It’s well documented that if a micronutrient is missing or deficient, your expected yield could crash.

Soil fertility, revisited 

Practical Research: The history of crop production on the Prairies was one of nutrient extraction at an alarming pace

Soil fertility: a simple concept that requires long and well thought out answers. There are lots of articles on soil nutrient testing, along with many procedures, methods and interpretations.  Early on in the 1970s with Alberta Agriculture, my colleagues and I were very surprised with the answers to the soil testing questions we asked. A […] Read more


The importance of molybdenum

The importance of molybdenum

Molybdenum (Mo) is important to the growth of all plants, including your canola

Animals and plants require trace amounts of molybdenum. Its importance is vastly disproportionate with regard to the amount required for normal growth. In past years, most farmers and soil scientists were just getting to grips with sulphur and phosphate requirements of crop plants, let alone nitrogen and potash. It seemed as long as you had […] Read more

Rape field, canola crops

How’s your moly doing out there?

Molybdenum was once known as ‘poor man’s lime’ for a good reason

Under the category “if it ain’t one thing it’s another” when it comes to crop nutrient requirements, the question is now being asked, “have you thought about the molybdenum levels in your canola and pulse crops?” Cereals need it too, but canola, peas, beans, lentils, faba beans, soybeans and others all have higher molybdenum requirements. Molybdenum, also often […] Read more


wheat field

Copper applications have limited impact on wheat

Researchers say non-targeted copper application does not increase macronutrients

The importance of micronutrients, including boron (B), chloride (Cl), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni), has come under the microscope in recent years. Some researchers say a lack of micronutrients can cause yield loss. According to Tee Boon Goh, a specialist in soil chemistry and mineralogy at the University […] Read more

sheep

The fine balance of managing copper

Sheep and goats and cattle do not have the same copper needs

We have had several new producers this winter trying to convince us it just isn’t true that sheep cannot be fed copper. Apparently they are doing it without any problems. Since we are coming into lambing season it is a good time to address these ideas. It needs to be clear that sheep and goats […] Read more