A thick black soil with more consistent rainfall will often outdo a loam soil in the dark brown zone, but the differences are nowhere near what they were when the biggest input was the seed in the ground. Soil fertility is the ability of a soil to supply the necessary plant nutrients to a growing […] Read more
Management Is The Great Leveler
The annual Saskatchewan Soils and Crops Conference was held at U of S in late February. Here are some highlights and comments.
One thing I have missed since the demise of provincial soil testing labs is soil test summaries. Ed Hammermeister of Western Ag labs presented a very good summary of their Saskatchewan data for 2007 and 2008. Western Ag Labs uses Plant Root Simulator probes, which measure supply rate of nutrients rather than a stated quantity. […] Read more
In these days of unparalleled uncertainty, we at least have our senses to guide us — or at least keep us sane.
When oil was $140 a barrel, I asked some of my advisors what would happen when oil goes back to $50. Laughter, laughter and hysterical laughter were the result. In all my years involved in the farming industry, the 2009 crop will go down in history as the one fraught with the most uncertainty. One […] Read more
For more details, visit www.cropweek.com
J. L. (Les) Henry is a former professor and extension specialist at the University of Saskatchewan. He farms near Dundurn, Sask. Saskatoon is the place to be January 10-17, 2009 for the combined Western Canadian Crop Production Show and Crop Production Week. The Crop Production Show at Prairieland Park is a huge display of equipment, […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
