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Irrigation

AAFC’s Drought Monitor map at April 30, 2022. (Agriculture.canada.ca)
General, Weather

Drought gone in Manitoba but worsening in Alberta, AAFC reports

By
MarketsFarm — Record-breaking precipitation in southern Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan helped improve moisture conditions in the region in April, taking much of the area out of the drought classification, according to the latest Drought Monitor report from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) for the period ended April 30. Two separate Colorado lows brought significant snow, […] Read more
Kees Van Beek, SDI director at Southern Irrigation, examines some winter wheat plants grown with subsurface drip irrigation at Lawrence Vandervalk’s farm in Nobleford, Alta., in 2021.
Crops, Features

A new way to water crops

Some Prairie farmers are opting for subsurface drip irrigation to boost crop production and increase water use efficiency

By
They’re a rarity in Western Canada right now, but that didn’t stop Lawrence Vandervalk from installing a subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) system on his farm in Alberta. “Technology doesn’t stand still. Technology keeps moving forward. This is just another step in the progression of irrigation, and I think it’s a big step,” says Vandervalk, who […] Read more
It is much easier for optimum silage cutting to have fields level and rocks pushed into the ground thanks to rolling the field. But what is the best timing for field rolling? Ongoing research by Farming Smarter to examine proper timing of field rolling is showing rolling fields once the crop gets to the fourth-leaf and first-node stages can reduce both yield and quality of barley.
Crops, Features

Roll, roll, roll your fields

The next line might not be gently down the stream, but more along the lines of sooner rather than later

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If you are a barley grower who likes to roll fields to make them level before harvest, don’t do it the day before your agronomist arrives to do field scouting. It makes it difficult for them to find the weeds. That may be one important reason to roll fields earlier in the spring as opposed […] Read more
AAFC’s Drought Monitor map for the period ending March 31, 2022. (Agriculture.canada.ca)
Crops, Weather

Drought severity easing across much of Prairies, AAFC reports

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MarketsFarm — Drought conditions persisted across much of the Prairies during the month of March, although the extent and severity of the dryness was reduced in many areas, according to the latest Drought Monitor report from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). “While there have been substantial improvements to drought conditions across Western Canada since last […] Read more
Hunter Goliath turnips can be an excellent forage cover crop, although as the White Lake Colony learned one concern with turnips, especially if there is a high percentage in the forage mix is that the high protein crop “runs through the cattle too fast; the cows get very loose manure”.
Cattleman’s Corner, Crops

Experimenting with irrigated cover crops

Program helps to extend the grazing season while also helping to benefit the soil

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The White Lake Hutterite Colony near Nobleford, about half an hour northwest of Lethbridge, Alberta produces both beef cattle along with annual crops, and in recent years they’ve started looking at growing cover crops under irrigation. Cattle manager Jerry Hofer has been trying several different species to be seeded after taking off soft white wheat […] Read more
The Bell Farm. Oil on canvas painted in 1985 by Fran Henry (1942-1988).
Columns, Crops

Les Henry: Big farms are not a new idea

There have been winners and losers over the years

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There has been much ink spilled this winter talking about big farms and the problem of too few medium-sized farms to pick up the equipment trade-ins from big farms. Part of the problem is the electronic bells and whistles that dust out when the mechanical parts have much useful service left. Bells start ringing and […] Read more
In a 150-acre quarter, the grower losses are $24,300. That’s a loss of 24 cows.
Columns, Crops

Why should you rotate your crops?

Practical Research: Consider these consequences

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Why do we recommend crop rotations in temperate climates? As you may know, many crops like sugar cane can be grown for two to three years and even up to 10 harvests. Alfalfa crops last five to 10 years. In the southern Prairies, the standard crop rotation used to be wheat, fallow, wheat. Now with […] Read more
Drought conditions in Canada at Feb. 28, 2022. (Map courtesy Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
Crops, Weather

Most of Prairies still very dry, but recovery possible

Southern Manitoba considered out of drought

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MarketsFarm — Despite the Prairies receiving above-normal amounts of precipitation during February, the great majority of the region remained highly vulnerable to more dryness going into spring, according to the Canadian Drought Monitor. The monitor’s latest report showed those areas of the Prairies tackling extreme drought to have retracted somewhat. As of Feb. 28, that […] Read more
soil test
Columns, Crops

How to develop sulphur fertilizer recommendations

Here’s how to take samples, interpret soil test results and more

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In recent Grainews issues, I have discussed developing nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizer recommendations. I will continue with this theme and discuss developing sulphur (S) fertilizer recommendations in this column. Sulphur deficiency was first observed in Alberta more than 90 years ago on grey wooded soils. Over the past 30 years, sulphur […] Read more
Four generations of the Cole family enjoying a harvest meal in the field at the family farm near Coronation, Alta.
Features

New investment model provides capital for land acquisitions and farmland improvement

With investments from Area One Farms, an Alberta farmer expands his operation so his kids and their families can return home to farm

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It was seven or so years ago that Kurt Cole realized he needed a bigger farm. Three of his five daughters and their families wanted to return home to farm with Cole, so the Alberta grain producer started searching for a way to raise $7 million — the price tag for some nearby land belonging […] Read more

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