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

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 […] Read more

Percent of average precipitation (mm) from April 1 to July 25.

Post-wheat harvest weed management strategies

OMAFRA Field Crop Report for the week of July 25

Weather conditions The percentage of average precipitation during the current growing season is quite variable across the province (see image at top). Crop conditions generally mirror precipitation levels with below average precipitation received in mid-western and southern Ontario causing significant crop stress, especially on lighter textured soils. Conversely, parts of eastern Ontario are above average […] Read more


Potassium (K) deficient leaves turn yellow along the leaf margins.

Soybean update for Ontario

OMAFRA Field Crop Report for the week of June 13

Soybeans range from VE (emergence) to the fourth trifoliate leaf stage. The majority of the crop was planted in May, although sporadic showers meant that some could not be planted until June. A few soybeans were planted in April. They are now at the fifth trifoliate leaf stage. Ideally, soybeans should have 6 trifoliates by […] Read more

Side-by-side comparison of Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, and Redroot pigweed. Waterhemp and pigweed look similar at this stage.

Common waterhemp: An adaptable and potent foe

Problem weed continues to spread in Ontario while diversifying its herbicide resistance capability

Waterhemp with resistance to multiple herbicide groups continues to spread across the province, in part because of its similarity to other pigweed species.  First detected in Lambton County in 2002, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) describes common waterhemp as “extremely difficult” to identify. Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) also describes […] Read more


Wheat fields planted early in clean conditions are showing less weed pressure this spring, but fields left to fallow for soybean or corn production will have lots of weeds.

Higher than normal weed pressure in evidence

Tough weather conditions last fall and moisture this spring have prompted weed proliferation

Weather conditions last fall, coupled with a wet spring, have created higher than normal weed pressure across Ontario, according to agronomists.  “There’s a lot of people that planned to spray fields that couldn’t get to it in the fall or planned to work fields that couldn’t get to it and the weeds grew, and they […] Read more

Weather conditions make for minimal planting progress

Weather conditions make for minimal planting progress

OMAFRA Field Crop Report for the week of April 25

Due to cool temperatures and wet conditions (in some areas) over the past week, essentially no meaningful acreage of corn or soybeans have been planted. Most field activities thus far have been field preparation such as manure applications and tillage. Winter wheat Fields that went into last winter in good shape, with uniform emergence and […] Read more

If glyphosate-resistant Canada fleabane is present in soybeans, yield loss can be a whopping 65 per cent.

Fine-tuning the advice on herbicide-resistant fleabane in soybeans

Diversifiying weed control options is important, especially with glysophate costs high

As the incidence of herbicide-resistant Canada fleabane rises in central and eastern Ontario to match the southwest, so too does the awareness that targeted tank mixes and lengthened crop rotations are keys to combatting the weed in soybeans. “They’ve gotten the handle on Canada fleabane in western Ontario,” Corteva Agriscience’s Eastern Region Agronomist Marc Maisonneuve […] Read more


With no new products in the pipeline and fewer options due to re-evaluation, resistance or supply issues, producers need to be nimble when it comes to weed control options.

Living without Linuron in the tank

Growers will have to alter practices and mix and match other products to control weeds

When the 2020 re-evaluation of herbicide Linuron dropped the application rate for potatoes, growers thought they would be off the hook until 2023, when the new rate comes into effect.  However, the registrant ran into regulatory issues after sourcing a technical active ingredient from a new provider. That pushed back production, causing supply issues.  “It […] Read more

In 2015, Amazone had developed technology capable of identifying weeds in fallow fields and selectively spraying them. Now the company is field testing a sprayer that can identify weeds in a growing crop.

Green-on-green spray technology puts weed control on near horizon

In-crop selective spraying technology is showing promise

Glacier FarmMedia – In 2021, both John Deere and AGCO announced they were developing selective spraying technologies.  Deere introduced its See and Spray Select as an option on model year 2022 400 and 600 series sprayers. That system is capable of identifying weeds in fallow fields and selectively spraying them. It’s what the industry now […] Read more