The data Prairie farmers get from chemical analysis of soils are necessary to develop a field fertility program — but as an Alberta program shows, those data don’t tell the whole story needed to assess soil health.
Tag Archives soil management
Measuring the components of healthy soil in Alberta
Part 1 of 2: Soil health more than just its chemical properties, according to the Alberta Soil Health Benchmark Report
Farmers weigh strategies to boost soils’ water-holding capacity
At Ag in Motion, experts discuss soil texture, organic matter and amendments
At Ag in Motion, experts share insights on soil texture, organic matter, cover crops and targeted amendments to help Prairie farmers conserve water and protect yields.
Demystifying biological inputs
A new partnership brings science-based field data to ag input listings to help growers sort fact from fiction
Biome Makers’ BeCrop Trials system measures changes in the soil microbiome after a product is applied. While the AgList/Biome Makers badge doesn’t validate efficacy, it signals a product has been through third-party field trials.
Lacasse aims for both power and precision with new large scraper
The Quebec company’s 30-cubic metre scraper offers advanced levelling and grading capability
Lacasse’s Pro-Level 16XL land leveller offers a 30-cubic metre capacity to move a lot of soil quickly, and a blade uniquely designed to precisely grade and finish a contoured surface.
Taking the mystery out of soil and tissue tests
Agronomists and soil scientists describe the differences between various tests
Soil tests assess the potential availability of nutrients under optimal conditions. In contrast, tissue tests indicate actual uptake under variable field conditions.
The evolving fight against volunteer canola
As its prevalence grows, farmers are adopting integrated strategies to manage one of the Prairies' most persistent weeds
While chemistries out there continue to work for most farmers, the days of spraying their way out of volunteer canola issues are receding in the rearview mirror. “I’m not going to say that herbicides don’t work because there are quite a few herbicide options still to manage volunteer canola,” says Charles Geddes, a research scientist […] Read more
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
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
Editor’s Rant: Thanks, Les
We begin with sad news for readers who haven’t already heard: Les Henry, a soil scientist and university professor dedicated to the improvement of Prairie farmland, and a mainstay in these pages for almost 50 years, left us on June 14 at age 83, ending a long fight with congestive heart failure. We can defer […] Read more
Moving from dry to wet
Improved moisture conditions can mean different strategies
Farmers in Western Canada can breathe easy. Rains across most of the Prairies this spring have gone a long way toward recharging groundwater levels and lowering the risk of drought across the region. “We had an extremely warm winter with lower-than-normal precipitation in most areas,” says Trevor Hadwen, agroclimate specialist for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. […] Read more
Drought preparedness through soil and crop management
After each dry year, adapt your drought plan based on your experiences and what you learned
As spring approaches, the agricultural community is becoming increasingly concerned about potential forecasts of drought across the southern Prairies. And rightly so; the print and electronic media have posted numerous drought-related articles. Wide areas of southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan and their dryland farms, irrigated farms and ranching areas could be affected. But what helpful […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
