Ready to use crop protection information
Pre-order the third edition of the Alberta Blue Book today
2023 marks the third year in which the four major Alberta crop groups have collaborated to produce the province’s crop protection guide, affectionately known as the Blue Book.
The partners collaborating on this important resource are Alberta Barley, Alberta Canola, Alberta Pulse Growers and the Alberta Wheat Commission. The commissions are proud to produce this valuable and widely used resource. It’s one more way check-off dollars are put to work for farmers and assist them to thrive agronomically and economically.
In 2021, to improve the ordering process, we updated the online ordering system for printed copies. The intent was to make the pre-order and sales process easier for purchasers.
The pre-order feature was again well used in 2022, with advance orders comprising more than 50 per cent of total sales. Make sure to pre-order your 2023 Blue Book now! Go to albertabluebook.com to get started.
As they are every year, usage guidelines for herbicides, insecticides, seed treatments and fungicides are central to the Blue Book. These four central input categories are accompanied by selector charts. With close to 700 pages of content in the latest edition, the Blue Book remains a trusted information resource for farmers and agronomists. In combination with a farmer’s own knowledge of their cropping system and intended market, the comprehensive product information found within the Blue Book allows the user to select the right chemical treatment for their needs.
We have continued to refine and expand this content. Accompanying exhaustive, routine updates is newly included information on plant growth regulators (PGRs). PGRs are synthetic compounds that can beneficially modify plant growth and development. Long-time commission collaborator Dr. Sheri Strydhorst was tasked with the creation of the section, which highlights best practices in this emerging area.
The 2023 edition will also include important additional details on safe chemical handling under Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) protocols. This information has been contributed by AgSafe Alberta. The organization’s staff work hard every day to strengthen farm safety. Environmental considerations are an important part of the Blue Book. We have tried our best to ensure each product listing includes pre-harvest intervals and re-entry intervals. This information will help farmers properly manage spray intervals throughout the season.
The Blue Book will continue to be refined and expanded as necessary in coming years.
We are now putting the final touches on the 2023 Blue Book. Farmers can expect the same great book they’ve come to rely on, packed with the latest information on new product registrations, CleanFarms pesticide container locations and extensive safety information. Order yours today or ask your local agricultural input dealer for a complimentary customer copy.
Be on the lookout for the new Alberta Blue Book twitter handle. Follow @ABBlueBook for the latest crop protection information. Once you have received your book, tag the account and show how you are implementing crop protection information on your farm.