soil Archives - Page 14 of 27

Les Henry’s stubble soil moisture map, as of Nov. 1, 2018

There’s more red ink (dry areas) than we’d like to see on this year’s map

By Les Henry February 8, 2019

Each year when I make up this very general map, I keep hoping for a young generation to come along with better technology and smarts to make a better map. I now see a very bright light at the end of the tunnel. My December 12, 2018, article talked about the soil moisture sensor probes […] Read more

The family at Friendly Acres Seed Farm. Kevin Elmy and his wife Christina, Kevin’s parents, Robert and Verene, and Kevin and Christina’s daughters, Kennedy and Haley.

Crops, Features

Friendly Acres 2018 year in review

Changes are in store for Friendly Acres, but soil health will still be the top priority

By Kevin Elmy February 7, 2019

One of the challenges of farming in a continental climate is weather. That is why farmers talk about it, complain about it, and want to either get good forecasts for it or control over it. Looks like the excess water issue that we had for eight years solved itself. Two years of below-normal moisture has […] Read more

Tillage can help warm the soil faster for earlier seeding, but it also gives weeds a better environment to germinate.

Crops

Tillage systems’ impact on weeds and disease

No-till and minimum-till systems both have agronomic drawbacks and advantages

By Doug Moisey January 18, 2019

No-till and minimum-till systems both have their advantages and drawbacks, especially when it comes to managing weeds, disease and insects in next season’s crop. Let’s start by looking at the advantages of no-till systems. Right off the bat, they’re great for soil and moisture conservation — particularly when you’re working on lighter, sandier soils. Growers […] Read more

Columns, Crops

Finally, soil moisture measuring meets new tech

A map of soil moisture at freeze-up can give you a good indication of your yield potential

By Les Henry January 15, 2019

Water in the bank is a certainty; rainfall is a probability. Much of what we do in farming is based on probabilities — a game of chance. What are the chances we will get timely rains to keep a crop from withering away to a low yield? What are the chances we will suffer disease […] Read more

Crops, Wheat & Chaff

Copper deficiencies can reduce wheat yields

Q & A with Nutrien Ag Solutions

By Lyle Cowell January 14, 2019

Q: How do I know if I have copper-deficient soils? A: Copper is the micronutrient most often found deficient in Western Canada. In a nutshell, copper deficiency is most often found in deep sandy soils and peat soils, and wheat is the most sensitive crop. Soil tests are a good tool to predict potential copper […] Read more

Handful of arable soil in hands of responsible farmer, close up, selective focus

Columns, Hart Attacks

Scientists say it’s all about the soil

Farmers and ranchers need to keep society connected to the land

By Lee Hart December 18, 2018

So a soil scientist steps up to a conference microphone about to deliver a one-hour talk and my first thought — “is 8:30 in the morning too early for a nap?” But not so. What a great talk given by Henry Janzen, a long-time researcher at the Agriculture Canada Lethbridge Research Centre to open the annual […] Read more

When you look at a partially lodged field why does the cereal crop lodge in the low spots but not on the higher, better drained spots?

Cereals, Columns

Why did my cereal crop lodge?

Practical Research: Was it disease? Too much nitrogen? Or was it a copper deficiency in your soil?

By Ieuan Evans December 18, 2018

This year, 2018, was the year of the lodged crop on the Canadian Prairies. Back in early September, the weather turned cold and much of the Prairies were covered repeatedly with heavy wet snow. In the northern half of the Prairies up to 80 per cent of the crops were yet to be harvested. Fortunately, […] Read more

Crops, Markets

Opinions differ on quinoa prices in 2019

By GFM Network News December 13, 2018

CNS Canada — There are opposing views on what will happen with Canadian quinoa prices in 2019. One buyer believes the specialty crop will increase a few cents per pound; another believes the price will slightly decrease in the New Year. Dan Boulton of NorQuin at Saskatoon said there is a world shortage of quinoa, […] Read more

Canadian manufacturer AgriBrink has introduced an aftermarket auto tire inflation system for ag tractors and equipment.

Equipment, Machinery

AgriBrink introduces an auto-inflation system

Aftermarket system allows for auto tire inflation from the cab

By Scott Garvey November 29, 2018

That big, new aircart that recently arrived on the farm has the widest available radial tires on it, so there’s no need to think about soil compaction, right? Wrong. Choosing the right rubber is only the first step in ensuring equipment does the least possible damage to soil. “Big tires are great, but they’re useless […] Read more

Engineer in training Alex Barrie talks with machinery editor Scott Garvey during Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock, Ontario.

Equipment, Machinery

Engineers study machine-related soil compaction

Ontario team working to establish  tire inflation guidelines

By Scott Garvey November 29, 2018

It wasn’t all that long ago that many agronomists in Canada weren’t even willing to concede soil compaction might be a problem. The freeze-thaw cycle, many argued, significantly mitigated it. But now with more available data and new thinking, most seem to agree that the seasonal temperature cycle doesn’t fully eliminate the problem. And preventing […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle markets up ahead of report

U.S. grains: Soybean futures fall after Trump-Xi call

Prairie Wheat Weekly: Western Canadian bids slightly decline

GFM Network News