Researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada are working with nanotechnology and RNA to develop new pest insect control methods as an alternative to chemical spray on crops.
Tag Archives Pest control
Nanotechnology used to develop genetic pest control
Nanotechnology allows new research to target pests through RNA for precision treatments rather than chemcial spray
RNAi research looks for genetic-level flea beetle control
A Canadian company hopes to develop an alternative to mainstream insecticides when managing flea beetles in canola crops
A Vancouver agri-tech company wants to give canola growers another weapon, hitting target insects at the sub-cellular level, for use in the never-ending battle against flea beetles.
Rodent poisons allowed on B.C. farms during temporary ban
British Columbia has temporarily banned a stronger class of rodent poisons pending a review of their effects on non-target wildlife, but farm uses will be exempt. The province on July 21 announced an 18-month prohibition on sales and use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs). The second-generation products are “more powerful” than the previous generation and
Consumers and chemicals: The battle for a balanced pest management system
The preference of your customers is changing and it’s important for your business that you’re aware of it
The feud between farmers and pests is a never-ending story, and changes in consumer preferences might force producers to look at new ways to battle their microscopic foes. While farmers are in the midst of a constant struggle to protect their crops against bugs and diseases, at the same time consumers on a wide scale
A messy year for weeds
Farmers didn’t see many weeds early this year, but agronomists warned that the flush was coming
Manitoba’s spring weather may have set weeds back, but the spray season hasn’t been a picnic for farmers either. Provincial weed specialist Tammy Jones warns that producers might be in for a tough weed control season, despite cool temperatures and dry conditions keeping weeds from gaining ground early this year. Why it matters: Clean fields this spring may have
Common sense needed in pesticide reviews: agri-food groups
The PMRA has been stacking review upon review in some cases, critics say
Agri-food groups support provisions in the 2019 budget to trigger pesticide safety reviews when one is merited and not just because another country orders one on a product. While Health Canada and the Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency take a risk-based approach to pesticide approvals, other members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development employ
On the watch for downy and Japanese brome
Downy and Japanese brome have been considered invasive species in Manitoba for years and weed experts are asking farmers to keep an eye out for them
Those grassy weeds popping out of the ground might be hiding a noxious surprise. Tammy Jones, Manitoba Agriculture’s weed specialist, says she is concerned about both downy and Japanese brome, both Tier 2 noxious weeds that have been digging roots in parts of Manitoba. Both species have been present in Manitoba for years, although Jones
Controlling cattle pests vital
Left untreated, pests can cause significant loss in production
Integrated pest management concepts that are commonplace for controlling crop pests also apply to controlling livestock pests, North Dakota State University Extension livestock and pest management specialists say. Those key concepts for controlling pests effectively are using the right type of control at the right time for the right duration. “Many livestock producers apply pest
Invasive weeds have genetic advantage
A single trait, which developed independently in multiple situations, drives invasive success
They say a weed can grow almost anywhere, and researchers at the University of British Columbia have found the reason is genetic. They looked at one successful weedy plant, the Jerusalem artichoke, to see why it survives, thrives and spreads. Understanding how invasive plants evolve and the genetic underpinnings that enable them to thrive in
Scientists want to understand behaviour of invasive weeds
Why are certain plants able to enter a new ecosystem and run riot?
Is it possible to predict which non-native plant species will become invasive weeds and when? According to research featured in the journal Invasive Plant Science and Management, the answer is “hopefully yes.” Researchers say invasive species generally follow a three-phase development curve — from lag to expansion to plateau. The length and rapidity of the
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
