Angela Lovell

In this second part of a three-part series, Angela Lovell looks at how 
a changing climate could change yields and growing conditions


Most plants respond positively to elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and low levels of warming, but higher levels of warming often negatively affect growth and yields, says a 2009 report by the U.S. Global Change Research Program (GCRP). As CO2 levels rise, the positive effect on plant growth is likely to be soon overtaken by the […] Read more

Seed-placed phosphorus can give plants an extra boost early in the season, 
but it’s important to think about your entire rotation


Seed-placed fertilizers give plants that extra boost early in the season and are especially useful to provide the phosphorus that plants need right from the get go. But with the introduction of new crops like soybeans into Prairie rotations, seed-placing phosphorus has become more complex. Soybeans and canola are both highly sensitive to seed-placed fertilizers. […] Read more

In this three-part series on climate change, Angela Lovell takes a look at 
what our Prairie farms might look like in 30 years

This is the first in a three-part series on how climate change might impact agriculture on the Canadian Prairies. If, as climate scientists predict, Canada’s Prairie region is significantly warmer in 30 years than it is now, the farm could have a very different mix of crops and livestock, some new agronomic practices, a few […] Read more

Natural air grain drying is governed by the principle of Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC): the moisture content that grain will attain if exposed to air of a specific relative humidity and temperature for a long enough duration. Each grain will have a different EMC based on the moisture of the outside air. For example the […] Read more

Reports about the best times to run aeration plans have been conflicting, and sometimes confusing. Moisture sensor cables can bring 
all the information together

Farmers can hardly be blamed for being a bit confused about using aeration to dry their grain in the bin. They are told to turn their fans off at night, or only run them at night or run them continuously until that grain is down to the moisture level they want. Proponents of each method […] Read more

The PinPoint spraying system allows farmers to keep spray 
pressure constant, even while turning corners

PinPoint is a recently released spraying system that is generating a lot of interest among farmers, because of some advanced features that they haven’t seen before, such as individual nozzle shut off and turn compensation. Farmers have been using other products like Aim Command and Sharpshooter for a while, and these popular sprayer control systems have allowed them […] Read more

Looking for a way to keep canola pods from shattering during the harvest? 
Pod sealants may not be a magic cure, but they could provide peace of mind

When pod sealants arrived on the market in Western Canada a few years ago there was considerable interest from farmers who were experiencing problems with pod shatter in canola. Pod shatter is a big concern when straight combining canola, especially if harvest is delayed. There have been reported yield losses up to 50 per cent relative to […] Read more

Many farmers are dealing with seed infected with fusarium head blight (FHB). This four-step management plan can help keep it under control


When farmers pick up their cereal seed this year, what’s on their mind will largely depend on where they live, especially when it comes to concerns about fusarium head blight (FHB). Fusarium on the Prairies In Alberta, farmers purchasing seed from retailers can be confident that seed is not infected with Fusarium graminearum, the species […] Read more