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Those critters are farming your soil
Crops, Features

Those critters are farming your soil

Soil Health: Healthy soil includes a healthy, complicated, diverse mix of bacteria and fungi

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This was a clear message delivered by Mario Tenuta, Canada research chair in applied soil ecology and professor at the University of Manitoba, at a recent Manitoba Farm Writers and Broadcasters Association lunch. “What the heck is soil health?” asked Tenuta. “You hear a lot about it these days, especially this year, the 2015 International […] Read more
VIDEO: Down to earth jewelry made in Manitoba
News

VIDEO: Down to earth jewelry made in Manitoba

Provincial soil turned trinkets travel the world

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Manitoba Soil Sciences Society members have been using Newdale Clay Loam to make a series of pendants/keychains, bracelets, earrings and rings since Manitoba proclaimed it the provincial soil in 2010. MSSS members Marla Riekman and John Heard explain how the idea originated, how the jewelry is made, and the intent behind the ongoing initiative. All […] Read more
soil
Columns, Crops

Using base-cation saturation ratios

Fertilizer recommendations based on BCSRs do not beat traditional approaches

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In my last column, I discussed soil pH and its effect on plant nutrients and fertilizers. In this article, more about basic, or alkaline, soils and how some agronomists are using base saturation to make fertilizer recommendations. Remember that soils with a pH of 6.6 to 7.4 are in the neutral range, pH 7.5 to […] Read more
Pea plants in the pale green areas were small and struggling compared to the larger, healthier-looking plants in the lush green areas.
Crops, Peas

Crop Advisor’s Casebook: Puzzling patterns in a pea field

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the October 21, 2014 issue of Grainews

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Back in late spring, Allan was alarmed to see some strange patterns showing up in his crop of field peas at his 2,000-acre mixed grain farm near Aylsham, Sask. Irregular sections of pale green peas were appearing in the field, in contrast to the lush green growth of the rest of the crop. The pea […] Read more
Install the well. This photo shows a well installed with a cap on top — just loose of course. This was a very clean 11 foot hole so I had to set the top with natural clay from auger leavings.
Columns, Crops

DIY: Installing water table wells

With water in the soil, we can survive on little rain. Learn how to measure what you have

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2015 will go into the books as a very different kind of growing season. In central Saskatchewan we started off with soil completely full of water after a big dump of snow on April 26. My rain gauges showed 2.5 inches of water when it all melted. And then Mother Nature turned of the tap […] Read more
Rethinking the natural water cycle
Crops, Features

Rethinking the natural water cycle

The natural systems we rely on and think of as simple are actually very complicated

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Groundbreaking water research out of the University of Saskatchewan has just been published in the international science journal Nature. Researchers Jaivime Evaristo and Dr. Jeffrey McDonnell of from the U. of S. and Scott Jasechko of the University of Calgary have taken a new look at the hydrological cycle, something that’s been pretty well established […] Read more
Cutaway of Plant and Roots in Dirt
Columns, Crops

The broad basics of your soil’s pH

Soil pH is complex, and has different impacts on the availability of different nutrients

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Farmers frequently ask “What does soil pH really mean?” and “What effect does pH have on availability of nutrients in the soil?” Both are excellent questions! The effects of pH are complex and vary with different nutrients. However, some broad generalizations are useful to keep in mind when understanding soil pH and making nutrient management […] Read more
FarmLife

Tree stumps? Saltpetre? Skin toner? Read on for all the info

The Singing Gardener offers his tips and those from Grainews readers

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In this instalment of the Singing Gardener — I, Ted, have some ideas for dealing with tree stumps. Also, a handwritten note re: naming of horses and a letter re: Italian heirloom tomato, both from Laura Hughes of Edmonton. Recently, I made a batch of facial skin toner and think it’s a pretty darn good formula […] Read more
One acre of land, six inches deep, weighs about 2,000,000 pounds.
Columns, Crops

Soil sampling and soil testing

Fall is generally the most convenient time for soil testing. Plan now for effective testing

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In the last issue of Grainews Les Henry wrote a great article on soil testing. I couldn’t agree more that soil sampling and testing is a great tool to assess the soil nutrient levels in your fields so you can wisely plan your fertilizer program for next spring. Here are some of my thoughts on […] Read more
Claas 830 with trailed sprayer.
Crops, Machinery

Controlling your farm traffic

It’s still a new concept here, but many farmers in Australia and Europe are embracing CTF

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A recent conference held on the subject of controlled traffic farming, or CTF as it’s more commonly known, has shown that the uptake in North America and Canada is somewhat behind that of northern Europe and Australia. Held in Prague and organised by CTF Europe, the conference attracted more than 130 participants, including farmers, managers, […] Read more

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