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Irrigation

For most farmers, the simplest, easiest and cheapest way to measure soil moisture is using the hand-feel method.
Columns, Crops

How to understand and measure soil water

It’s important to estimate stored soil moisture at planting to adjust crop inputs

By
Water is often the most crucial factor in controlling crop yields. The amount of water used by crops can be affected by several factors including the availability of stored soil water, amount of precipitation during the growing season, crop rooting depth and various environmental aspects such as day length, amount of solar radiation, humidity, temperature […] Read more
(Fentino/E+/Getty Images)
General, Machinery, Weather

Carbon price exemption for farm gas clears Commons

Bill C-234 next headed to Senate

By ,
Legislative amendments that would exempt farmers’ eligible purchases of natural gas and propane from federal carbon pricing are now en route to Canada’s Senate. Bill C-234, a private member’s bill sponsored by Ben Lobb, the Conservative MP for the southern Ontario riding of Huron-Bruce, passed third reading for adoption in the House of Commons on […] Read more
The tree row catches the snow, and the big slough goes from dry to high water table. In years gone by, I spent many hours with three, two-inch pumps to move water from the slough to adjacent upland — not always a huge success.
Columns, Crops

Les Henry: Twenty-seven years of crops at my Dundurn farm

And a few lessons learned

By
In the early 1990s, agriculture in Saskatchewan was still suffering from the devastation of the 1980s. Drought and poor crops with low prices were bad news. But, interest rates as high as 20 per cent were the kicker that resulted in much land going back to FCC or the Royal Bank. (Yes, Virginia, interest rates […] Read more
The benefits of irrigation in Alberta
Columns, Crops

The benefits of irrigation in Alberta

Irrigation plays a significant role in increasing crop and livestock production

By
Irrigation is often referred to as the “lifeblood” of southern Alberta. Irrigation water was first diverted from the St. Mary River in 1900 and arrived by canal system to Magrath, Raymond and Lethbridge. Now, 122 years later, just over 1.8 million acres are irrigated in Alberta. Irrigated agriculture contributes about $6.5 billion to Alberta’s GDP […] Read more
Forecast probability of temperature above, below and near normal (calibrated) for the period of March, April and May 2023. (Map by Environment and Climate Change Canada)
General, Weather

‘Normal’ spring ahead for most of the Prairies

Below-normal rains expected for southern Alberta, western Saskatchewan

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MarketsFarm — Canada’s Prairies are looking at normal temperatures over the next month to three months, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The federal department on Tuesday issued its temperature and precipitation probabilistic forecasts, which also called for normal precipitation for most of the region. “The forecast is really neutral for the Prairies, […] Read more
Marla Riekman says building a soil’s resilience will help it meet challenges during the growing season and improve overall crop growth.
Crops, Features

Strategies to increase your field’s potential

A panel discusses the importance of soil structure, tile drainage benefits and using precision ag and conservation to increase farm profitability

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Farming has existed in one shape or form for more than 10,000 years. While farming methods have evolved considerably over that time, one thing that has remained the same is a desire among producers to get the most possible out of their land. Improving every acre was the focus of a panel discussion at Canola […] Read more
Four years of plot and field research by Farming Smarter to study the use of a precision planter, such as this Monosem planter to seed grains, oilseeds and pulse crops, show overall the planters produce an even crop stand and good yields particularly on 12-inch row spacing.
Crops, Features

In search of a uniform crop stand

Seeding research and technology are working to help farmers increase yields with potential to reduce input costs

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If uniformity of stand establishment is a key element to optimizing crop yield, is one seeding system better than another? Should you run out and buy something new? According to Jason Casselman, an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada, farmers can make gains in the uniformity of their canola stands just by paying […] Read more
Bill Meneley (wearing sunglasses) checks out a flowing well on the farm of Gerry Wiens of Beechy, Sask.
Columns, Crops

Les Henry: Why do wells flow?

How to plug them and how not to plug them

By
I will dedicate this piece to the memory of Bill Meneley (1933-2000), a hydrogeologist of much renown and our special consultant for the soil salinity work of the 1980s and ’90s. Those of you long enough in the tooth might remember the famous Red Adair, who was called in whenever a problem oil gusher was […] Read more
photo: Beatriz Montes Duran/istock/getty images
Features

Meta-analysis in canola

A review of nutrient and water use efficiency studies provides some valuable insights for farmers

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Rising fertilizer prices and perilously low levels of precipitation in many areas have delivered a dangerous one-two punch to farmers across the Canadian Prairies over the past few years. A recent study conducted by a team of researchers in Alberta could offer producers hope on how best to contend with such extreme conditions. The researchers […] Read more
In drier Prairie regions, there is less benefit to using enhanced efficiency fertilizers such as ESN or Super-U.
Columns, Crops

Nitrogen fertilizer management to reduce nitrous oxide emissions, Part 2

Adopt 4R practices appropriate for your farm’s crops, soils, landscapes and agro-ecological areas

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In the last issue of Grainews (see ‘Nitrogen fertilizer management to reduce nitrous oxide emissions, Part 1’), I discussed the government of Canada’s target to reduce levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fertilizer application 30 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030. As stated in that feature, it is my opinion many western Canadian […] Read more

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