At this time of year, the popular press is loaded with promotional information in the form of advertising and news articles, touting the benefits of all kinds of crop yield boosting products. These may include: soil conditioners; nonconventional or speciality fertilizers; wetting agents and surfactants; biological inoculants and activators; and plant stimulants and growth regulators. […] Read more
Yield boosting production information
Agronomy Management: Just because someone tells you something doesn’t mean it’s true. Base your choices on good sources
Rutted fields and soil compaction
What are the best ways to alleviate damaged fields in the spring?
Persistent rains with cold, damp conditions in September and October made harvest last fall even more stressful that usual for many farmers. Trucks, grain carts and combines in wet fields have left moderate to severe ruts in fields across the Prairie. Ruts must be fixed before spring planting. Many farmers are also worried about soil […] Read more
Get your farm ready for global warming
Agronomy management: How can you adapt your Prairie farm to changing climate conditions in the years to come?
Many Prairie farmers have gradually come to accept that global warming is real. Over the past 60 years, our Prairie climate has been gradually changing. In most regions of the Prairies the length of the growing season has increased, the amount of heat (growing degree days and crop heat units) has increased and the number […] Read more
Getting the most from soil test reports
Ratings vary depending on crop type, yield goal and soil zone
When you understand your soil reports, you’re in a better position to develop fertilizer plans with your agronomist. All soil testing labs report the same basic information, but each lab has its own unique format. No matter what your report looks like, first, check the information at the top: your name, address, field name, etc. […] Read more
Start planning spring crop rotations
Strong crop rotations can bring along a wealth of long-term agronomic benefits
Crop rotations can be used to take advantage of differences in how each crop in a rotation contributes to increased soil organic matter, aids in pest management, manages soil nutrients and controls soil erosion. Rotating different crops in the same field can effectively promote sustainable crop production. If you haven’t already started planning your crops […] Read more
Western Canadian agronomy extension
Working together could go a long way to benefit both farmers and agronomists
Where do you go for reliable, unbiased, up-to-date agronomy advice? It’s difficult to keep up with and evaluate the latest agronomic opportunities, innovations, research and technologies that might benefit the bottom line of your farming operation. To further complicate things, information different sources can be contradictory. Different companies often have conflicting information or recommendations. How […] Read more
The direction of western Canadian agronomic research today
How agronomic research in Western Canada can be more effective and efficient
Prairie farmers have become very successful at growing very good yielding, high quality crops. Success is due in large part to many years of excellent agronomic research including advances in crop breeding, sustainable crop rotations, improved soil management, development of direct seeding technology, development of fertilizer and nutrient management practices and improved management to control weeds, […] Read more
Loss of our prime agricultural lands
Agronomy Management: In Western Canada, we're losing our most productive lands
Soil and water are the most important sustainable natural resources in Western Canada. Both are essential to produce food and sustain human life. We hear a lot about the dwindling quality and availability of freshwater supplies, but society does not recognize the importance of soil. We continue to lose more and more of our best […] Read more
In-crop nitrogen fertilizer application
Agronomy Management: In-crop N application is becoming more popular. But is it a good fit for your farm?
Many farmers in Western Canada band their nitrogen (N) fertilizer before seeding or place all fertilizer in a side or mid-row band at the time of planting for their cereal and oilseed crops. Both are very sound practices. After seeding, most of the N fertilizer will slowly convert from ammonium nitrate (NH4+) to nitrate nitrogen (NO3-), the form […] Read more
Understanding soil compaction
Agronomy Management: How to manage each of the three main types of compaction in your fields
In the last issue of Grainews I wrote about the effects of compaction on soil. Now, I’ll discuss the specific types of soil compaction and the ways each type can be managed. 1. Surface soil crusting This type of compaction is caused by a combination of soil tillage and raindrop impact. Causes: Tillage can bury much of […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
