nutrients Archives

Ground Level: The power of seeing and the crutch of complexity

By Wes Anderson December 20, 2024

“Seeing is believing” is a common cliché applicable to the adoption of technology in agriculture. Adoption rates of autosteer, sectional control and weigh cells in grain carts and air-seeder tanks are incredible. Auto guidance adoption, for example, was well above 50 per cent in the U.S. as of 2019 (McFadden et al., 2023). Nowadays, it […] Read more

This field trial at Clayton Harder Farms near Winnipeg, Man., illustrates the impact of starter P on a canola crop. The right side had phosphorus and sulfur fertilizer applied in the seed row at planting and the left side did not.

Crops, Features

How to make P management more sustainable

Phosphorus deficits are a problem on many Prairie farms. A Manitoba crop nutrition expert explains why — and has suggestions for what can help

By Mark Halsall March 26, 2024

Phosphorus has always been an essential nutrient in crop production. Maintaining the right P balance — ensuring there’s enough of it to sufficiently feed crops, but not too much of it so it runs off fields or seeps away to contaminate water bodies — is an ongoing challenge for Prairie farmers. Manitoba crop nutrition expert […] Read more

A handful of soil health projects have secured funding for the next five years in the hope of kick starting soil health practices in the field. (Assiniboine Community College photo)

Crops, Weather

Multi-million-dollar fund greenlights soil health projects

Eight projects to push soil health practices will get funding for the next five years

By Alexis Stockford, GFM Network News February 21, 2023

Eight soil health projects across Canada will be getting a multi-million-dollar boost in private funding over the next five years. The Weston Family Foundation — the philanthropic arm of the Weston business empire — has slated $10 million for those eight projects through the organization’s soil health initiative, it was announced Feb. 13. The initiative […] Read more

(Stoller Group video screengrab via YouTube)

Crops

Corteva to buy biological plant stimulant firm Stoller

Corteva paying US$1.2 billion cash

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News December 5, 2022

One of the majors in seed and crop protection is set to further expand its reach in the crop biologicals sector with a deal to buy the Stoller Group. Corteva Agriscience said Wednesday it had signed a “definitive agreement” to buy Houston-based Stoller in an all-cash acquisition worth US$1.2 billion (C$1.61 billion), which it expects […] Read more

A custom hauler spreads dairy manure on hay ground using a Husky 18000L Slimline liquid manure spreader on a farm at Wallenstein, Ont., north of Kitchener, in the spring of 2018. (Husky Farm Equipment handout photo via Reuters)

Crops, Machinery, Markets, Reuters

No poop for you: Manure supplies run short as fertilizer prices soar

Ontario honeywagon maker all sold out

By Tom Polansek, GFM Network News April 7, 2022

Chicago | Reuters — For nearly two decades, Abe Sandquist has used every marketing tool he can think of to sell the back end of a cow. Poop, after all, needs to go somewhere. The Midwestern entrepreneur has worked hard to woo farmers on its benefits for their crops. Now, facing a global shortage of […] Read more

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

Crops, Markets, Weather

Fertilizer prices to remain high for now

By GFM Network News January 8, 2022

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

Crops, Reuters

India’s federal police probe bosses of two fertilizer companies

Large-scale nutrient purchases often known to sway spot prices

By GFM Network News May 20, 2021

Mumbai | Reuters — Indian authorities have opened an investigation into the heads of two leading fertilizer importing companies, alleging they secured commissions from overseas suppliers for inflating the prices of crop nutrient purchases. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India’s top crimefighting agency, said late Wednesday it was investigating U.S. Awasthi, managing director of […] 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)

Crops, Weather

Manitoba soil temperatures allow for spring fertilizer

Winter ban lifted, with cautions

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News March 24, 2021

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

Health Canada said its proposed front-of-pack symbols aren’t yet in the proposed regulations as published, but will be included in the final regulation. (Dave Bedard photo)

Dairy Cattle, General

Dairy sector wary of proposed food label policy

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News February 9, 2018

Canadian consumers are being asked to weigh in on proposed new front-of-pack warnings for foods high in saturated fats, sugars and sodium, starting this weekend. And while whole milk would get a pass from such a plan, Canada’s dairy farmer organization fears many other dairy products would wind up wearing such warnings, thus “alarming” consumers. […] Read more

Crops, Features

Learning about the 4Rs online

Online training offers way to help farmers communicate sustainable practices

By Julienne Isaacs March 24, 2016

The 4Rs” is shorthand every western Canadian producer knows, even though the phrase has only been around for a few years. It stands, of course, for the Right source of nutrients at the Right rate and the Right time in the Right place. The 4R concept was developed by the Fertilizer Institute, the International Plant Nutrition […] Read more

CFIA rejects beekeeper proposals on U.S. packaged bees

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures fall hard, hogs mixed

Alberta Crop Report: Scattered rains, crop conditions

GFM Network News