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The University of Manitoba has been conducting trials on soybean’s phosphorus uptake.
Crops, Features, Soybeans

Do soybeans need phosphorus?

Phosphorus fertilizer won’t increase soybean yield, but good strategies can maintain fertility

By
Soybeans are efficient feeders for soil phosphorus (P) and in most cases growers are not going to see an increase in yield from additional P fertilization, regardless of the soil test P, according to research trials in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Since 2013, Dr. Don Flaten and Gustavo Bardella of the University of Manitoba, together with […] Read more
field of flowering mustard
Columns, Crops

Mustard fertilizer management

In Part 2 of a 4-part series on mustard agronomy, Ross McKenzie talks fertilizer

By
In the last issue of Grainews, I discussed agronomic management of growing mustard. In this issue we’ll discuss nitrogen requirements; in the next issue, we’ll discuss the other nutrients mustard needs to achieve optimum production. Mustard grown on cereal stubble almost always needs nitrogen fertilizer, frequently needs phosphate fertilizer and occasionally needs sulphur fertilizer. Soil […] Read more
Nitrate in the environment
Columns, Crops

Nitrate in the environment

Agriculture is a big part of nitrogen movement. Let's measure what we're doing

By
This column has dealt with “nitrate down the well” a few times in the past. To make a long story short: Nitrate-contaminated farm wells have been known since 1945 when the first case of infant “blue-baby” was related to a contaminated farm well in Iowa. A 1948 survey of 2,000 Saskatchewan farm wells found 18 […] Read more
Crops, Features

Grid soil sampling best for prediction

Cavalier Agrow agronomist says grid soil sampling trumps satellite imagery

By
Farmers who want to move into precision farming should focus less on satellite imagery and more on what’s happening under the soil’s surface, according to an agronomist. Bennie Dunhin is the agronomy manager at Cavalier Agrow, an ag retailer based in north-western Saskatchewan. Dunhin, who originally hails from South Africa, holds an MSc. in plant […] Read more
This graphic, from a University of Minnesota Extension Bulletin, shows some common designs for tile drainage.
Columns, Crops

Trying tile drainage on your farm

There's information out there. Do your homework before starting tile drainage

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I am not an engineer and will not give recipes for pipe size, spacing or equipment. Rather, I’ll look at the principles and steps a farmer should take before investing big bucks in tiles. Tile drainage is not a new technology. Many of the better soils of the world are on flat, low lying, high […] Read more
soil dirt
Columns, Crops

The soil test results have arrived

The best results are only as good as the plans you implement to deal with them

By
Complete tasks as you think of them. I can’t stress this enough. You see, there’s this rock. It’s big. And it’s sitting along the western edge of the pastureland I broke last fall. I nicked it with the Wishek disc I rented in October to mince the sod. I should have dealt with it then. […] Read more
Soil background
Columns, Crops

The making of a healthy soil

“Soil health” is a popular topic, but Les Henry says the fine points are mostly spin

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We hear a lot about soil soil health these days so thought I should brush up on the literature. To give the punch line first: in my opinion it is mostly spin. Any introductory course or soils textbook starts by picking a hypothetical pound of ground and revealing the basics. Soil is half solids and […] Read more
This Solonetzic soil has a columnar- structured B horizon, which restricts water and root penetration into sub-soil.
Columns, Crops

Learn to manage your sodic soils

Got sodic soils on your farm? Here are three options for managing those areas

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In the last issue of Grainews I discussed the physical and chemical characteristics of sodic soils. In this issue, I’ll discuss managing those soils. Solonetzic soils in the brown or dark brown soil zones of southern Alberta or southern Saskatchewan, that are in native grassland may be best left in their native condition and used […] Read more
(click image for larger view)
Columns

Stubble soil moisture, November 1, 2015

Les Henry’s annual soil moisture map gives us a true view of water availability

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This map shows the best estimate of subsoil moisture from three inches to four feet. First — this is a map of general conditions in general areas. Do not get too hung up on the exact placement of lines. But, it is still very useful in planning for 2016 outcomes. With a soil full of […] Read more
There are miles and miles of microscopic fungi “root” hairs in this soil ball creating a vast network of pockets to capture water and create a microclimate for other microorganisms, protozoa, amoeba, bacteria and enzymes — all key elements in nutrient-cycling process.
Cattleman’s Corner

Soil fungi key to grass production

The soil is a complex world working hard to complete natural cycling

By
We always enjoy the cattle on 4-Clover Ranch near Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. It was our own animals back in the day and now someone else’s are on the farm for summer grazing. Fact is, we are really grass farmers and have chosen to harvest the grass with cattle rather than the haybine. We have […] Read more

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