Lupins, not yet a crop of choice for farmers on the Canadian Prairies, outpace field peas and faba beans in terms of protein and starch level ratios, with up to 40 per cent protein and six per cent starch.
Tag Archives crop rotation
European seed firms hope lupins catch on in Prairie pulse rotations
Lupin could be a formidable feed option with its amino acid and fibre content
Western Canadian agriculture’s growing thirst
Editor’s Boss: Atmospheric dryness is adding a third dimension to the moisture equation driving Prairie crop yields and wildfires
Earth’s air is getting thirstier — a desiccating phenomenon researchers say has increased the intensity of global droughts by 40 per cent over the past four decades.
What would happen if Roundup disappeared?
Bayer hints it might stop selling Roundup due to legal problems. What could it mean for farmers?
As Bayer hints it may soon exit the glyphosate business, the once-hypothetical scenario of farming without Roundup is suddenly on the table.
Steps to stop blackleg in canola
Agronomists and canola growers have many proven steps to manage blackleg disease in canola. Genetic resistance has been an extremely effective tool, and will remain so — as long as that resistance matches the blackleg races in a field
Blackleg disease, caused by the pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans, is common in canola across the Prairies. It can cause very high yield loss in cultivars susceptible to the predominant blackleg races in a field. The two best defences are: Seed treatment and early-season fungicides can also help, especially if the first two are compromised. This article will […] Read more
Faba beans could help ease rotation pressure on canola
There has been little export demand, but new, safer varieties are expected to open doors in the domestic food market
Eric McLean, who farms near Oak River, Man., thinks farmers should avoid the “easy button” approach to crop production.“We have to keep trying different things. Honestly, that is the solution, to have that diversification in the crop rotation.”
Soil organic matter and carbon sequestration
Changes in cropping practices over time have significantly improved soil quality
Prairie farmers have done an excellent job shifting to direct seeding, continuous cropping, using much more diverse crop rotations and fertilizing crops adequately, along with various other good agronomy practices. This has very positively improved soil organic matter levels and improved soil health across all the soil zones of the Prairies.
Understanding soil phosphorus, part 1
Agronomy Management: Rotations and fertilizer management have dramatic effects on pools of organic and inorganic P
Farmers and agronomists are very aware that phosphorus (P) is an essential element needed for optimum crop production in Western Canada. Most soils used for annual crops in Western Canada are very low, low or medium in plant-available soil P and are responsive to added P fertilizer. As a result, phosphate fertilizer use is second […] Read more
More than one way to fight fusarium head blight
An integrated approach, using multiple best practices, can offer better chances of success
Fusarium head blight has been a stubborn threat to cereal crops in Western Canada since the 1990s. Some years are worse than others, but when the conditions favour this fungal pathogen, fusarium can cause significant losses in yield and crop quality in wheat, barley, oats and corn. The two primary weapons against fusarium — fungicides […] Read more
Fitting malting barley in your rotation
The price premium isn’t the only benefit malting barley offers
Farmers who grow malting barley in their rotation say there is a lot to like about the crop. It’s an early-maturing, drought-resistant crop that competes well with weeds. And if farmers meet the high standards required by malting houses, they can earn a handsome premium. Although malting barley once yielded significantly less than higher-yielding feed […] Read more
Feds invest in research to promote more diverse crop rotations
The federal government is investing $5,733,852 million in funding to advance soybean, corn and oat research and promote diverse crop rotations across Canada.
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
