Due to disease issues, peas shouldn’t be grown more than one in three years in a rotation.

Tips for adding peas to your farm in 2020

Frost tolerance and early planting may be the advantages that lead you to peas

With pea-processing giant Roquette planning to begin operations at its new plant in Portage la Prairie, Man., in mid-2020, growers may be thinking about increasing pea acreage year this. Peas offer several benefits, but the crop does present some challenges as well. Manitoba Agriculture provincial pulse specialist Dennis Lange explains. If the summer is hot […] Read more

'Winter combining' (read further down for more info) This photo is reproduced with permission of the Rosetown Eagle and the Rosetown Library Archives. A shout out for our local weeklies that provide local information not available anywhere else.

Les Henry: Where will Prairie agriculture be in 2030?

Les Henry predicts eight changes coming to agriculture in the next decade

At the start of a new decade it is time to take stock and think ahead to what our industry might be like at the end of this decade. The last time I tried such an exercise was in December 1979, looking ahead to what the 1980s would bring. I predicted that at the end […] Read more


Using crop rotation to manage pests

Using crop rotation to manage pests

There are many important decisions to be made on a farm and choosing a proper crop rotation is one of them. Some growers select a wide range of crops to grow, others only grow the two most profitable. The general agronomic and long-term economic recommendation is to have a minimum of a four-year rotation with […] Read more

In certain rows, Cory’s lentil plants were stunted and the leaves of those plants were turning yellow and shriveling. Some plants in the affected rows were already dead.

Crop advisor casebook: Why are rows of these lentils yellowing and stunted?

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the April 23, 2019 issue of Grainews

Cory owns a 4,000-acre grain farm near Cupar, Sask. His crop rotation consists of lentils, wheat, durum and canola. It was around the middle of June when I received a call from Cory, who was concerned about his lentil crop after he noticed that in certain rows the plants were stunted and the leaves of […] Read more


Some researchers have found that the land equivalent ratio is greater with crops grown together than with crops grown individually.

The science behind intercropping

When plants can share nutrients, they can yield higher together than separately

Just as the adoption of no-till agriculture on the Prairies several decades ago was farmer-driven, the current shift to ecological (sometimes called regenerative) agricultural practices is no different, says Dr. Martin Entz of the University of Manitoba. “In this fascinating carbon world, we’re now moving beyond just crop rotation and beyond just grazing management all […] Read more

Clark Brenzil speaks to farmers at Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Crop Diagnostic School in 2017.

Herbicide carryover may be high risk

If it was dry after last year’s application, there may be soil-residual herbicides

Crop selection for the 2019 growing season could prove challenging for growers in some parts of the Prairies, as a lack of rainfall means soil-residual herbicides could impact crop establishment. Moisture after application is critical for herbicide breakdown. In areas where rainfall was patchy at best, growers need to be conservative when selecting crops to […] Read more


Bean and lentil legumes background as a group of assorted fava soy red black beans as a healthy nutrition high fiber food concept as a healthy cooking natural food ingredient.

In response to, ‘Cover crops and green manure’

Clearing up a tillage misunderstanding from a previous column

It is always a thrill to get letters and book orders from readers. Most letters are complimentary and a joy to receive. But, a recent letter disagreed with ideas in my September column that talked about cover crops and green manure. A phone call cleared up the matter. It was completely my fault for not […] Read more

Establishing a corn crop for grazing or silage

Establishing a corn crop for grazing or silage

Q & A with Nutrien Ag Solutions

Q: What are some factors to consider when establishing a corn crop for grazing or silage? A: Corn is a great option for grazing or silage, but there are several factors to consider when you’re establishing your corn crop. Crop rotation, fertility, plant depth and population, planting date and soil temperature and weed control are […] Read more


Soil background

Finally, soil moisture measuring meets new tech

A map of soil moisture at freeze-up can give you a good indication of your yield potential

Water in the bank is a certainty; rainfall is a probability. Much of what we do in farming is based on probabilities — a game of chance. What are the chances we will get timely rains to keep a crop from withering away to a low yield? What are the chances we will suffer disease […] Read more

Managing longer crop rotations

Managing longer crop rotations

In Part 3 of a three-part series, these farmers with long rotations catch a few breaks in a tough year

This article is the last in a series looking at how three farmers manage longer crop rotations through the growing season. The original plan was to interview all three once they’d finished harvest. But, unsurprisingly, western Canadian weather has no respect for deadlines. All three farmers saw a wet September and two were still harvesting […] Read more