The 70-foot-wide Seed Hawk air drill at Bailla Farms has a 980-bushel tank with four compartments. With sectional controls every 10 feet across the width of the drill, it is very responsive to variable-rate seed and fertilizer placement as it passes over 10 different production zones in each field.

Do SWAT Maps deliver?

Farmers say layered information allows them to apply inputs where they do the most good

Colin Rosengren and Kelly Baillargeon farm on almost opposite ends of Saskatchewan, yet they have the same thinking when it comes to what they expect from precision farming and variable-rate technology (VRT). Rosengren owns Rosengren Farms along with family members at Midale, in southeast Saskatchewan, while about 650 kilometres to the northwest, Baillargeon owns Bailla […] Read more

Versatile tractor in the field

How to develop potassium fertilizer recommendations

When, where and how much potassium is needed for your crops

In previous Grainews issues, I have discussed how to develop nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer recommendations. In this issue, I will focus on the development of potassium (K) fertilizer recommendations. Most crops take up potassium in relatively high amounts, often similar to nitrogen. About 25 to 30 per cent of Prairie soils are estimated […] Read more


(PortMetroVancouver.com)

Canada shuts ports to Russian ships over Ukraine invasion

Russian firms' Canadian holdings also under scrutiny, Freeland warns

Toronto | Reuters — Canada ratcheted up pressure on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine by shutting ports to Russian-owned ships and saying on Tuesday that holdings of all Russian oligarchs and companies in the country are under review. Canada has announced a slew of measures to isolate Russia, including imposing sanctions on Russian President […] Read more

Tips to conserve soil moisture and manage weeds this spring

Tips to conserve soil moisture and manage weeds this spring

Plus, where tillage fits in and how and when it could be used

Although it has only been on most farmers’ radars for the last couple of decades, no-till production has become a modern-day success story, with well over half of Canadian farmland now being farmed under its practices. However, no till relies heavily on herbicides to manage weeds and retain soil moisture. And with key herbicides like […] Read more


Les Henry: A look at soil nitrate-nitrogen

Les Henry: A look at soil nitrate-nitrogen

Is there enough residual nitrate-nitrogen in the soil to feed 2022 crops?

The drought of 2021 and the poor crops as a result have left us wondering what residual nitrate-nitrogen might be present in the soil to feed the 2022 crops. Nitrate in the environment The first thing we must realize is nitrate in the environment is, for the most part, a function of human activity in […] Read more

ICE May 2022 canola (candlesticks) with 20- and 50-day moving averages (yellow and dark green lines). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola finding plenty of support

MarketsFarm — ICE canola futures climbed to fresh contract highs during the week ended Wednesday, as activity in outside markets and canola’s own tight supply situation provided support. “Outside forces help it, but there are also things unique to the canola market that are supportive,” said David Derwin, commodities investment advisor with PI Financial in […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Adjustments minor in latest AAFC crop balance sheets

MarketsFarm — Only minor adjustments to the old- and new-crop balance sheets were reported by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in their February supply/demand report, released Friday. New-crop production estimates were left unchanged for all of the major grains, oilseeds and pulses, with a return to average yields across the Prairies expected to lead to increased […] Read more

an Alberta Agriculture variable-rate fertilizer research site near Lethbridge

How to determine the recommended rate of phosphorus fertilizer

Understand how your crops will respond to phosphorus and under what conditions

In the Jan. 18 issue of Grainews, I discussed developing nitrogen (N) fertilizer recommendations. In this article, I will discuss developing phosphorus (P) fertilizer recommendations. For many Prairie farmers, phosphorus is the second most limiting soil nutrient in crop production for cereal and oilseed crops. With respect to fertilizer use, phosphorus is second only to […] Read more


Saskatchewan producer Stuart Lawrence minimizes his insecticide use by letting lady beetles, a natural enemy of his problem aphids, do as much of the work as possible.

Beneficial insects play key roles on Prairie farms

The benefits of beneficials are many and varied, some parasitize or feed on crop pests while others can pollinate crops and improve seed set

A growing number of crop producers are recognizing the role of beneficial insects on their farms. It seems like just about every crop pest has a natural enemy that can keep their populations at bay, while many crops have beneficials that aid their growth and sustainability. Stuart Lawrence, Dean Hubbard and Ian Steppler are three […] Read more

Have a well-prepared crop plan for 2022

Have a well-prepared crop plan for 2022

Q & A with an expert

Q: What factors do I need to consider when planning my 2022 crop rotation? A: With 2021 safely in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to finalize plans for the 2022 crop year. When planning for the new season, there are many different agronomic factors that must be taken into consideration. With crop prices sitting above […] Read more