Most common under good soil moisture conditions, Aphanomyces root rot is a soil-borne disease that continues to affect pea and lentil crops in Western Canada. It is very difficult to identify and isolate using conventional methods and often requires a DNA test to confirm.

As overseas demand for Canadian pulse crops expands, the number of acres planted with the crop is anticipated to grow throughout the prairie provinces in 2024. This means that it will be  critical that growers keep weeds from interfering with crop growth and yield.  

When it comes to effectively controlling weeds in canola, it’s critical to get them when they are small, easier to control and before they compete with the crop for moisture, sunlight and nutrients. That's why many growers are choosing to apply a complete solution herbicide prior to seeding. A complete solution herbicide brings both burnoff and extended weed control – making it the perfect choice to launch a weed-free spring.

To be sure you are getting the most effective results from your herbicide investment requires paying close attention to the order you add products to your spray tank. A good rule of thumb is using the WAMLEGS method as follows:

The practice of using herbicides from multiple groups in sequential applications to target the same weeds and will include soil-applied herbicides combined with pre-seed burnoff, followed by an in-crop herbicide application.

Like its cousin kochia, Russian thistle is an annual weed that is highly adaptable to hot, dry conditions. It grows rapidly with its red-striped stems growing over one metre high with its extensive root system reaching almost two metres down.

The number of grassy weeds resistant to in-crop herbicides is increasing. Dr. Breanne Tidemann, research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lacombe, AB, presented some sobering statistics during the FMC Pre-School webinar, AGRC*104: Grassy Weeds in the Prairies: The Pests, the Problems, the Plans.