soil testing Archives - Page 4 of 5

A typical example of a SWAT map showing multiple layers of field data including soil, water and topography, providing producers with a visual picture of variable field conditions – which helps farmers better manage crop inputs to optimize production.

Perhaps it’s time to give VRT a second look

Soil tests provide valuable information, variable-rate technology (VRT) can help you manage that

By Lee Hart October 12, 2021

Investing in detailed soil test analysis this fall will help Prairie farmers know the level of nutrients available as they plan the 2022 cropping season, says a Saskatchewan-based agronomist. A soil analysis is valuable in any year, but particularly after drought conditions, says Cory Willness with CropPro Consulting headquartered at Naicam, Sask. He says having […] Read more

Crops, News

After a dry growing season

While it’s definitely a disappointing and, for some, disastrous year, it’s no time to forget about the soil — farmers are urged to think about soil and nutrient management practices this fall

By Lee Hart August 24, 2021

With soil moisture conditions this August across virtually all of western Canadian farmland ranging from abnormally dry to beyond description, it might seem there isn’t much to be done to improve soil health and management until it rains. However, while it may seem counterintuitive, agronomists and soil specialists alike say don’t forget about soil testing […] Read more

The original wood framed EM38 complete with store string. Readers of Henry’s Handbook can check out page 81 to get the story behind the store string.

Columns, Crops

Les Henry: The EM38 Field Scout

The EM38 always gives the right answer — what that answer means in terms of soil interpretation is up to the user and experience

By Les Henry April 5, 2021

This piece is intended primarily for PAgs and CCAs and the farmers they serve. Field scouting of crops and soils has become an important part of the services provided. Grainews carries a regular column highlighting examples of crop-problem scouting by agronomists with Richardson Pioneer. I read the column each issue and often learn something new […] Read more

This operator holds the NutriScan soil diagnostic tool against a soil sample in the field. A soil analysis is available  within minutes.

Crops, News

A real-time soil analysis in minutes

New technology brings diagnostic tool to the field

By Lee Hart October 2, 2020

Are you ready for in-field soil testing technology that in a matter of minutes can give you a read of what nutrients are available or perhaps, more importantly, deficient for your crop? Here comes NutriScan. That’s the technology Concentric Ag and its plant nutrient division, ATP Nutrition, is offering to western Canadian farmers this fall, […] Read more

John Deere has added real-time nutrient analysis for  liquid manure to the HarvestLab 3000.

Machinery

John Deere adds to HarvestLab 3000

Real-time manure nutrient-sensing feature added

By Scott Garvey March 17, 2020

One of the most difficult things for producers who use liquid manure to aid in field fertility is determining what level of nutrients is actually being applied. John Deere’s HarvestLab 3000 can now provide a real-time analysis of applied manure and allow operators to even out application rates. Deere introduced the HarvestLab 3000 back in […] Read more

Crops, Wheat & Chaff

Getting ready for next year’s crop

Q & A with Nutrien Ag Solutions

By Stacie Yaremko October 29, 2019

Q. As the 2019 growing season wraps up, what should I do to plan for 2020? A. As the current season ends, growers have an excellent opportunity to carry lessons learned into next year. Now is a good time to take stock of observations made from the swather or combine cab. Lodging may be an […] Read more

Clark Brenzil speaks to farmers at Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Crop Diagnostic School in 2017.

Crops, Features

Herbicide carryover may be high risk

If it was dry after last year’s application, there may be soil-residual herbicides

By Melanie Epp March 21, 2019

Crop selection for the 2019 growing season could prove challenging for growers in some parts of the Prairies, as a lack of rainfall means soil-residual herbicides could impact crop establishment. Moisture after application is critical for herbicide breakdown. In areas where rainfall was patchy at best, growers need to be conservative when selecting crops to […] Read more

Columns, Crops

Les Henry: Peanut scrambles or problem solving?

We need agricultural research, but we also need to fund the right agricultural research

By Les Henry March 20, 2019

The need for ongoing programs of agricultural research to keep our industry functioning and profitable is without question. But how it is organized, how the money is spent and on what basis the money is allocated needs some discussion. Recently I have spent some time perusing the websites of various agricultural research funding organizations — […] Read more

LaserAg offers these small cups for soil collection. Sample takers can use LaserAg’s software to determine where to sample. Scanning the bar code on the top of the cup with a smartphone after the sample is taken will automatically record information about the sample, including the exact location. Filled cups can be submitted by mail, and results will be returned electronically within two weeks.

Features

New soil test company on the block

New technology is bringing another way to test the soil on your farm

By Leeann Minogue September 1, 2016

Jacques Nault’s brother Charles Nault first heard about Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technology at a pharmaceutical conference. “It was presented as a tool to do quality control, to make sure pills contained the right molecules,” Jacques Nault says. As co-founders of LogiAg, an agronomy service and technology firm based in Chateauguay, Quebec, the Nault brothers began imagining how LIBS […] Read more

Crops

Five Q and As on soil testing

Here’s what you need to know to make sure your plants have all the right nutrients

By Lisa Guenther May 25, 2016

Soil testing will help you give your crop the best possible start. Dr. Jeff Schoenau, soil fertility expert at the University of Saskatchewan, delivered a free webinar on soil earlier this winter. Schoenau had answers to five common questions about soil testing and fertility.

GFM Network News

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures gain on higher beef values, tight supplies

Mail strike disrupts grain sample delivery

U.S. grains: Soybeans tick up as market weighs crops, U.S.-China ties

Tag Archives soil testing