Sippell Named CSTA President

Dave Sippell, president of Syngenta Seeds Canada, was named the 71st president of the Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) following the association’s annual meeting in Whistler, B. C. Sippell said the seed trade will face the challenge of feeding the world’s growing population as competitors because “that makes us more efficient and effective, but as

Insect Control In Canola — Without Malathion

Insects in stored canola will not feed on sound, healthy seeds. However, moisture-loving fungus feeders such as foreign grain beetles, psocids and mites may be found in canola if it’s in poor condition. Primary stored product insects such as rusty grain beetle, red flour beetle and saw-toothed grain beetle can occasionally be found in stored


Burning Suggested As A Weed Control Method

“It won’t be 100 per cent effective but it will obviously reduce the number of weed seeds.” – GARY MARTENS A new study has cast a fresh light on the method of controlling weeds through burning – not the plants themselves but the seeds they leave behind. “Fire is capable of sharply reducing the probability

Cool Soil Temperatures Canola Sprouts

Across the Prairies this spring, canola emergence is very slow and in some fields, uneven. Research has shown much lower and slower canola germination at low temperatures. Soil temperatures above 5C have little effect on the time to 50 per cent germination; however, the number of days to 50 per cent germination increases dramatically at


If It’s Too Wet To Drive Across, It’s Too Wet To Seed

Business Development Specialist – oilseeds Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Delayed seeding due to flooding or wet conditions may have you considering broadcast seeding your canola by floater or aerial application. In general, broadcast seeding is not recommended. This includes seeding canola by aircraft onto very wet fields: if it’s too wet to drive

Midge-Tolerant Wheat By Fall 2009

Alliance Seed Corporation has obtained the rights to the Goodeve VB midge-tolerant wheat variety developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Under the terms of the licensing deal, Alliance Seed Corporation has been awarded exclusive marketing and distribution rights for the Goodeve VB variety in Canada. Alliance Seed Corporation plans to work with its own retail


Frost Seeding Cheaper, But Results Can Be Sketchy

“If I had some really rough land and the stand was really bad and I wanted to get some legumes in, I might try it on some parts. I certainly wouldn’t go out and seed 160 acres that way.” – jane thornton There are two ways of reviving pastures that are past their prime. The

You Can Come To Terms With Wireworms

The bad news is that you can’t eliminate wireworms once they’re in your field, but the good news is you can protect your crop with a seed treatment the following year. Wireworms can have a devastating effect on cereal crops, resulting in poor emergence, compromised stand establishment and significantly reduced yields. Traditionally wireworms have been


Start Sweet Peas Indoors Soon

I plant my sweet peas indoors in early April in cell packs that have fairly large cells. For a lot of years I would be a very frustrated gardener in late August and early September when the first fall frost ended the display of sweet peas in my garden. It seemed that every year the

Good Crop, Bad Crop

“The worst thing you can do is to say, ‘Yeah, I have this thin stand. I’m not going to put any more money into it.’ That’s a real recipe for disaster.” – MURRAY HARTMAN, AARD Sometimes they die, sometimes they don’t. If half the tiny canola seeds that farmers put in the ground in spring