Scout Stories

Bare patches in cereal crops are one of the more frustrating things to discover mid-season — and wireworms are a common culprit. The good news is there’s a simple, low-tech scouting method that can help you get ahead of the problem before seeding even begins. What Are Wireworms? Wireworms are the larval stage of click beetles. They live in the soil and feed on seeds and seedling roots, causing thin, patchy stands — especially in cereal crops. Because they’re underground, dama

Wild oats are one of the most economically damaging weeds on the Prairies. They combine aggressive growth, high seed production, and increasingly widespread herbicide resistance — a combination that makes them easy to underestimate and difficult to manage over time. Why Wild Oats Are Such a Competitive Weed Wild oats look similar to tame oats, which can make early identification tricky. But their ability to compete with a crop is significant. They emerge and grow quickly, dra

This spring has been anything but easy. Cool temperatures and wet soils have stretched across growing regions, and those conditions can take a real toll on early crop establishment. It’s a good reminder of why seed treatments are a valuable part of the toolkit when spring doesn’t cooperate. Why Cool, Wet Soils Create Extra Risk When soils are cold and saturated, seeds face a few challenges at once. Germination slows, nutrient uptake is limited, and soil-borne pathogens like R

In Saskatchewan, getting on top of weeds early is one of the most effective things a grower can do to protect yield and crop quality. Weeds that emerge alongside a young crop compete directly for moisture, nutrients, and light at exactly the stage when the crop is most vulnerable. Why Timing Matters So Much Fast-germinating weeds like wild oats, kochia, and lamb’s quarters can establish quickly and begin drawing down soil moisture before the crop has had a chance to properly

As the season progresses in Saskatchewan, growers should stay alert for stink bugs. These pests are becoming more common in Western...

In the last couple weeks, there has been a noticeable amount of wheat stem sawfly presence in wheat and durum fields. The adults are...

This season we have noticed hessian fly in our Southern scouting regions. Hessian fly adults will lay eggs on leaf surfaces of cereals...

Many of our growers are already experiencing the benefits of VR fertility, however some have yet to be convinced. A description of the...

Fall-applied residual herbicides can be a valuable tool for weed management. It allows for weeds to be managed earlier in the season,...

When we think about soil fertility, the focus often falls on macronutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. But...

Alternaria black spot, a plant disease caused by fungal pathogens, is present in most years across the prairies. However, moisture and...

While the lack of rain this spring has certainly been abnormal, all hope is not lost. Plants are very smart in the sense that they will...

Early seeded crops are in full swing for in-crop spraying and it’s been a tricky spray season with the wind and cold nights. Spraying...

"Bring more value," Ag Grow's Kara Annand tells advisors. [Make It Count] This summer, the top job for more farmers will be to get busy...