EU flags in front of the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels. (Jorisvo/iStock/Getty Images)

EU predicts pain for farmers, consumers from Ukraine crisis

Brussels | Reuters — Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and EU sanctions on Moscow will prove painful for farmers, consumers, fertilizer makers and exporters of farm products, the European Commission warned on Monday. Michael Scannell, deputy director-general of the Commission’s agriculture division, said grain buyers should brace for higher prices given that Russia and Ukraine made […] 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


The new 24-foot-wide SeedMaster drill has all of the same features as a 100-foot-wide machine, except this one will fit in a proverbial pocket. Its sides fold up to make a compact 10-foot-wide unit that’s 12.5 feet in height — that makes for easier transport, it’s easier to fit through gates, if applicable, and it takes up much less room in the shed for winter storage.

SeedMaster’s new downsized model

The company says all of its good seeding features are now available in a smaller package

If you have been impressed by the features and performance of the SeedMaster seeding system, but a 100-foot-wide unit is just way more drill than you need, the good news is the company has put all of those great seed placement features in a much smaller package. At the AgSmart farm show staged by Olds […] Read more

An ammonia and nitrogen fertilizer plant in Russia. (Saoirse_2010/iStock/Getty Images)

Vilsack hopes fertilizer firms don’t take advantage of Ukraine crisis

Washington | Reuters — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Thursday he hoped fertilizer and agriculture supply companies affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine would not take unfair advantage of the situation, amid already-high fertilizer and crop prices. Fertilizer costs have soared due to rising demand and lower supply as record natural gas and […] Read more


Photo: iStock/Getty Images

With fertilizer costs high and seed scarce, U.S. farmers turn to soy

'These prices are just crazy'

Chicago | Reuters — North Dakota farmer Jennifer Meyer typically devotes at least 20 per cent of her 2,500-acre farm to corn, which provides a convenient feed for the cattle she raises with her husband. But this year she is looking to find another crop for those 500 acres near Wilton as she has been […] Read more

Nutrien’s potash mine at Lanigan, Sask., about 100 km southeast of Saskatoon. (Nutrien.com)

Nutrien takes cautious potash approach as rival copes with sanctions

Winnipeg | Reuters — Canada’s Nutrien, the world’s biggest fertilizer company, is bumping up potash production as sanctions restrict its rival in Belarus, but is holding off on bigger expansion, its interim CEO said on Thursday. Potash prices have climbed to decade highs as state-owned Belaruskali, the second-largest producer after Nutrien, copes with U.S. and […] 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

Paragon Ag Service’s site west of Melfort. (Lakecountryco-op.crs)

Two Saskatchewan co-ops to buy ag input retailer

Paragon Ag Service assets to be divvied up

A pair of Saskatchewan co-operatives are expanding their reach in the crop input retail sector in that province’s northeast, with a deal to buy an independent dealership chain. Lake Country Co-op and Prairie North Co-op announced Tuesday they have agreements in place to buy the assets of Melfort-based Paragon Ag Service from owners Sherman Boland […] Read more



Variable-rate irrigation was used to even out maturity in this wheat field on Dennis Bulani’s Saskatchewan farm.

Expand your VRT toolset

Could variable-rate irrigation or variable-rate desiccation boost production or profits on your farm?

Nutrient applications typically come to mind first when you think about variable-rate technology (VRT). But as precision ag expert and variable-rate pioneer Dennis Bulani points out, there are many ways you can use variable-rate technology to boost production and the profitability of your farm. Bulani has been a staunch proponent of variable-rate farming ever since […] Read more