Robert Misko with his children and grandchildren. From left to right: Courtney Misko, Robert Misko, Brittany Busch, Robbie Misko, Jaxon Busch (green shirt) and Torin Busch (blue shirt). Missing is Leifa Misko.

Lifelong learning on the Misko farm

Prairie Farms: Knowledge and efficiency are key for this Manitoba farm operation

The Prairie Farms feature is an ongoing series that highlights western Canadian producers and their farm operations. These producer and farm profiles will share the strategies, tips and experiences that have helped Prairie farmers be successful. Along with crop production strategies, this Q-and-A series will look at the personalities and lifestyles of farmers across Western […] Read more

Results from the study show biological nitrogen fixation from pulse crops such as peas and lentils can help reduce the amount of mineral nitrogen fertilizer inputs required.

More bang for your fertilizer buck

Study provides more proof that pulse crops contribute to nitrogen use efficiency

Canadian farmers are expected to spend a record $23.1 billion on inputs in 2023, so they will be looking to get the most bang for their buck when it comes to fertilizer. A recent western Canadian study could make that task a little easier in the not-too-distant future. The Resilient Rotations project is a comprehensive, […] Read more


Courtney Welch says Canterra Seeds works with a number of different genetics partners to develop new varieties of canola, which presents the company with a unique opportunity.

What’s in the canola pipeline?

Product managers of some of the country’s leading seed companies share their insights

Canola has been called a Canadian success story, and for good reason. It’s estimated the country’s canola value chain generates nearly $30 billion in economic activity annually. But even the best success stories sometimes must change with the times. That’s why the agriculture industry spends millions of dollars each year to develop new canola varieties […] Read more

Students Selena Delahunty and Jaydon Bick inspect an AAFC barley silage field in Saskatchewan. They noted the presence of spot-form net blotch, which they reported to the Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network using the Quick Disease Reporter Tool.

Quick Disease Reporter Tool a game-changer for farmers

Farmers and consultants are alerted about emerging disease issues

It’s a major frustration for farmers and crop advisers when they discover disease in a field and realize it’s too late to do anything about it. A new online tool developed by the Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network is designed to change that. The Quick Disease Reporter Tool allows users to electronically report disease outbreaks […] Read more


Stuart Smyth says his research study illustrates how glyphosate and herbicide-tolerant canola have helped to boost sustainability on Saskatchewan farms by facilitating a shift to no-till systems.

Study shows glyphosate, no-till systems and herbicide-tolerant crops benefit Prairie agriculture

Benefits include improved soil quality, less erosion, increased carbon sequestration, and reduced fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions

Glyphosate is Canada’s top-selling pesticide, mostly used in agriculture as a herbicide and to desiccate crops for harvest. While it has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years, glyphosate continues to play an important weed management role on many western Canadian farms. A study by University of Saskatchewan researchers suggests glyphosate has served another important […] Read more

Low-lying areas with standing water are prone to leaching and denitrification.

Nitrification and urease inhibitors

Before you buy, understand when and where these products will provide the greatest economic benefit to your farm

With fertilizer prices remaining historically high, farmers continue to seek ways to get the best bang for their buck when it comes to crop nutrients. Nitrification and urease inhibitors are a popular and practical option. They can be applied with nitrogen-based fertilizers to improve nutrient use efficiency and they can also potentially limit greenhouse gas […] Read more


Canola grown at a Resilient Rotations test site in Swift Current, Sask., didn’t perform well in 2021. Severe drought at the flowering stage resulted in low yields and economic returns.

Rotations and the bottom line

Prairie researchers examine how different crop rotations affect net economic returns

When it comes to on-farm decision making, the bottom line for most farmers is often, well, the bottom line. A 2019 survey of Manitoba farmers bore that out. The survey, conducted on behalf of the Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers, asked farmers which factors were important to them when planning their crop rotations. Yield potential […] Read more

Rich Farrell says more than 2,200 grain and biomass samples from more than 300 commercial farms were used in the design of the Prairie Nutrient Removal Calculator.

New tool for Prairie farmers to help with fertility decisions

U of S researchers create a nutrient removal calculator specifically for producers in Western Canada

A new online tool developed by researchers at the University of Saskatchewan could help farmers in Western Canada make more accurate on-farm fertilizer decisions. The Prairie Nutrient Removal Calculator was officially released in early May. It provides up-to-date nutrient removal rates for 15 different crops commonly grown on the Canadian Prairies. The calculator is the […] Read more


Corteva Agriscience field trials have shown as much as a five- to six-bushel yield increase in corn treated with Utrisha N.

Survey shows farmers ready for biologicals

Companies like Corteva Agriscience are helping producers find a fit for natural products

Research, demonstration projects and greater investment from crop protection companies have readied Canadian farmers to learn more about biological inputs and their potential to improve crop production without harming the environment, according to a survey by Corteva Agriscience. “The survey is a pretty solid indicator that the market is ready for biologicals,” says Kirsten Ratzlaff, […] Read more

variable rate fertilizer

Early results are in for variable-rate fertilizer economics

Researchers at Olds College are trying to determine the break-even point for producers

A primary argument for variable rate technology (VRT) is that it enables farmers to be more exact in their use of crop inputs. By breaking fields into specific zones where different or variable application rates can be used, producers are no longer tied to flat rate applications and can make targeted decisions on where and […] Read more