soil Archives - Page 20 of 27

Precision ag may not work on your farm

In the field, precision ag does not yet live up to the hype that has surrounded it

By Les Henry April 18, 2017

If we go into a farm meeting and ask how many are using auto steer almost all hands go up. If you ask how many are using variable rate only a few respond. The uptake has been slow and many techies think that farmers are slow adopters. Guess what folks: if it works farmers are […] Read more

Ian Mitchell-Innes, centre, talks to Manitoba producers about how to use selective grazing to improve  soil health and productivity during a three-day workshop in Manitoba last year.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

The profit potential of selective grazing

High stocking density, short-duration grazing helps put carbon back into the soil

By Angela Lovell April 10, 2017

No matter where he speaks in the world, Ian Mitchell-Innes carries a message to beef producers about achieving optimal animal performance, reducing costs, and ultimately becoming more profitable. Animals instinctively know where they can get the highest level of energy — from the top third of the plant, Mitchell-Innes, a South African rancher, told producers […] Read more

Crops, Features

Most common fertility questions

Rigas Karamonos answers the fertilizer questions he’s hearing from farmers

By Leeann Minogue April 7, 2017

At CropConnect in Manitoba in February, Dr. Rigas Karamanos gave his 868th presentation to farmers. He’s been counting. And, he said, it’s the 35th time he’s been asked to give a talk on “contemporary fertility issues.” He used his time on the CropConnect agenda to talk about the issues he hears farmers raising. Fertilizing for […] Read more

McGrath and helpers dig some soil pits along transect lines on native prairie
pasture that is part of Round Rock Ranching to establish some baselines through nutrient and biological soil testing.

Cattleman’s Corner, Crops

Are you a (soil) health nut?

Any treatments applied above ground will eventually affect what happens below your feet

By Sean McGrath April 6, 2017

I was eternally blessed to enter the University of Saskatchewan while Les Henry was still teaching at a time when we were “forced” to take at least an introductory soil science course. I learned a lot in that introductory course; mostly about how much I didn’t know (and how much Dr. Henry did). But more […] Read more

In affected spots in the wheat field, the plants had white heads and dried-up flag leaves. Something was causing the wheat to turn white, but what?

Cereals, Crops

Crop Advisor’s Casebook: Crop trouble follows a pattern

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the April 28, 2015 issue of Grainews

By Rachelle Farrell March 30, 2017

It was back at harvest time the previous year when I received my first SOS about a particular field problem from Joe, who grows canola, wheat and barley on his farm at Morinville, Alta. The performance of his barley crop just wasn’t up to snuff — yield was way down as a result of numerous […] Read more

Kevin Elmy of Saltcoats, Sask., uses a wide variety of plant species in his cover crop mix.

Columns, Crops

Planning fertilizer for forage crops

Some food for thought on fertilization to establish forage crops in your fields

By Les Henry March 9, 2017

Forage crops are sometimes treated as the neglected child. Once it is established, come along with a haybine if there is enough rain to make a crop. If it continues to rain after the bales are off maybe even come in to get a small second cut. Grass hay crops are often left to wither […] Read more

Crops, Weather

Manitoba storm may cause more than travel delays

By GFM Network News March 7, 2017

CNS Canada –– Road closures across most of western Manitoba due to a late-winter storm are likely only the start of the headaches to come, as flooding and/or late seeding may be a reality in many areas this spring. Meteorologist Drew Lerner of World Weather Inc. in Kansas City said he was optimistic on moisture […] Read more

Moisture and a reduced stocking rate helped pastures to get back into a productive state above and below ground.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Pasture

Keeping soil biology ticking

Pasture Management: Grazing setbacks happen, but find opportunities to get back on track

By Kim Nielsen March 1, 2017

Normal weather” at 4 Clover Ranch near Rocky Mountain House, Alta. has been illusive for a couple of years at least and it has created some grazing challenges at the expense of pasture performance. Our planned grazing system, where we look at the health of the grass on an ongoing basis, has responded well over […] Read more

Crops, Features

Expert concerned about low phos levels

Stu Brandt is concerned about low phosphorus levels in Saskatchewan soils

By Lisa Guenther February 23, 2017

Stu Brandt is concerned about Saskatchewan phosphorus levels. Growers have been mining phosphorus since breaking the land, and it’s still happening today, he says. “That’s no longer the most appropriate strategy to be using,” Brandt told delegates at CropSphere in Saskatoon. Brandt is research manager at Northeast Agriculture Research Foundation. Although there’s typically plenty of phosphorus […] Read more

Pat Pfiffner, a farmer and senior technologist with Alberta Agriculture holing a soil penetrometer.

Columns, Crops

Rutted fields and soil compaction

What are the best ways to alleviate damaged fields in the spring?

By Ross H. McKenzie February 22, 2017

Persistent rains with cold, damp conditions in September and October made harvest last fall even more stressful that usual for many farmers. Trucks, grain carts and combines in wet fields have left moderate to severe ruts in fields across the Prairie. Ruts must be fixed before spring planting. Many farmers are also worried about soil […] Read more

GFM Network News

Canadian agriculture must be seen as growth sector: Blois

Chicken, eggs benefit from demand for economical protein

Spain detects first swine fever cases outside initial Barcelona outbreak zone

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