Les Henry: A look at soil nitrate-nitrogen

Les Henry: A look at soil nitrate-nitrogen

Is there enough residual nitrate-nitrogen in the soil to feed 2022 crops?

The drought of 2021 and the poor crops as a result have left us wondering what residual nitrate-nitrogen might be present in the soil to feed the 2022 crops. Nitrate in the environment The first thing we must realize is nitrate in the environment is, for the most part, a function of human activity in […] Read more

An ammonia and nitrogen fertilizer plant in Russia. (Saoirse_2010/iStock/Getty Images)

Vilsack hopes fertilizer firms don’t take advantage of Ukraine crisis

Washington | Reuters — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Thursday he hoped fertilizer and agriculture supply companies affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine would not take unfair advantage of the situation, amid already-high fertilizer and crop prices. Fertilizer costs have soared due to rising demand and lower supply as record natural gas and […] Read more


fertilizer spreading in the field

How to develop nitrogen fertilizer recommendations

Each field and crop deserves thought and attention

In last December’s Grainews, I discussed interpretation of soil test reports. In this column, I will discuss developing nitrogen (N) recommendations. In the next several columns, I will discuss developing fertilizer recommendations for phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulphur (S) and other nutrients. Western Canadian farmers spend more money on nitrogen fertilizer than all other nutrients […] Read more

Drought-stressed peas in a fertility response trial in south-central Saskatchewan in 2021.

How to manage fertility for pulses after a dry year

Soil test and understand how nitrogen fixation can be affected

When it comes to fertility planning for pulse crops, western Canadian farmers might want to consider soil testing this spring. That’s because there’ll likely be higher amounts of residual nitrogen left over and greater variability in nutrient levels due to last year’s drought, which curtailed crop uptake and nutrient utilization in many fields. “It’s important, […] Read more


In this photo, the corn on the right has been treated with Utrisha N while the corn on the left hasn’t.

A new source of nitrogen

Biological products like Envita and Utrisha N enable crops to harvest nitrogen from the air

It’s an essential element for plant growth, but nitrogen in the air all around us has been unavailable to major crops grown in Western Canada — at least until now. New biological products have arrived in the marketplace that enable crops like wheat, canola, soybean and corn to harvest nitrogen from the air. First on […] Read more

FCL’s Co-op Fertilizer Terminal at Brandon. (Photo courtesy Federated Co-operatives Ltd.)

Fertilizer prices to remain high for now

MarketsFarm — There are two factors to consider when it comes to fertilizer. One is the cost as it’s to remain quite expensive at least through the first quarter of 2022, according to Chris Lawson, head of fertilizers for the CRU Group. The other is its availability, said Todd Lewis, president of the Agricultural Producers […] Read more


(Alexey Rezvykh/iStock/Getty Images)

Farmers ask U.S. Justice Department to probe fertilizer price spikes

Reuters — Farmers have asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether recent spikes in fertilizer prices are attributable to market manipulation by fertilizer companies, according to a letter sent Wednesday by the Family Farm Action Alliance. The group, which has more than 6,000 farmer and rural members, alleges fertilizer companies are setting prices […] Read more

CF Industries’ UAN plant at Donaldsonville in Louisiana. The company also makes UAN at plants in Ontario, Iowa and Oklahoma. (Thyssenkrupp-industrial-solutions.com)

Fertilizer shortage may lead to spring scramble

'It's next year's prices I'm worried about'

Reuters — A global shortage of nitrogen fertilizer is driving prices to record levels, prompting North America’s farmers to delay purchases and raising the risk of a spring scramble to apply the crop nutrient before planting season. The Texas Arctic Blast in February and Hurricane Ida in August disrupted U.S. fertilizer production. Then, prices of […] Read more


(Alexey Rezvykh/iStock/Getty Images)

‘Perfect storm’ causes fertilizer price spikes

'Most of us are in a "wait-and-see" position'

MarketsFarm — Fertilizer prices have increased over the past year, but could be headed even higher as a recent confluence of events has caused a shortage — the effects of which may affect producers past the New Year. “Particularly, in the last few weeks, there have been a number of supply events which have really […] Read more

Thanks to Jim Lundgren, who farms at Glenora, Man., about 85 km west of Morden, for this photo of his early start to spring tillage on March 20, 2021, owing to the recent absence of snow and/or rain in the area. Not that it’s a race, but is spring fieldwork already underway where you are? If yes, feel free to snap a photo and email us at daveb@fbcpublishing.com. (Photo courtesy Jim Lundgren)

Manitoba soil temperatures allow for spring fertilizer

Winter ban lifted, with cautions

Farmers across Manitoba are now cleared to apply spring fertilizers including livestock manure on their fields, thanks to sufficiently warm soil temperatures, the province said Tuesday. Though the winter nutrient ban has been lifted, the province cautioned producers to “assess current weather conditions and periodically check weather forecasts” if they’re applying anytime between now and […] Read more