soil Archives - Page 3 of 27

Earthworm channels in soil tend to be enriched in organic matter, microbes and nutrients, which are of significant help in nutrient cycling.

One does not simply measure soil health

Agronomy Management: Just analyzing soil samples won’t give you the big picture

By Ross H. McKenzie January 29, 2025

Over the past 40 years, Prairie farmers have made extraordinary strides in improving soil quality. Two major reasons were the shift from using summerfallow to continuous cropping, and the shift from conventional cultivation to no-till or minimum-till farming. Farmer adoption of these improved practices was gradual. Most famers were cautious and wanted to be sure […] Read more

Crops, News, Reuters

COMMENT: Fertile land for growing vegetables is at risk — but a scientific discovery could turn the tide

By The Conversation via Reuters Connect January 14, 2025

Research work at Quebec's Laval University's Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, carried out in partnership with 14 vegetable farms, offers hope for ensuring the sustainability of their soils.

A calf chows down on sorghum on John Griffin’s south-central Saskatchewan ranch.

Crops, Features, Forages

Sorghum sudangrass may help soil beat back diseases

The crop’s benefits for farmers are piling up, but be aware of some drawbacks, experts say

By Jeff Melchior October 18, 2024

Researchers have found potential in sorghum sudangrass — a hybrid of sorghum varieties — as a fungal disease-fighting, soil-enriching grass for cover crops. Although the research was conducted in Prince Edward Island, some say there may be applications for Western Canada as well — including potential as highly-nutritious cattle feed. Two Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada […] Read more

News

Critical Ground highlights the need for research during Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show

By Diana Martin September 11, 2024

The Senate's "Critical Ground" soil report makes 25 recommendations including designating soil as a national strategic resource, creating a national soil database and appointing a national soil advocate.

Columns, Editor's column

Editor’s Rant: Thanks, Les

By Dave Bedard July 9, 2024

We begin with sad news for readers who haven’t already heard: Les Henry, a soil scientist and university professor dedicated to the improvement of Prairie farmland, and a mainstay in these pages for almost 50 years, left us on June 14 at age 83, ending a long fight with congestive heart failure. We can defer […] Read more

Les Henry. (University of Saskatchewan video screengrab)

Crops

Prairie soil scientist and author Les Henry, 83

Henry's outreach to farmers spanned more than half a century

By Dave Bedard June 15, 2024

Glacier FarmMedia — Saskatchewan soil scientist Les Henry, well known for his work on improving Prairie farmland and his outreach to Prairie farmers in the pages of Grainews, has died. Ending a long fight with congestive heart failure, Henry died Friday in Saskatoon at age 83, having continued to write until very shortly before his […] Read more

Crops

The legacy of Henry’s Handbook

A book well known to Grainews readers will remain available

By Croptimistic Technology Release June 7, 2024

Les Henry is a former professor and extension specialist for the University of Saskatchewan, a farmer, and a regular contributor of print and online articles and columns for Grainews for the past 37 years. He is also the author of Henry’s Handbook of Soil and Water. Today, we are pleased to announce that Henry has […] Read more

Joseph McKee preps seeding equipment at Stirling, southeast of Lethbridge.

Crops, Features

Feeding dry fields

Prairie farmers find more than one way to optimize fertilizer efficiency, whether in dry growing seasons or in any growing season

By Lee Hart May 29, 2024

Farmers and crop consultants in Western Canada have slightly different approaches to manage weather-related fertilizer application risks. With variable moisture, do you apply the full amount at seeding and hope for rain — or find another way? Most producers contacted by Grainews opt for some version of split fertilizer application when facing dry growing conditions […] Read more

Crops, Features, Forages

Shop smart when selecting seed for salt tolerance

Soil tests are recommended before deciding how best to manage salinity

By Jeff Melchior May 15, 2024

Glacier FarmMedia — Producers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba are asking plenty of questions about how to manage salinity in their soil. Jeff Schoenau, a soil science professor with the University of Saskatchewan, is among those fielding questions, although he says the amount of visible salinity in his province is “normal” for April. “I think probably […] Read more

These barley plants show signs of the damage potassium deficiency can cause.

Crops, Features

Are your fields potassium deficient?

Cases of potassium-deficient soils are on the rise. It could mean a hit to your bottom line

By Jim Timlick December 7, 2023

Most farmers know the importance of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil and the vital role their presence plays in crop development. But what about potassium? Potassium (K) is critically important in helping provide water balance within a plant. The only way a plant can move sugar and nutrients is by moving […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soy futures end up but notch weekly loss after China buys Argentina crops

U.S. criticizes Mexico’s handling of screwworm near border

U.S. grains: Soybean futures edge up as Argentina ends export tax waiver

GFM Network News