Maintaining and improving soil organic matter is vital to crop production and soil health. I consider the soil micro-organisms much like a feedlot — I have to think about feeding the soil biology.” – Tim Nerbas.

Sask. farmer’s soil health approach results in ‘soil armour’

Farmer Tim Nerbas protects his soil with a layer of organic material he calls “soil armour.” He says that and other conservation farming practices to improve soil health on his farm may take time — but it’s worth the wait

Northwest Saskatchewan farmer Tim Nerbas knows if he does the best job of managing crop production above ground, it is probably providing the most benefit to all activity going on below ground. He doesn’t test to measure the amount of organic matter in the soil on his 4,000-acre grain, oilseed and pulse crop operation near […] Read more

This map shows the soil zones of the Canadian Prairies and the corresponding wheat yields and water use.

Les Henry: Palliser’s famous triangle and soil zones of the Prairie provinces

Let's get back to basics

The map, “Soil Zones of the Canadian Prairies,” in this article is the fold-out frontispiece of Henry’s Handbook of Soil and Water. The soil zones are actually soil climatic zones. The long-term climate is written in the topsoil of the various soil zones. The soil zones have been the framework within which agronomic recommendations have […] Read more


Figure 1. The fencer pushes out electric pulses, the cow connects the current through the earth and back through the ground rods to the fencer.

Zapping your way to improved pastures

Electric fencing is an important tool to improved pasture and grazing management

In the last while I have taken an increasing number of calls about electric fencing. I think this is largely due to lack of rainfall in a lot of areas, but also a renewed interest in adding productivity to pastures and forage. Another big reason is that electric fence can be significantly cheaper to install […] Read more

Nestled atop cuttings of fresh thyme are pieces of that wonderful Icelandic and Swedish torte known as Vinarterta. A soft dough is thinly rolled into five equal portions, pricked with a fork and baked about 10 minutes until light golden brown. A cooked prune filling with other key ingredients is spread between the baked layers of Vinarterta dough sections.

Why every gardener should grow some thyme

Plus, a bit about cakes and country music and wild lettuce

So how’s everybody out there in Grainews country doing anyhow? Continuing research reminds us that home garden veggies, herbs and flowers, orchards and backyard-grown fruits along with field grains and wild forest plants all contain many powerful disease-inhibiting and healing nutrients. Reaping their protective benefits requires a lifetime of sensible eating and drinking habits while learning […] Read more


Award-winning Cascadia shows both flowers and forming snap peas. Green edible pods are a nice length, crunchy, sweet and juicy.

Sweet peas, snap peas and shelling peas

Plus, understanding acidity and alkalinity of soil

Let’s plant some edible snap peas and shelling peas. Plus — a bit of this and a bit o’ that. Gardeners phone, others write and I always appreciate face-to-face meetings. Here’s one gardener’s experience with Epsom salt. Tells me he sprays tomato and pepper plants at blossoming time with a weak solution of Epsom salt […] Read more

A field with the typical very red clay in Rollo Bay West, P.E.I.

Les Henry: Thank you to my readers

Your letters and book orders are excellent learning opportunities and inspiration for my scribbles

We have received many letters and book orders with kind words, which is a great inspiration to keep scribbling, but it’s often also a chance for learning. In today’s world, it is a simple matter to use Google Earth and take a flyover. In many cases, one can also drop down via street view and […] Read more