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Tag Archives land management

soil dirt
Columns, Crops

The soil test results have arrived

The best results are only as good as the plans you implement to deal with them

By
Complete tasks as you think of them. I can’t stress this enough. You see, there’s this rock. It’s big. And it’s sitting along the western edge of the pastureland I broke last fall. I nicked it with the Wishek disc I rented in October to mince the sod. I should have dealt with it then. […] Read more
Soil background
Columns, Crops

The making of a healthy soil

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

By
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

Farm Financial Planner: Widow wants to wind down farm

With no children wanting to farm, this widow wants to sell up and minimize taxes

By
A widow we’ll call Susan, 64, has a 1,120 acre farming operation in central Manitoba. She owns 800 acres personally and has another 320 acres in her farming corporation. When her husband — we’ll call him Burt, passed away, the estate was probated and quickly transferred to Susan. Now she wonders what will become of […] Read more
This Solonetzic soil has a columnar- structured B horizon, which restricts water and root penetration into sub-soil.
Columns, Crops

Learn to manage your sodic soils

Got sodic soils on your farm? Here are three options for managing those areas

By
In the last issue of Grainews I discussed the physical and chemical characteristics of sodic soils. In this issue, I’ll discuss managing those soils. Solonetzic soils in the brown or dark brown soil zones of southern Alberta or southern Saskatchewan, that are in native grassland may be best left in their native condition and used […] Read more
(click image for larger view)
Columns

Stubble soil moisture, November 1, 2015

Les Henry’s annual soil moisture map gives us a true view of water availability

By
This map shows the best estimate of subsoil moisture from three inches to four feet. First — this is a map of general conditions in general areas. Do not get too hung up on the exact placement of lines. But, it is still very useful in planning for 2016 outcomes. With a soil full of […] Read more
soil
Columns

Diagnosing your own sodic soils

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

By
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
Buffer strips are not that efficient
Crops, Features

Buffer strips are not that efficient

Riparian buffer strips’ reputation for filtering nutrient runoff may be overblown

By
Buffer strips around cropland are typically viewed as “filters,” taking up excess nutrients before they can reach waterways. Some provincial governments are considering legislation requiring farmers to leave buffer strips. However, new work from the University of Manitoba questions their effectiveness. Dr. David Lobb, senior research chair for the Watershed Systems Research Program and a […] Read more
Tile drainage in progress south of Melfort, October 2014. The water table was high and tiles were running as soon as installed. The drain outlet is Melfort Creek. This project is on the Alan Hurd farm. Mark Gordon of Agri-Trend provided the soil EC mapping of the site and Stu Brandt of NARF (Northeast Agricultural Research Foundation) installed the observation wells and is monitoring the site.
Columns, Crops

Soil salinity: causes, cures, coping

After recent wet years, we’re seeing salinity again. Learn to cure it or cope with it

By
A few years back we predicted that the super wet years would lead to a marked increase in soil salinity. It is now happening. In this piece I am not going to talk about Solonetzic soils or true Alkali (high pH , low salts) soils. I’m talking only about saline soils — soils that have […] Read more
Farmers ahead of carbon curve
Crops, Features

Farmers ahead of carbon curve

Farmers practise soil management, and play an active part in carbon sequestration

By
Carbon sequestration” is a term with plenty of traction these days. Technically speaking, it refers to long-term storage of carbon dioxide or other forms of carbon to help mitigate the fallout from climate change — a subject that increasingly figures on Canada’s agendas. In agriculture, carbon sequestration finds a home in discussions about soil management […] Read more
Those critters are farming your soil
Crops, Features

Those critters are farming your soil

Soil Health: Healthy soil includes a healthy, complicated, diverse mix of bacteria and fungi

By
This was a clear message delivered by Mario Tenuta, Canada research chair in applied soil ecology and professor at the University of Manitoba, at a recent Manitoba Farm Writers and Broadcasters Association lunch. “What the heck is soil health?” asked Tenuta. “You hear a lot about it these days, especially this year, the 2015 International […] Read more

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