new way to grow plants and fish at home
Got a hankering to go farming in your basement? Odd as that sounds, it may actually be possible thanks to aquaponics — a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics — and new-generation LED lighting. The potential has Nick Savidov excited. “Integrated farming is becoming a reality,” said the senior research scientist with Alberta Agriculture at Edmonton’s
Renowned expert says think like a cow when handling cattle
Learning how to use a cow’s natural tendencies to improve handling takes time, but it’s a skill that can be learned. “Good cattle handling is going to require a lot more walking,” Temple Grandin told attendees at a recent livestock-handling seminar at Olds College. People make a lot of mistakes when handling cattle and designing
Do your research when choosing a micronutrient
Be skeptical of hype about micronutrients and only use them when they make economic sense, says Rigas Karamanos, manager of Agronomic Solutions for Viterra in Calgary. “When a product is registered with CFIA, that means the company that sells the product bothered to do 12 experiments in Canada,” Karamanos told attendees at the recent Agronomy
ESN, urea or a blend? Researchers say that is a complicated question
ESN? Urea? A blend? Which is best for your crops? That may depend where you live. ESN is a polymer-coated urea product that releases the fertilizer over time, and new research suggests local matters when it comes to using it. “Once (ESN) is put into the soil, water moves into the granule, dissolves the nitrogen
The real dirt on variable-rate technology
Variable-rate technology is based on a simple premise. “Basically, we’re aiming for the right rate at the right place in the field,” Ross McKenzie, a soil scientist with Alberta Agriculture, told attendees at the Agronomy Update event in Red Deer. That starts with knowing your soil, but that’s a lot harder than most people think,
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
