cover crops Archives - Page 6 of 8

Cover crops provide residue on the surface over the winter, catching snow. In the spring, when that snow melts, salts are flushed down.

Managing soil salinity through cover crops

For the growing problem of dry land salinity, try planting a cover crop

By Melanie Epp May 2, 2018

Dry land salinity is a major problem on the Prairies. In Alberta, about 1.6 million acres of dry land are impacted by secondary salinity. On average, Alberta crop yields are reduced by 25 per cent annually because of the problem. Salinity also impacts 3.3 million acres in Saskatchewan and 0.6 million acres in Manitoba as […] Read more

Crops

Four ways to increase your organic matter

By Kevin Elmy April 10, 2018

A question that I hear a lot is, “How do cover crops fit into a grain operation?” Lots of grain farmers have no desire to get into the livestock business and no interest in producing hay. But many have some soil issues that need to be addressed. This can be done by buying more iron […] Read more

The green crop on the left is a chickpea monocrop still flowering on August 31. On the right is intercrop that is more ripe and not flowering.

Crops, Features

Ins and outs of intercropping

Intercropping researcher Lana Shaw shares tips and tricks for successful intercropping 

By Lisa Guenther March 29, 2018

You can’t convince farmers to use long rotations if they are losing money on some of those crops, says Lana Shaw, research manager of South East Research Farm at Redvers, Sask. Nor is it good enough to only have one or two profitable crops in a region. The industry needs to find a way to […] Read more

Aphanomyces disease symptoms in the field.

Crops, Features, Pulses

AAFC projects focus on aphanomyces root rot in pulse crops

Good management practices still the best way to control aphanomyces in the field

By Melanie Epp March 16, 2018

While improving management practices and reducing risk factors are still the best ways to avoid root rot in pulse crops, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) researchers hope to find other tools. Syama Chatterton, an AAFC research scientist whose areas of expertise include diseases in pulse crops and soil borne diseases, is working on research projects that focus […] Read more

There were no hives for 30 miles, but still piles of bees around the Phacelia stand.

Crops, Features

My 2017 crop year in review

It was dry, but still a good year at Kevin Elmy’s Friendly Acres Seed Farm in eastern Saskatchewan

By Kevin Elmy February 8, 2018

For the producers that wanted a drier year, we definitely got that in 2017. Between 2009 and 2016, we received just under 200 inches (500 mm) of rain, so a year with “normal” rain would have been well received. 2017 delivered 2-1/2 inches (63 mm), and two-thirds of that came in the beginning of June. […] Read more

Columns, Crops

Sask. and QC couples earn national OYF honours

Working with natural systems appeals to OYF-winning diversified producers

By Lee Hart January 12, 2018

What’s the world coming to? When it comes to well managed farming operations recognized as Outstanding Young Farmers it appears to be leaning toward a natural field cropping operation in Saskatchewan and an organic market garden operation in Quebec. Derek and Tannis Axten of Axten Farms Ltd. near Minton, Sask., and Véronique Bouchard and François Handfield of Mont-Tremblant, […] Read more

The CCX9000 Cover Crop Seeder is now available from Kuhn Krause for use on its Excelerator 8000 and 8005 vertical tillage implements.

Machinery

Kuhn introduces CCX 9000 Cover Crop Seeder

Attachment designed for use on Excelerator vertical tillage implement

By Scott Garvey November 3, 2017

Kuhn Krause has recently announced the introduction of the CCX 9000 Cover Crop Seeder, which is designed for use on its Excelerator vertical tillage implements. It gives producers the ability to seed a cover crop while performing a tillage pass. The Quantron S2 control monitor inside the tractor cab, which includes what the brand describes […] Read more

Bob Sandford of the United Nations University says agriculture productivity needs to be increased, but with limited impact on earth systems. (John Greig photo)

Crops, Weather

Canada’s soils still degrading, albeit more slowly

By GFM Network News September 8, 2017

The rate of degradation of soils in Canada has slowed, but it still is happening at a significant rate and there is still a lot to learn. There are no soil-perfect systems yet for crop production, attendees at the Summit on Canadian Soil Health held recently in Guelph heard repeatedly. No-till farming has declined in […] Read more

On the left is a root of a sugar beet grown in fine sandy loam soil, showing root stratification in the second and fourth foot of soil where layers of clay were encountered. From Weaver, 1926, Root Development of Field Crops. The wheat and wild mustard graphic on the right shows root competition between Marquis wheat (on the left, with roots marked 1, 2, 3 and 4), and wild mustard, 22 days after emergence. (This graphic is from Pavlychenko and Harrington, 1937: Ecology Vol. 18 No.1 Pages 62-79.)

Columns, Crops

Getting to the root of the matter

For a look at the big picture, the ‘old’ research on roots is still relevant today

By Les Henry April 27, 2017

Plant roots are receiving more attention of late and well they should. Roots are the foragers that deliver water and nutrients to the plant, but too often our attitude is “out of sight, out of mind.” With the current interest in many plant species, cover crops and soil health, much of it comes down to […] Read more

McGrath and helpers dig some soil pits along transect lines on native prairie
pasture that is part of Round Rock Ranching to establish some baselines through nutrient and biological soil testing.

Cattleman’s Corner, Crops

Are you a (soil) health nut?

Any treatments applied above ground will eventually affect what happens below your feet

By Sean McGrath April 6, 2017

I was eternally blessed to enter the University of Saskatchewan while Les Henry was still teaching at a time when we were “forced” to take at least an introductory soil science course. I learned a lot in that introductory course; mostly about how much I didn’t know (and how much Dr. Henry did). But more […] Read more

GFM Network News

Huge crops in South America says analyst

U.S. livestock: ‘Cattle on feed’ report supports prices

U.S. grains: Wheat trades near contract lows under ample global supply

Tag Archives cover crops