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Close-up file photo of an alfalfa plant in a Canadian field. (Jennifer Seeman/iStock/Getty Images)
Crops, Forages, Potatoes

P.E.I. seed potato producers backed for ‘soil-building’

Province puts up $3 million for BMP program

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In an attempt to support its potato farmers following trade suspensions with the U.S. over potato wart, the government of Prince Edward Island plans to put up $3 million in new funding for a program that will help farmers shift to “soil-building crops.” “In our meetings with industry and the P.E.I. Potato Board, the need […] Read more
Examples of field overlap include riparian zones, irregular field shapes and obstacles such as hydro towers.
Crops, Features

The problem with field overlap

Excess nutrient applications in these areas waste fertilizer dollars and can lead to crop losses and environmental damage

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There are lots of reasons why the traffic patterns of farm equipment can overlap in a field. The field could be an odd shape, there may be a stream cutting across it, or large obstacles like hydro towers have to be driven around. If this happens while you’re applying fertilizer, nutrients can build up in […] Read more
Some fungal diseases of crops are more prevalent in acidic soils. A good example is clubroot in canola in central Alberta.
Columns, Crops

Acid soil management in your fields

How to prevent, manage and remediate acid soils

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Soil acidity is determined by measuring soil pH. The “H” refers to hydrogen and the “p” refers to hydrogen concentration on a negative logarithm scale (soil pH is -log [H+]). A soil pH of 7.0 is neutral, meaning the hydrogen (H+) ion concentration in soil equals the hydroxyl (OH-) ion concentration. A soil pH less […] Read more
It is a great thrill for this old fossil to see soil moisture being used as a major factor in agronomic decisions.
Columns, Crops

Les Henry: Opportunities to learn in wintertime

What I discovered at the 2021 Crop Intelligence Annual Summit

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Winter is the time for catching up with reading not done in the busy farming season and going to agricultural shows and information meetings. For me, one of the highlights has been the Western Canadian Crop Production Show held in Saskatoon in early January. It was held this year, but I declined because of the […] Read more
Tips to conserve soil moisture and manage weeds this spring
Crops, Features

Tips to conserve soil moisture and manage weeds this spring

Plus, where tillage fits in and how and when it could be used

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Although it has only been on most farmers’ radars for the last couple of decades, no-till production has become a modern-day success story, with well over half of Canadian farmland now being farmed under its practices. However, no till relies heavily on herbicides to manage weeds and retain soil moisture. And with key herbicides like […] Read more
Drought-stressed peas in a fertility response trial in south-central Saskatchewan in 2021.
Crops, Features, Pulses

How to manage fertility for pulses after a dry year

Soil test and understand how nitrogen fixation can be affected

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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
Most Prairie farmers are well aware of the potential advantages of soil testing but lack confidence in the interpretation.
Columns, Crops

Soil analysis reports: get what you need

Seek out trained agronomists, reputable labs and wise interpretation of soil test results

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In the early 1980s, we used a commonly seen bumper sticker in southern Alberta that stated, “Don’t Guess — Soil Test!” to promote the importance of soil testing. However, 40 years later, less than 20 per cent of Prairie farmers soil test their fields on a regular basis. Why is this? For many farmers it […] Read more
Manitoba Ag soil management specialist Marla Riekman says soil compaction can limit yields and have an indirect effect on crop development.
Crops, News

Soil compaction could squeeze your yields

A look at the direct and indirect effects of compaction in your fields

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For years, soil compaction wasn’t something Jeff Hamblin gave a lot of thought to. The Manitoba producer had heard about how the seasonal freeze-thaw cycle in the Red River Valley and elsewhere in the Prairies acted to naturally alleviate farmland soil compaction, but it wasn’t until he started investigating some problem areas in his fields […] Read more
Should you till after a drought?
Crops, Wheat & Chaff

Should you till after a drought?

Q & A with an expert

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Q: What factors should be considered with fall tillage following a drought? A: Fall work might include tillage operations for fertilizer and herbicide applications. Other tillage operations might include vertical tillage for residue management and tillage to break up surface compaction. The question after a drought is, “Should I till?”  Many parts of Western Canada […] Read more
Establishment of a cover crop will reduce evaporation in the spring.
Crops, Wheat & Chaff

Soil health and cover crops

Q & A with an expert

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Q: What are the challenges associated with fall cover crops and are the benefits worth the effort?  A: The simple answer is cover crops will improve your soil health. Cover crops reduce soil erosion, improve nutrient cycling and provide a living biosphere for beneficial soil micro-organisms. The challenging followup questions include: Will cover crops work […] Read more

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