agronomy Archives - Page 16 of 17

The making of a healthy soil

“Soil health” is a popular topic, but Les Henry says the fine points are mostly spin

By Les Henry March 1, 2016

We hear a lot about soil soil health these days so thought I should brush up on the literature. To give the punch line first: in my opinion it is mostly spin. Any introductory course or soils textbook starts by picking a hypothetical pound of ground and revealing the basics. Soil is half solids and […] Read more

Columns, Crops

Do you need to hire an agronomist?

Agronomy Management: Your farm may need the assistance of an agronomist or a professional crop advisor?

By Ross H. McKenzie February 25, 2016

Crop production has become much more complex and technically challenging over the past 20 years. It is increasingly difficult to balance the many demands of a successful farming operation, including the agronomic management of many different crops, crop scouting, long-term crop planning, input planning and crop marketing. These days, more and more farmers are using […] Read more

Columns

Diagnosing your own sodic soils

Do you have sodic soils on your farm? Here's how to find out for sure

By Ross H. McKenzie February 19, 2016

Sodic soils have a high level of exchangeable sodium (Na+) which can have a negative effect on soil quality, crop growth and yield. These soils often develop on naturally occurring high-sodium glacial till parent materials. Soil enrichment of sodium by groundwater movement can also cause sodic soil development. Sodic soils often have very poor soil […] Read more

Barley, Features

Recommended malt barley varieties

Tired of the same old thing? Try a new malt barley variety this spring

By Leeann Minogue February 16, 2016

Last year, 73 per cent of Prairie acres that grew two-row malt barley were seeded with AC Metcalfe or CDC Copeland. Because both of these varieties have been available for quite a few years, Michael Brophy, President and CEO of the Brewing and Malt Barley Research Institute (BMBRI), would like farmers to have more options. […] Read more

Cereals, Crops

Find the right cereal variety for your farm

Agronomy tips... from the field

By Bryan Ulmer February 11, 2016

Variety selection in cereals, like every crop in your rotation, is one of your first and most important management decisions. Each variety is unique, as are the growing conditions on your farm. A variety’s performance is going to vary across environments due to many factors, including soil type, precipitation, fertility, temperature, planting date, pest infestations, […] Read more

Shawna Mathieson is the executive director of the Prairie Oat Growers Association (POGA), which is working to develop new markets for Canadian oats.

Crops, News, Oats

Oat acreage forecast up

Price and disease a big factor in pushing oat acres across the Prairies

By Angela Lovell February 2, 2016

Around 2.9 million acres of oats were planted across Canada in 2015 according to Statistics Canada, and although acres have been dropping over the past few years, oat production will likely be up by more than 10 per cent this spring to around 3.3 million tonnes. Last year, the majority of those acres were planted […] Read more

Summer Landscape with a field of yellow flowers. Sunset

Canola, Wheat & Chaff

2015 weather affects 2016 agronomy

Agronomy tips... from the field

By Rob Klewchuk January 28, 2016

Now that 2015 is pretty much under our belts, I think we can say, in general, that weather conditions got off to a fairly good start and then turned unusually dry for the balance of the season. And when the rains eventually did come, they came at the wrong time — creating challenging conditions at […] Read more

Crops, Features

Zero tillage can increase P loss

Phosphorus can drain off the soil during snowmelt. Periodic tillage may reduce the losses

By Julienne Isaacs January 28, 2016

The latest soil-management recommendation will come as a surprise: In some cases, producers should consider periodic tillage to reduce the risk of phosphorus (P) loss from conservation tillage systems. According to Don Flaten, a professor in the University of Manitoba’s Department of Soil Science, zero tillage actually increases P loading from soils to surface water […] Read more

Many wheat plants in Rodney’s field had turned pale green. The colouration wasn’t consistent throughout the fields and a regular pattern was evident.

Cereals, Crops

Crop Advisor’s Casebook: Paling wheat plants a puzzle

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the November 11, 2014 issue of Grainews

By Andre Laforge January 7, 2016

Early one morning back in mid-June, Rodney came by my office to share his concerns about his wheat crop at his 4,500-acre mixed grain farm near Carrot River, Sask. His wheat fields had all displayed a lush green colour just a day or two earlier, but now the crop had taken a decided turn for […] Read more

Columns, Crops

Western agronomy research cuts

Agronomy Management: Funding cuts have left gaps in the unbiased agronomy research that Prairie farmers need

By Ross H. McKenzie January 5, 2016

Over the past 100 years, agricultural research scientists, innovative farmers and private industry have done a remarkable job to develop and improve crop production practices across Western Canada. Advances in crop breeding, sustainable crop rotations, development of direct seeding technology, development of fertilizer and nutrient management practices and improved management to control weeds, insects and […] Read more

GFM Network News

U.S. livestock: Cattle rebound on technical buying

U.S. grains: Soybeans fall as rapid harvest overshadows China trade hopes

Good weather pushes Alberta harvest along

Tag Archives agronomy