Small changes in pH reflect significant shifts in acidity or alkalinity due to the exponential nature of the scale.
Features
Soil pH levels can help make seeding decisions
The pH scale is exponential, so small changes in pH mean big shifts in acidity or alkalinity
A wetter and drier world is coming for Prairie farmers
As warming supercharges the water cycle, the swings will become more pronounced
Earth’s oceans cover over 70 per cent of the planet’s surface, and they are a massive heat sink, absorbing more than 90 per cent of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases.
Tile drainage can help manage nutrients as well as moisture
A South Dakota producer says improved draining not only increases plant health but also keeps nutrients on the field
The big benefit of tile drainage is preventing soil from becoming saturated, a major detriment to root development and crop yield, South Dakota farmer Brian Hefty says. “Plants will not grow into a water table.”
Peer groups are a pathway to improved soil health
A variety of organizations have developed programs that allow producers to learn more about taking care of their soil
A variety of organizations have developed programs that allow producers to learn more about taking care of their soil.
Regenerative agriculture is difficult to define
Vague definitions of the concept may weaken the brand
“It really bothered me to see a survey the other day, that said 70 per cent of farmers in the United States think they are regenerative farmers. No way,” North Dakota farmer Paul Overby says.
How plants conserve moisture in dry conditions
Plants do best when they have a little more moisture than they immediately require
In order to take in carbon dioxide to perform photosynthesis, a plant loses water vapour to the atmosphere as the stomata open. To counteract this, a steady supply of water is needed — hence what’s called the “transpiration paradox.”
Prairie farmers have mixed views of sustainable agriculture push
Suggesting that producers change their practices when the status quo is working for them can be a reach
If governments, corporations and environmental groups want to achieve change on the landscape, education and incentives are both needed, and preferably farmer-to-farmer education.
Maximize your nitrogen efficiency with the right practices
Strategic application can reduce N losses and boost productivity
Speaking at Ag Days, Bryce Geisel digs down into nitrogen loss pathways and how applying the right practices can keep your N fertilizer where it belongs.
Prairie farmland rentals rates difficult to track
Rental rates could be important in 2025 as grain producers deal with lower grain prices and relatively high input costs
In Red Deer County in central Alberta, a survey found cropland leasing rates were around $75 per acre. Renting that same land could be 40-50 per cent more expensive in 2025 — but it’s difficult to even make a guess because land rents are considered a “dark market.”
Moisture outlook positive for spring seeding on Prairies
That said, a cold wet winter that brought snow to many places is raising concerns of delayed seeding
A lot of Prairie producers gathered at CropConnect in Winnipeg are wondering how moisture conditions will shape up this spring on the Prairies. The concerns revolve around a considerable snowpack in many places — and whether that might lead to saturated fields or a late start to seeding, if snowmelt comes too late or too quickly.
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