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Irrigation

Les Henry: A look at soil nitrate-nitrogen
Columns, Crops

Les Henry: A look at soil nitrate-nitrogen

Is there enough residual nitrate-nitrogen in the soil to feed 2022 crops?

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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
(Creativex/iStock/Getty Images)
General, Weather

Flooding in Manitoba hinges on coming spring melt

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MarketsFarm — Manitoba’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre (HFC) released an initial spring flood outlook report Friday citing the risk of moderate to major flooding in most the province’s southern basins. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk said the amount of flooding will depend on weather conditions from now until spring melt. The HFC advised that, while […] Read more
A highly saturated area in a canola field in Manitoba’s Interlake in 2016, and a good visual of what happens when water comes in faster than it can dissipate.
Columns, Crops

Les Henry: Some facts on precipitation cycles

What goes around comes around

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This piece deals with long-term water table records as a basis for tracing long-ago annual precipitation. I am dedicating this to the memory of Bill Meneley (1933-2000), who was responsible for establishing the observation wells, which are the basis of what I have to say. He started that work while with the Saskatchewan Research Council. […] Read more
Variable-rate irrigation was used to even out maturity in this wheat field on Dennis Bulani’s Saskatchewan farm.
Crops, Features

Expand your VRT toolset

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

By
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
AAFC’s Drought Monitor map effective Jan. 31, 2022. (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
Crops, Weather

Drought conditions ease slightly across Prairies

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MarketsFarm — Mixed precipitation throughout January helped drought conditions improve across much of the Canadian Prairies during the month, according to the latest Drought Monitor report from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), released Tuesday. Conditions have deteriorated in some areas, however, and the majority of Western Canada was still in some kind of drought state. […] Read more
Les Henry: Soil moisture map for 2022
Columns, Crops

Les Henry: Soil moisture map for 2022

The soil reserve we’ve become accustomed to over the past decade is just not there

By
It is no surprise to readers that this year’s freeze-up soil moisture map required a lot of red ink to print. In the Allan Hills, where my Dundurn farm is located, folks can drive combines with a full tank of grain through sloughs that needed a canoe to cross a few years ago. You do […] Read more
fertilizer spreading in the field
Columns, Crops

How to develop nitrogen fertilizer recommendations

Each field and crop deserves thought and attention

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In last December’s Grainews, I discussed interpretation of soil test reports. In this column, I will discuss developing nitrogen (N) recommendations. In the next several columns, I will discuss developing fertilizer recommendations for phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulphur (S) and other nutrients. Western Canadian farmers spend more money on nitrogen fertilizer than all other nutrients […] Read more
To make a soil moisture map, one must understand soil moisture.
Columns, Crops

Les Henry: Soil moisture maps. How it all happened

The adventure began more than 40 years ago

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The feature “Catalogue houses: Eaton’s and others and how it all happened” in the November 2021 issue of Grainews, gave a blow-by-blow account of how my book on the topic came about. The response has been tremendous, and many thanks to readers. Your letters, emails and book orders are very much appreciated. In this piece, […] Read more
Canadian Drought Monitor map of drought conditions and intensity in Canada at Nov. 30, 2021. (AAFC)
Crops, Weather

Precipitation eases drought conditions on Prairies

Hardest-hit Manitoba sees 'modest' improvements

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MarketsFarm — Varied amounts of precipitation are either maintaining or alleviating drought conditions in much of the Prairies, according to the latest nationwide drought map from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Canadian Drought Monitor (CDM). The latest assessment for the period ended Nov. 30 showed very few areas of worsening drought in the region with […] Read more
Some of the NextGen Drainage Solutions equipment installing drainage pipe. Owen Orsak says after installing tile drainage on a 260-acre field, he can now seed and harvest 260 acres.
Crops, Features

A dry year is a good time to talk drainage

Tile drainage systems need to be properly planned, but farmers say they are well worth the effort

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Western Canadian farmers like their tile drainage projects. They are not particularly cheap improvements. Costs vary widely depending on size and complexity of the project but, on average, figure on about $1,000 per acre to get pipe in the ground. But the benefits, according to this October’s farmer panel members, are many: A tile drainage […] Read more

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