Neale Heinrich stands in front of the Redekop Seed Control Unit at its booth at Ag in Motion on July 18, 2023. (Braedyn Wozniak photo)

At Ag in Motion: Herbicide resistance fight needs integrated seed management

'Those seedlings we don’t manage to kill (are) probably the most herbicide-resistant'

Harvest weed-seed control takes aim at reducing herbicide-resistant weeds that western Canadian farmers find more and more every year. At the Ag in Motion outdoor farm show this week, field residue management manufacturer Redekop won the Innovations Award for Environmental Sustainability for its harvest Seed Control Unit, which destroys more than 95 per cent of

Originally a tow-behind unit that attached to the back of the combine, the newer iteration of the Harrington Seed Destructor is a mill that can be integrated with the combine. (Photo: deBruin Engineering Pty Ltd.)

At Ag in Motion: Harvest weed control still in the mix

'You’re not going to spray your way out of this'

It’s a relatively new solution to the age-old problem of trying to get rid of weeds without broadcasting the seed or using increasingly less effective herbicides — mechanical separation and pulverization of weed seed. Harvest weed seed control might not be a golden bullet to tackle glyphosate-, fluroxypyr- and dicamba-resistant weeds, but according to Agriculture


Is the water in your sprayer neutering your herbicide?

Is the water in your sprayer neutering your herbicide?

Calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron and potassium cations in sprayer water will bond with herbicide molecules, such as glyphosate, making them ineffective

Clint Jurke had never, not once, tested the quality of his sprayer water until a colleague said it would make a good topic for an article. “I like to think I’m pretty good at agronomy,” said Jurke, agronomy director for the Canola Council of Canada and farmer from Lloydminster, Sask. “I scout, follow labels’ rates,

What’s on your spring burnoff checklist?

What’s on your spring burnoff checklist?

Set yourself, and your crop, up for success from the get-go

It’s been a long, cool spring and farmers have had extra time for field preparations. Sprayers and seeders are poised and ready for action and, when the temperature hits growing degrees, everything will happen fast. The first happening should be the spring burn-off. “I’m a big fan of burn-off spraying,” said Manitoba Agriculture weed specialist


Weed wave expected when warm weather returns

Weed wave expected when warm weather returns

Once it warms up, it’s going to be important to get a good spring burnoff and establish a competitive crop

Unseasonal snowfall and a cool spring may have pushed thoughts of spring weed control down the list of things to think about. But it’s important to get a plan in place now, because when it does warm up, things will happen quickly, said Kim Brown-Livingston, Manitoba’s provincial weed specialist, during an April 19 CropTalk webinar.

A kochia infested field.

Late harvest hampers fall weed control efforts

Narrow regrowth window, cooling temperatures play role in limiting applications

Manitoba’s weed specialist says this year’s late harvest has thrown a wrench into many farmers’ fall control plans. Normally, it is recommended that farmers wait four to six weeks after harvest to allow weed regrowth before spraying. “This year, we just don’t have the calendar days to do that,” said Kim Brown-Livingston, Manitoba Agriculture and


At the Quebec site, a sandblasting unit was rigged up to the side of a tractor.

Research team looks at sandblasting-style weed control

‘Projectile’ method needs work to tackle between-row growth

Glacier FarmMedia – A plot of white beans at Agriculture and Agri-food Canada’s (AAFC) Harrow, Ont. research farm is part of a new four-site study taking a sandblasting-style approach to weed control in Canadian crops. “No, it’s not a joke,” begins a news release from the federal agriculture ministry about the research into what’s being

Trials with the potato vine crusher have shown up to 94 per cent reduction in weed germination.  photo:

Old invention shows promise for weed control in potatoes

Originally designed for insect larvae, the potato vine crusher lowers germination rate of weed seeds

An invention originally designed to control European corn borer in potatoes has shown potential to reduce weed seeds during potato harvest. Dr. Andrew McKenzie-Gopsill, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, recently discussed the advantages of minimizing weed seeds during harvest to reduce pressure in potato crops. Then a colleague suggested an invention that


Frosty weeds and closing spray windows

Frosty weeds and closing spray windows

Variables like weed species and recent and expected frosts will weigh into management decisions

Add the weather forecast into your calculations when planning fall weed control. It’s prime weed control season for perennial weeds like Canada thistle and winter annuals and acting now can help you, come spring. “A lot of the winter annuals are starting to become problems because if we don’t do any kind of control in

Herbicide-resistant wild oats are still controlled by glyphosate — for now.

Now’s the time to find resistant weeds

Herbicide-resistant weeds are on the rise and pre-harvest is a good time to find them

Delaying the onset of herbicide-resistant weeds isn’t a lost cause. In fact the more vigilant a farmer is the more success they’ll have, says Ingrid Kristjanson, a farm production extension specialist with Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development (MARD). With farmers checking crop maturity as harvest grows near, it is also a good time to scout