soil health Archives - Page 4 of 12

Fertilizer in storage at a phosphate plant in North Carolina.

Understanding soil phosphorus, part 1

Agronomy Management: Rotations and fertilizer management have dramatic effects on pools of organic and inorganic P

By Ross H. McKenzie February 28, 2025

Farmers and agronomists are very aware that phosphorus (P) is an essential element needed for optimum crop production in Western Canada. Most soils used for annual crops in Western Canada are very low, low or medium in plant-available soil P and are responsive to added P fertilizer. As a result, phosphate fertilizer use is second […] Read more

Crops

Soil carbon measurement and verification system launched

CANZA project to give producers quick, cost-effective tool to help measure, manage and monetize soil carbon

By Jonah Grignon February 11, 2025

The Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agri-food (CANZA) is launching a measurement verification reporting (MRV) system for reporting soil carbon.

Earthworm channels in soil tend to be enriched in organic matter, microbes and nutrients, which are of significant help in nutrient cycling.

Columns, Crops

One does not simply measure soil health

Agronomy Management: Just analyzing soil samples won’t give you the big picture

By Ross H. McKenzie January 29, 2025

Over the past 40 years, Prairie farmers have made extraordinary strides in improving soil quality. Two major reasons were the shift from using summerfallow to continuous cropping, and the shift from conventional cultivation to no-till or minimum-till farming. Farmer adoption of these improved practices was gradual. Most famers were cautious and wanted to be sure […] Read more

Bryan Prystupa speaking about AgExpert Sustainability at Manitoba AgDays on Wednesday, January 22. PHOTO: Don Norman

Machinery, News

New tool for carbon footprint tracking unveiled at Manitoba AgDays

FCC says the tool is a ‘non-judgemental’ way of getting a snap shot of soil carbon including sequestration

By Don Norman January 24, 2025

Soil carbon is an imporant thing to track, both emissions and sequestration. Bryan Prystupa, of Farm Credit Canada, spoke about a new tool that aims to give farmers insight into carbon on their farms.

Crops, News, Reuters

COMMENT: Fertile land for growing vegetables is at risk — but a scientific discovery could turn the tide

By The Conversation via Reuters Connect January 14, 2025

Research work at Quebec's Laval University's Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, carried out in partnership with 14 vegetable farms, offers hope for ensuring the sustainability of their soils.

Rick Bieber presents at the Western Canada Conference on Soil Health and Grazing on how to prioritize soil health through his many years in the industry. Photo: Melissa Jeffers-Bezan

Crops, Livestock

South Dakota farmer focuses on soil biology

Retired farmer Rick Bieber spoke at the Western Canada Conference on Grazing and Soil Health

By Melissa Jeffers-Bezan December 13, 2024

Rick Bieber, a farmer from South Dakota, spoke at Western Canada Conference on Soil Health about the many practices he has implemented to improve his soil on his operation.

News

World Soil Day celebrates critical resource

By Laura Rance-Unger December 5, 2024

December 5 marks World Soil Day, a day set aside by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to celebrate this critical resource and raise awareness of the challenges of protecting it. This year’s theme, “Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage,” underscores the importance of accurate soil data and information in understanding soils characteristics and […] Read more

Crops, GrowPro

Digging into the cause of poor yields

Did drought, fertility issues or something else lead to that poor crop? We look at the possibilities

By Rigas Karamanos October 31, 2024

Your client’s crop yielded poorly, and they assume it was due to drought. But you suspect it may be a fertility issue. How can you accurately diagnose the problem? Let us first examine what dry and drought mean. A dry year means reduced crop growth and reduced nutrient uptake, since biological, chemical and physical processes […] Read more

TAP program participants at a recent event at Enderlin, N.D., west of Fargo, check out a Montag fertilizer application unit, designed for use in reduced-tillage and cover cropping systems.

Crops

Soil health training served on TAP for Prairie agronomists

North Dakota's Trusted Advisor Partnership (TAP) program coming north to Manitoba, Saskatchewan

By Jim Timlick October 22, 2024

A program designed to provide agronomists with practical soil health knowledge — and a peer sharing network on the subject — will soon be establishing roots in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The Canadian Prairies Trusted Advisor Partnership (TAP) plans to launch its first cohort of about 15 agronomists in January 2025. It will serve as a […] Read more

A calf chows down on sorghum on John Griffin’s south-central Saskatchewan ranch.

Crops, Features, Forages

Sorghum sudangrass may help soil beat back diseases

The crop’s benefits for farmers are piling up, but be aware of some drawbacks, experts say

By Jeff Melchior October 18, 2024

Researchers have found potential in sorghum sudangrass — a hybrid of sorghum varieties — as a fungal disease-fighting, soil-enriching grass for cover crops. Although the research was conducted in Prince Edward Island, some say there may be applications for Western Canada as well — including potential as highly-nutritious cattle feed. Two Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada […] Read more

GFM Network News

CFIA looks for feedback on proposed seed potato rule changes

U.S. grains: Soybean futures rise on active Chinese buying

GMO food labelling review opens questions on gene editing

Tag Archives soil health