Posted: June 22, 2010

With moisture challenges playing havoc with farm management plans across much of the Prairies, its helps to have crop protection information close at hand.

Crop protection manuals, published annually across Canada, have traditionally provided a one-stop resource for label and related information for a wide range of field crop protection products. These books offer information on newly registered products, rate changes, new formulations and tank mixes. Here's an update on this year's offerings.

Alberta. Crop Protection 2010, AKA The Bluebook. This guide includes updated information on products, tank mixes and formulation changes. It can be purchased for $12.00 online at Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development's print media branch (see link above) or by phoning toll-free in the province at 1-800-292-5697.

Manitoba.2010 Guide to Field Crop Protection. This 443-page guide provides information on the use of herbicides, fungicides and insecticides for control of weeds, plant diseases and insects. It is available free online and is also available at Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) GO Teams offices and centres.

Saskatchewan. 2010 Guide to Field Crop Protection, This guide, which features the same information available in the Manitoba version, is available free at Saskatchewan Agriculture regional offices and farm retail outlets throughout Saskatchewan. A spring update to the guide is also available at the link above.

Ontario. Field Crop Protection Guide 2009-2010. This publication is the source of pest control information for the major field crops in Ontario, including best control options for integrated pest management, available from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). The $15 publication can be purchased at any local OMAFRA Resource Centre, online at the link above, or by phone at the Service Ontario Publications Contact Centre at 1-800-668-9938.

Posted: June 22, 2010

There's more to weed control than within the field crops themselves, and Dow AgroSciences Canda has a new product for use in these non-crop areas - such as rights-of-way, industrial land, rangeland and permanent pasture.

Called ClearView, the newly registered herbicide fills an important need, says a release from the company.

"The options for controlling weeds and shrubs in non crop areas are limited," says Jerry Olechowski, marketing manager with Dow AgroSciences. "Mechanical removal is time-consuming and disruptive to the ecosystem. ClearView will help industry effectively manage broadleaf weeds and invasive plants, and it has a favorable environmental profile."

The product controls a broad spectrum of annual and perennial broadleaf weeds, invasive plants and shrubs, the company says. It also offers extended labeled control for a variety of weeds and shrubs.

"It's the first and only industrial vegetation management herbicide in Canada with registered claims to provide 12 and 24 month control of weed and shrub species," says Barry Gibbs, product registration manager with Dow AgroSciences.

View the company release here.