Farms.com Home   News

Researcher believes plant growth regulators are worth a try

Research being conducted on plant growth regulators (PGR) show the product can help a cereal crop but there are no guarantees.

There has been increased use of these products on the prairies, according to Dr. Breanne Tidemann, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based in Lacombe, Alta.

Tidemann said PGRs are chemicals that are applied to plants that change how they grow. In western Canadian agriculture, it is typically used to shorten the plants and then reduce their chance of lodging in field crops.

“Wheat and barley in particular are the two that we’re using them on, and the goal is to be able to up nitrogen rates and still get some increased yield, but not get the increased height with the plants falling every which way that we sometimes see when we do that,” Tidemann said.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Dr. Fei Yang Discusses Corn Rootworm, European Corn Borer, and Pest Monitoring

Video: Dr. Fei Yang Discusses Corn Rootworm, European Corn Borer, and Pest Monitoring

What insect threats are Minnesota corn growers facing, and what research is helping farmers stay ahead of them?

At the 2026 MN Ag Expo, University of Minnesota entomologist Fei Yang shared updates on three Minnesota Corn-supported research projects focused on insect monitoring, seed treatments, and pest resistance.

Current work includes statewide monitoring programs that use pheromone, light, and sticky traps to track key pests such as black cutworm, true armyworm, corn earworm, European corn borer, and corn rootworm. Researchers are also evaluating whether high-rate seed treatments provide effective corn rootworm control and studying the development of resistance in European corn borer populations to Bt corn traits.

These projects help researchers better understand pest pressures across Minnesota and provide farmers with practical information to support informed management decisions.