Bruce Barker

Searching for competitive wheat varieties CATEGORY Weeds | Nine of 71 spring wheat varieties evaluated had superior weed competitiveness that helped to maintain yield potential under weed pressure. These cultivars could be used in plant breeding to help breed more competitive cultivars to integrate into a weed management plan. As the incidence of herbicide resistance continues to rise on the Prairies, the need for an integrated weed control program increases.

Reducing phosphorus runoff in snowmelt CATEGORY Soils and Fertility | Using variable rate fertilizer application in annual grain crops or growing forage mixtures can help reduce phosphorus (P) runoff in snowmelt from drained potholes in the Canadian Prairie Pothole Region. Drainage management practices such as utilizing surface ditches can help drain water from potholes in the spring to improve crop production efficiencies. However, these practices can also impact water quality downstream.

Economic threshold for lesser clover leaf weevil in red clover CATEGORY Insects | The economic threshold when insecticide application should be initiated was calculated at 6 larvae per 10 shoots at the low market price, 4 larvae at the average price and 3 for the high price. A decision matrix was developed based on a full range of treatment costs and market seed prices to allow growers to use their own treatment and market prices to guide insecticide application.