A recent report from FarmLink Marketing Solutions is predicting a higher-than-anticipated number of unseeded - or summer fallow - acres, largely due to the delayed start to the season.

The organization released adjusted acreage estimates earlier this month that predict there will be 5,600,000 summer fallow acres across the Prairies, up 1,100,000 acres from its previous estimates reported in February.

Reports from around the world suggest that demand for Canadian lentils will be up this year. But is delayed planting going to challenge growers in meeting that demand?

"After a period of uncertainty, there's finally some good news for Canadian lentil growers," says Harley House, Brand Manager of Clearfield Crops, BASF Canada.

Les températures froides ressenties au travers de l’Ontario se font finalement remplacées par un réchauffement graduel, et cela est excellent pour les producteurs de soja qui essaient de préparer leurs champs. La fenêtre pour une application pré-plantation sera plus courte que celle de la saison dernière. Malgré le début tardif, il n'est pas trop tard pour protéger les cultures de soja avec un système à deux passes.

The colder temperatures across Ontario are finally coming to an end and that’s good news for soybean growers trying to prepare their fields. The window for a pre-plant application will be shorter than last season; however, even with a later start than last year, there is still time to protect soybean crops with a two-pass system. The key to a successful pre-plant herbicide application will be to apply a product that works quickly.

This year, growers in Southern Alberta started planting in late April while most of the Prairies were still drying up from the snowmelt. Each spring, growers never know exactly what to expect from the weather predictions, but with the late spring, many Western growers are antsy to get into their fields and start seeding.

Canola growers are faced with late seeding this year, which can have an effect on herbicide application windows and early weed control.

Weather forecasters are calling for a wet spring in many parts of Western Canada, with some regions expecting flooding. While that can spell disaster for growers looking to seed cereals this year, there are measures that can help make the most out of cereal acres to maximize yield potential and grain quality.

Fungicide use has increased over the past decade, but for many growers, there is still a misunderstanding about what fungicides offer beyond disease control.

In the 1990s, several companies promoted the disease-fighting properties of fungicides as a way for growers to improve yield benefits. While that core benefit of fungicides still exists, some companies have begun to focus on evolving the fungicide market to reflect the changing needs of growers.

Weather conditions across the Prairies have pushed back seeding and left growers wondering when they will be able to get in the field to get the crop planted.

The near record levels of snow in most of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, combined with cold temperatures in March and April, have meant that there is still a lot of snow to melt before pre-seed burndown and planting can begin.

Si vous êtes producteur(trice) au Québec ou en Ontario, vous savez bien que contrôler les pissenlits présente un gros défi.

À ce sujet, des essais d'autorisation de recherche pour Optill, un nouvel herbicide de BASF, ont démontré des résultats prometteurs. En effet, c'est avec succès que plusieurs producteurs ont utilisé Optill pour contrôler les mauvaises herbes, et par le fait même ont obtenu des augmentations de rendements.

If you farm in Quebec or Ontario, you've experienced one fact first-hand: dandelions are tough to control.

However, research authorization trials for Optill, a new herbicide from BASF, have shown promising results. In fact, several growers have had success with Optill controlling dandelions and experienced increased yields as a result.