Fertilizer Archives - Page 79 of 83

Melissa Werkema’s Future Analytics Inc. offers “plant sap” testing, which measures the xylem sap in plant leaves as an indicator of nutrient availability.

New lab offers plant sap analysis

Tired of the same old soil and tissue tests? Try this

By Julienne Isaacs February 13, 2020

A new, independent lab is offering an innovative nutrient test to farmers in Red Deer, Alta. Future Analytics Inc. offers “plant sap” testing, which measures the xylem sap in plant leaves as an indicator of nutrient availability, as well as water, soil and bacteria testing, says owner Melissa Werkema. The lab, which opened in spring […] Read more

Closeup of a plowed field, fertile, black soil.

Crops, Features

The five principles of soil health

USDA researcher says healthy soil needs a systems approach

By Angela Lovell February 10, 2020

At the Regenerative Agriculture Forum in Brandon in November, Jay Fuhrer, soil health specialist with the Natural Resource Conservation Service of the USDA, spoke about soil health. Fuhrer has identified five principles of soil health, and how they work to improve soil health and increase productivity. Fuhrer defined soil health is defined as “the continued […] Read more

Farming Smarter has been looking at the potential of precision planters for grain, pulse and oilseed crops for several years.

Crops, Equipment, Features

Precision planter research is encouraging

Still many questions about how it would fit for grains, pulses and oilseed crops

By Lee Hart February 10, 2020

Southern Alberta researchers say there is increasing evidence that seeding a wide range of western Canadian field crops with a vacuum or precision planter makes sense, but they need co-operative weather to prove it. That’s how Ken Coles and Lewis Baarda with the Lethbridge-based Farming Smarter applied research organization sum up results of several years […] Read more

Smoke rises from the site of burning railcars at a CP derailment near Guernsey, Sask., on Feb. 6, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Nayan Sthankiya)

Crops, Machinery, Reuters

Canada to cut speed limits for trains hauling dangerous goods

New curb follows another Saskatchewan crash, fire

By Rod Nickel, GFM Network News February 6, 2020

Ottawa/Winnipeg | Reuters — The federal government said Thursday it would impose temporary speed limits on trains hauling dangerous goods after a Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) crude oil train derailed and caught fire. The accident, which happened in the early hours of Thursday near Guernsey, Sask., about 40 km south of Humboldt, was the second […] Read more

Farmers take a look at smaller-scale plots on a tour of the research farm at Carman, Man., in the summer of 2019.

Crops

Testing the cover crop hypothesis

Agronomy researchers are catching up with what farmers are doing in their fields

By Angela Lovell February 6, 2020

It’s an exciting time for cover crop research. Last summer, many large-scale cover crop trials were underway across the Prairies looking at everything from cover crop combinations, rotations and planting methods to pollinator strips. One of the biggest ongoing projects, funded by Western Grains Research Foundation, Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers and Manitoba Pulse and […] Read more

Jeff’s durum crop was patchy and uneven. Most of the affected areas were on the tops of knolls within the field.

Crops, Features

Crop advisor casebook: Why is this durum crop patchy, uneven and with discoloured leaves?

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the February 4, 2020 issue of Grainews

By Cara Schlaht February 6, 2020

Jeff, a mixed grain and livestock producer who farms near Vulcan, Alta., called me in early June about a problem in one of his durum wheat fields. Earlier that day, Jeff had noticed the crop looked patchy and uneven while driving by the field. When he walked into the field to investigate, he could see […] Read more

Palestinian farmers, helped by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), use tractors to plow a field near the Israel Gaza border in the central Gaza Strip on Feb. 3, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)

Cereals, Crops, Reuters

Gaza farmers return to lands along volatile Israeli border

By GFM Network News February 5, 2020

Gaza | Reuters — Returning to his fields for the first time in 14 years, Palestinian farmer Naser Abu Isaeed surveyed the toll taken by conflict on formerly productive soil. “I saw an empty area full of holes and dry weeds,” said Abu Isaeed, who once grew fruit on the tracts along Gaza’s volatile border […] Read more

Crops, Markets

Virus fears weigh on global shipping sector

By MarketsFarm Team, GFM Network News February 4, 2020

MarketsFarm — Global shipping rates continue to decline, hitting record lows in some cases, amid declining demand and concerns over the coronavirus outbreak in China. The Baltic Dry Index (BDI), compiled by the London-based Baltic Exchange, provides an assessment of the price of moving major raw materials by sea. The BDI has fallen for 13 […] Read more

Farmers dump bags of corn grain in front of the Papineau riding office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Montreal, as they protest the lack of propane due to the CN strike, on Nov. 25, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Christinne Muschi)

Crops, Machinery, Markets

CN conductors approve post-strike deal

By Glacier FarmMedia staff, GFM Network News January 31, 2020

Canadian National Railway’s conductors and yard workers have voted for at least another two and a half years of labour peace with the company. The affected employees, members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, voted 91.3 per cent to ratify a three-year contract with CN, retroactive to last July 23, the union said in a […] Read more

Along with three other owner/operators, Enns manages 10,600 acres of grains near Rosthern, Sask.

Barley, Crops, Features

Making malt barley: six tips for success

Top malt barley growers offer their advice to get your barley crop to make malt 

By Melanie Epp January 31, 2020

Barley produced for malting must meet strict quality standards before acceptance by end users. A crop that doesn’t make malt will be sold off as feed, often at considerable economic loss. Two large-scale malt barley producers share their tips on which management practices they employ to ensure their crop makes malt. John Burns is part […] Read more

Daily Network News

Southern California honeybees show resistance to varroa mites

Pulse Weekly: SaskPulse optimistic despite input, crop price concerns

Canadian aquaculture should be classed as agriculture, industry groups say

Fertilizer