Agriculture and Rural Development’s Bill Chapman watches Sheri Strydhorst speak about the effect of fungicide on stripe rust occurrence during a plot tour in Willingdon this summer. Photo: Alberta Wheat Commission

Wheat researcher gets 30-bushel bump from dual fungicide applications

Provincial agronomy researcher tested 48 management practices in test plots this summer and says 
fungicide application had the biggest impact on wheat yields

Looking for higher wheat yields? Then consider upping the budget for fungicide. That’s the advice of Sheri Strydhorst, an agronomy research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. This past summer, Stryd-horst evaluated 48 different management practices to determine the economic benefits of stacking agronomic practices for maximum wheat yield. Only fungicide application had a

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How high can barley yields go?

The Barley 180 research project focused on plant growth regulators, 
nitrogen and fungicides in a bid to grow 180 bushels an acre

They didn’t reach their goal, but researchers in the Barley 180 project came pretty close. “We just said, ‘OK, let’s see if we can hit 180 (bushels per acre).’ And we hit 156,” said Steve Larocque of Beyond Agronomy, an agronomic services company in Three Hills, Alta. Alberta’s Agricultural Research and Extension Council has been


Streamlined approval process leads to expanded labels for horticulture products

Aslimmed-down federal approval process will allow Canadian fruit and vegetable growers some expanded uses of an insecticide and two fungicides this spring. Bayer CropScience credited recent “regulatory synchronization” between Canada and the U.S. for the expanded labels on Admire insecticide and Reason and Flint fungicides announced Feb. 19. The approval covers uses for which the

Scout your sunflowers, expert urges

Two dry years in a row doesn’t mean Manitoba sunflower growers can skip scouting for moisture-loving diseases. Producers should always be on the lookout for sclerotinia and rust, Holly Derksen said at the recent Manitoba Special Crops Symposium. “When we do have a wet year, those are ones to watch for,” said Derksen, a plant


Soybean root rot pathogen breaks the rules

For every rule there’s an exception. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researchers have discovered a devastating soybean pathogen has developed a means of breaking Mendel’s laws, which sets out the rules on how genetic characteristics are passed on via inheritance. The discovery could lead to better control of soybean root rot disease, a major problem worldwide,

Breeder trials show winter wheat improvements

Winter wheat growers can look forward to superior new varieties coming down the pipe. A number of varieties, including Kestrel and Raptor, will drop out of the milling-quality Canadian Western Red Winter class and into the general purpose class a year from now. On Aug. 1, 2014, Falcon will also drop into the GP class.



New fungicide for potatoes

Engage Agro has received registration for its fungicide Phostrol for use on potatoes and other horticultural crops, the latest Manitoba Potato News says. Phostrol is an extremely systemic and highly unique phosphite fungicide that has both a direct and indirect effect on harmful oomycete diseases on a broad range of crops. Phostrol is labelled for


Emergency registration for Confine

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has approved the request by a number of provinces, including Manitoba, for an amendment to the registration of Confine, a fungicide for the suppression of late blight and pink rot in potatoes, the latest potato bulletin from Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives states. The emergency registration is in

Fungicide season has begun

Flag leaf stage applications provide the best protection Winter wheat is at, or near the stage, for applying fungicides to protect it from various leaf diseases and spring wheat isn’t far behind, says Holly Derksen, a plant pathologist with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI). Some winter wheat fields were at the flag-leaf stage