Canadian farmers hanging on by their fingertips

COVID-19 is sucking the life out of the Canadian agriculture industry and there aren’t that many weeks left before farm operations across the country will be among the casualties of the pandemic —  victims of the so-called financial assistance from the federal government that was truly too little, too late. It was a sombre panel […] Read more

Mycorrhizal linkage to crop plants in normal soils have been shown to supply phosphate, copper and zinc to growing crops.

Facts about phosphorus you should know

Highly-manured soils, wet growing conditions and lodging in cereal crops

Phosphorus or phosphate (P) is the most complex of the big four macronutrients in crop production. When you buy phosphate fertilizer, you are actually buying P2O5 the oxidized version, which is 62 parts actual P and 80 parts oxygen. Your actual P is only 43 per cent by weight. The phosphate in all soils is […] Read more


(EvrazPlace.com)

Canada’s Farm Show postponed

New date not yet set for former Farm Progress Show

One of Canada’s biggest agricultural events has crossed itself off the 2020 summer calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada’s Farm Show, which rebranded in December from its former Canada’s Farm Progress Show identity, announced Monday it has officially postponed to an as-yet unconfirmed date. The annual show, organized by the Regina Exhibition Association (REAL), […] Read more

Lime improves alfalfa crop in Peace River Country. This photo was taken from Farming Acid Soils in Alberta and Northeast British Columbia by P.B. Hoyt, M. Nyborg and D.C. Penney.


Les Henry: Acid soils. A wake-up call

At the farm level, soil test, soil test, soil test

This piece came about because of a technical session I attended at scientific meetings in Saskatoon in July 2019. Rick Engel of Montana State University presented a paper showing soils on the Highwood Bench near Fort Benton, Mont., that had become so acidic crops like lentils and sunflowers would barely grow. The soils were at […] Read more


What to do about volunteer canola in 2020 after “harvest from hell”

What to do about volunteer canola in 2020 after “harvest from hell”

Here are some management steps to control this weed in your fields

Volunteer canola is a significant weed across the Prairies, and given the difficulties with the 2019 harvest, it will likely be a larger issue in the spring of 2020, says Ian Epp, Canola Council of Canada (CCC) agronomy specialist for northwest Saskatchewan. “Fields with overwintering canola or canola that came off late in harvest will […] Read more

The C650 Air Cart can be ordered in either tow-behind or tow-between configurations.

John Deere introduces new C650 air cart

The new model fills fast, calibrates easily and provides consistent product delivery

Small-grains producers and custom growers have a new option for air carts. John Deere announced it has added the C650 Air Cart to its lineup of air seeding equipment. Until now, producers had to choose from John Deere’s 550- or 850-bushel air carts, leaving a gap in the market for those who needed an in-between […] Read more


(Alexey Rezvykh/iStock/Getty Images)

‘So far, so good,’ fertilizer sector says

Fertilizer Canada says vast majority of members have sufficient supplies in place or en route

There shouldn’t be any problems in supplying farmers with fertilizer this spring, says the organization representing manufacturers and distributors. “Our members are set to go,” Fertilizer Canada president and CEO Garth Whyte said in a news release Wednesday. “COVID-19 plans were quickly established at facilities, in conjunction with being declared an essential service, there was […] Read more

Sulphur pollution has been greatly reduced in recent years, so much so that some croplands now require sulphur for specific high-demand crops.

Why is there no mention of sulphur?

The reasons behind this nutrient’s anonymity

Sulphur (S) is one of the big four macronutrient fertilizers required by both plants and animals. Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) could be added to this list but for reasons unknown they are given a lesser role in crop production in North America. When I was first involved in agriculture in the 1950s, nitrogen (N) […] Read more


Case IH is enhancing the lineup of Precision Air 5 series air carts with new features and configurations, including individual tank weigh scales and curve compensation.

Case IH debuts two new air cart models

The 725- and 915-bushel air carts give growers more flexibility than ever

A lot has changed since Case IH introduced its first air cart in 2016. The global equipment manufacturer has upgraded several features and added new configurations to its next-generation line of air carts. The 2021 models feature individual tank weight scales and curve compensation to help producers make every seed count, according to Trent Nowosad, […] Read more

There are several factors to consider to figure out why dairy cattle can be up and down on dry matter intake.

Reducing variability of dry matter intake for dairy cows

Dairy Corner: Several factors, including particle size, can affect how dairy cows eat

Optimizing dry matter intake (DMI) of a well-balanced dairy cow diet should be one of the mission statements of every dairy producer. It is the key to providing enough essential nutrients that support good milk production (and its components) in feed that cows can reasonably consume every day. Unfortunately, daily DMI among a lactating cow […] Read more