The process seems straightforward — go to the field, collect soil in a pail and ship it to a lab — but all soil sampling services are not created equally! Ask these five questions to better understand the services offered. 

1. What type of equipment do you use?
Most soil samplers use hydraulic equipment to make collection quicker and easier. These tools allow sampling at greater depths and in tougher soils (frozen, compacted, etc.) than a hand-operated probe. 

Auger and probe-style samplers are both effective, but auger-style samplers generally mix the soil too much to separate cores into different depths.

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2. What sampling depths are offered?
The ideal sampling depth for nitrate and sulfur is 24 inches but sampling this deep is sometimes impractical. A 12-inch sample generally provides a good approximation. Phosphorus, potassium, most micronutrients, organic matter and pH are best analyzed using a six-inch sample but can be estimated using a 12-inch sample as well. 

Your soil sampler may offer split sample depths — zero to six inches and six to 24 inches provides the best of both worlds when available. 

3. How are sampling locations selected?
Most soil samples are “random composite,” meaning cores are collected at random from representative areas across the field. Sampling locations can be chosen by the soil sampler on the go, or they may be planned in advance using historical satellite imagery, soil or yield maps and/or the input of an experienced agronomist. 

Benchmark sampling is an efficient method where only a small but representative area is sampled. To ensure it is a good representation of the field, the benchmark area must be selected by a qualified agronomist alongside the producer.

Samplers may offer advanced techniques, like grid or zone sampling, which can be costly but provide more detailed information.

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4. Are sampling locations recorded for future reference?
Some samplers use software that records GPS coordinates for each sampling location. The sampler can then return to the same locations year after year, providing a more accurate picture of changes to soil characteristics and fertility over time as spatial variability is reduced. 

If odd or unexpected results come back from the lab, reviewing sampling locations can reveal whether non-representative soil cores may have skewed results. 

5. What lab are samples sent to? 
There are several soil laboratory options, and samplers may prefer to work with specific labs. Look for labs based in Western Canada that use a modified Kelowna extraction and are calibrated to the region’s soils and crops. 

– Stacie Yaremko, PAg, CCA, is a manager of agronomic solutions in the Peace Region of northern Alberta for Nutrien Ag Solutions.

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A: In the spring, the threat of insects may seem far off, but there are steps you can take at seeding time to reduce the risk of insect damage. Proactive measures are powerful tools to protect yield and reduce the amount of foliar insecticides applied in crop, saving time and money while preserving beneficial insect populations.

The first step of a well-rounded approach to insect management is to be aware of past insect issues and anticipate what problems could arise going forward. 

Scouting or working with a trusted agronomist allow for insects to be correctly identified in season. While it is too late to act proactively once an issue is identified, having the information will be helpful to future seasons. 

Next, ask yourself the following questions. If insect damage has been identified in the past, what were some of the factors that contributed to high levels of damage? Could changes to crop rotation, variety selection, seeding rate and seed treatments mitigate the issue? 

Crop rotation provides many agronomic benefits and insect management is no exception. When the same crop is grown on the same field for multiple seasons in a row, populations of crop pest insects are allowed to build up with a constant availability of food and habitat. Growing non-host crops breaks this cycle. 

In addition to crop rotation, varietal selection is a highly effective tool against insect damage. There are wheat varieties that provide protection from wheat midge and wheat stem sawfly. Corn hybrids are available with a trait to protect against corn borer. If these insects are known issues on your farm, selecting a resistant variety is an excellent option. 

Once you’re ready to select a seeding rate, insect management should be taken into consideration along with other factors. For example, thinner plant stands are exacerbated by insect damage, leaving fewer healthy plants. 

Damage from flea beetles and cutworms, which can remove entire plants, becomes more serious when there are fewer plants to begin with. For pests like wheat midge, having a full and uniform plant stand reduces the amount of time the crop is in a vulnerable stage and makes timing a foliar insecticide application simpler, if needed. 

Lastly, choosing an insecticidal seed treatment provides protection from early-season insect pressure. Base canola seed treatments provide broad-spectrum insect control with add-on treatments available for enhanced activity on flea beetles and/or cutworms. For some insects like pea leaf weevil, insecticidal seed treatments are the only viable chemical control option — foliar insecticides are ineffective. 

An integrated, proactive approach to insect management is often much more effective than a reactive strategy, but it does require planning ahead. Taking a few minutes before seeding gets too hectic to plan your insect management strategy for the coming season will pay dividends.

Stacie Yaremko, PAg, CCA, is the manager of agronomic solutions in the Peace Region of northern Alberta for Nutrien Ag Solutions.

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A: Aphanomyces is a serious soil-borne disease of peas and lentils that is becoming increasingly widespread in Western Canada.

Aphanomyces euteiches is a root rot pathogen that thrives under wet conditions. Symptoms are often first detected in low spots or the perimeter of drowned-out areas; however, whole fields can be affected. Under severe infections, yield losses can be as high as 70 per cent.

If you suspect you may have aphanomyces, early detection is key. Little can be done to control an infection in season, but management strategies can be put into place to prevent severe infections in the future.

Infected plants will appear wilted and yellow. Roots will become mushy and may have a caramel discolouration, but this can be masked by other root rots. The best way to confirm an aphanomyces infection is by submitting a soil or root sample to a lab.

Once aphanomyces is detected, there is no silver bullet for control. There are no foliar fungicides registered for aphanomyces, and work on varietal resistance is ongoing. Seed treatments for aphanomyces are available; however, infection of mature plants can occur well into summer and seed treatments only offer seedling protection.

Long rotations are central to an effective management strategy. The pathogen can survive in the soil for many years without a host, so a six- to eight-year break from susceptible crops is recommended. Cereals and oilseeds, including wheat, barley, oats, canola and soybeans, are non-hosts.

Faba beans, which are partially resistant to aphanomyces, are a good pulse crop option during the six- to eight-year break from peas and lentils. Forage crops should be selected carefully, as some forage legumes are highly susceptible to aphanomyces (e.g. cicer milk vetch) while others are partially resistant (e.g. sanfoin).

Heavy, wet and compacted soils are at the greatest risk for disease development. Effective management strategies include drainage and water management, compaction management and field selection for fast-drain- ing soils. Field selection should also consider history of pulse crops and past observations of root rot presence and severity.

Fields with a history of severe root rots should be avoided. As much as possible, prevent the spread of disease by reducing movement of soil between fields.

As always, crop nutrition is vital. Plants with access to adequate nutrients are less susceptible to disease. Properly inoculating pea and lentil crops gives them the best chance of fixing enough nitrogen to meet their needs. Whenever possible, refer to a recent soil test to ensure all other nutrient requirements are being met.

Stacie Yaremko, CCA, PAg, is a manager of agronomic services for Nutrien Ag Solutions in northern Alberta.

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A: When choosing an inoculant, first select the correct species of rhizobia. There are many species, each linked to a specific set of pulse crop hosts. For example, the rhizobia species Bradyrhizobia japonicum will colonize soybean roots but not pea roots.

Inoculant formulation is also important. Liquid and peat inoculants are applied directly to the seed, while granular inoculants are placed in the soil at planting. Liquid inoculants, although easy to handle, should only be used if the field has a history of the pulse crop grown in rotation. Because the liquid carrier offers limited protection for the rhizobia, survivability can be a challenge in suboptimal conditions. Most of the risk centres around desiccation of the rhizobia which can be reduced by planting as soon as possible into moist soil.

Peat inoculants can be messier to handle, but they tend to perform better than liquid inoculants. Peat carriers provide more protection to the live rhizobia, but this protection also has limits, so it’s still important to plant soon after application.

Peat inoculants are available in sterile and non-sterile formulations. The peat sterilization process increases cost but reduces the amount of undesirable microorganisms present. This results in higher concentrations of rhizobia and generally lower application rates.

When using a seed treatment, ensure it’s compatible with your peat or liquid inoculant. Compatibility charts are available from your retailer or the inoculant manufacturer.

Granular inoculants generally produce the best results, but they tend to be the most expensive and require a separate tank for application. Granular inoculants cannot be mixed with dry fertilizer as direct contact with fertilizer can be harmful to the rhizobia.

When planting soybeans, double inoculating may be advisable. If the field has a limited history of soybeans or hasn’t been planted to soybeans in several years, using two types of inoculant (e.g. liquid on the seed, granular in the seed row) is often beneficial.

With all formulations, remember that inoculants contain live organ- isms. Store in a cool, dry area and handle with care.

Stacie Yaremko, P. Ag, CCA, is a manager of agronomic services with Nutrien Ag Solutions in northern Alberta.

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A. As the current season ends, growers have an excellent opportunity to carry lessons learned into next year.

Now is a good time to take stock of observations made from the swather or combine cab. Lodging may be an indication of disease, seeding rate or nutrient management issues. Patches of perennial weeds, like Canada thistle, may warrant a post-harvest herbicide application if time permits. Canola fields can be checked for clubroot and blackleg where suspicious patches are identified. Fields with wild oats that escaped herbicide control can be sampled and tested for resistance and pre-emerge herbicides can be considered to switch up groups.

Now is also a good time to consider soil sampling. Sampling after soil temperatures drop below 10 C in the fall provides a good picture of nutrient levels and can guide 2020 fertility plans. Also consider testing any farm-saved seed. It is important to test germination, especially given the challenging growing season and harvest, but also do a fungal screen to determine which pathogens are present and choose an appropriate seed treatment.

With marketing challenges affecting multiple commodities, now may be a good time to think about changing your crop rotation or adding new crops.

Hauling grain to the elevator might uncover issues like fusarium head blight (FHB), wheat midge, low protein or glyphosate damage at grading time. Make management changes next year to mitigate these issues, like budgeting for a FHB fungicide on cereals, selecting midge-tolerant wheat varieties, evaluating a nitrogen fertility program for wheat or taking extra care when staging crops for pre-harvest glyphosate timing.

Stacie Yaremko, P Ag, CCA, is a manager of agronomic services for Nutrien Ag Solutions in northern Alberta.

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A. There are many benefits to planting a cover crop (sometimes referred to as a companion or nurse crop) for forage establishment. Cover crops commonly planted alongside perennial forages include oats, barley and wheat.

Before a forage stand becomes well established, bare soil can be left exposed. A cover crop can provide ground cover more quickly than a newly planted forage, reducing evaporative water loss, soil erosion and weed competition. However, cover crops compete for water and nutrients and can shade the forage crop from sunlight. This takes resources away from the forage crop and often results in slower establishment. Forage stands established under a cover crop are typically less productive than those planted without a cover crop in the year of planting, and sometimes several years after. The biomass produced by the cover crop offsets this difference, but forage productivity is reduced.

A cover crop can be a practical solution in high-risk scenarios in terms of soil erosion, soil crusting, weed pressure, or when it is imperative that silage or greenfeed be harvested in the year of planting. When planting a cover crop, choose a less competitive species and seed at less than half of a normal rate. Be mindful of nutrient levels as well; high nitrogen rates encourage vegetative growth in the cover crop, which can lead to lodging and excessive shading of the forage crop. Harvesting the cover crop as silage or greenfeed is advisable because competition is alleviated early in the season. Allowing the cover crop to mature to be harvested as grain is not recommended.

Choosing to plant a cover crop can be highly beneficial, but there are also potential drawbacks. Assess your individual risks and priorities to determine if a cover crop is the right fit for your operation.

Stacie Yaremko, BSc, CCA, is a manager of agronomic services with Nutrien Ag Solutions in northern Alberta.

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