alberta farmland and wind turbines

Soil health benchmarking survey in Alberta

Researchers at the Chinook Applied Research Association’s Soil Health Lab have adapted a soil health assessment from Cornell University to evaluate Alberta soils

Every farmer wants “healthy soil.” But what does that mean, and how do they know if they have it? “The first question I ask when I’m speaking to farmers is, ‘How many of you have done soil testing?’” says Yamily Zavala, PhD, soil health lab manager and soil health and crop management specialist at the […] Read more

Farmers can now choose between multiple track and tire technologies that help reduce the compaction risks around supersized grain carts.

Supersized grain carts a weighty problem

They can boost harvest efficiencies, but also ramp up risk of serious soil compaction. Here are some tips to reduce that risk

Grain carts can still cause serious soil compaction whether they’re on tracks or wheels, but Scott Shearer’s research at Ohio State indicates less of a yield hit with tracks compared to wheels in unfavourable soil conditions. Here are some tips to reduce compaction risk.






a pile of lime awaiting application on a farm field

It may be time for lime on acid soils

Liming may be an expensive option — but it’s the only proven method to raise soil pH

Acidic soil can plague crop producers with nutrient deficiencies and poor root growth, leading to reduced yields. Lime can be expensive, but may pencil out as the most important fertilizer treatment for those soils.





Direct seeding and continuous cropping have meant plant residues are returned to the soil every year.

Soil organic matter and carbon sequestration

Changes in cropping practices over time have significantly improved soil quality

Prairie farmers have done an excellent job shifting to direct seeding, continuous cropping, using much more diverse crop rotations and fertilizing crops adequately, along with various other good agronomy practices. This has very positively improved soil organic matter levels and improved soil health across all the soil zones of the Prairies.