Insights and Stories of Jeff Melchior

Jun. 9, 2023 at 11:54 am CDT

In just a few years, crop spraying could become largely a thing of the past. Nanotechnology may take its place using its ability to target specific crop pests. Farmers hear a lot of such whizzy claims. But a Lethbridge researcher is so confident in nanotech-based crop protection that he’s working to […]

By Jeff Melchior

Jan. 1, 2023 at 3:47 pm CST

With their ability to suppress weeds and break up compacted soil, brassica plants have become widely known as a good cover crop option. Many producers graze their cover crops, but brassicas can also serve as a grazing crop. “The brassicas are super watery and highly digestible,” Jillian Bainard, a forage […]

By Jeff Melchior

Nov. 23, 2022 at 5:46 pm CST

Canola crush profits are high, but that’s no reason for growers to break out the champagne, say Alberta producers. Crush plants are riding a wave of demand and processed about 794,000 tonnes of seed in September, the most in a year. And with crush margins well above $200 per tonne […]

By Jeff Melchior

Jun. 24, 2022 at 10:03 am CDT

Insecticide resistance on the Canadian Prairies is rare. Experts say producers have a pretty good handle on how to manage their insect crop pests with the products they have. But that doesn’t mean resistance doesn’t happen. Resistance in insects occurs for the same basic reason it does in weeds, says […]

By Jeff Melchior

Jan. 21, 2022 at 9:34 am CST

University of Calgary researchers have used gene editing to bring to life a new shorter, highly branched variety of canola that has more pods and is easier to harvest. “Based on my conversations with some people in the agriculture industry — including primary producers — they would love to have […]

By Jeff Melchior