soil Archives - Page 4 of 27

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

Axten Farms has been using controlled traffic farming on their southern Saskatchewan farm for about eight years. It is one of the changes in production practices that is helping to break up soil compaction, improve water infiltration rates and support improved crop yields.

Equipment, Traction & Compaction

Farmers assess the effects of soil compaction

How some producers recognize and manage the issue

By Lee Hart November 7, 2023

While Mother Nature does its best in Western Canada to alleviate soil compaction through the freeze and thaw cycle, researchers suspect nature has a hard time keeping up with the pressure (figuratively and literally) of modern agricultural technology. Bigger, heavier equipment travelling over fields, particularly when soil conditions are wet, is believed to cause soil […] Read more

What manure does over and above its nutrient content is to provide organic carbon matter, which does wonders for soils.

Columns, Crops, Livestock

Manuring cropland can be misunderstood and overdone

Sources of manure and compost

By Ieuan Evans November 1, 2023

There are some 60,000 cow-calf farms and 20,000 dairy operations in Canada. Cattle numbers are around 12.5 million with more than 40 per cent of this total in Alberta. Alberta also had 90 per cent of the beef feedlots with lesser numbers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. There are 14 million hogs at any time in […] Read more

These sloughs with salt rings are near Conquest, Sask. Shallow (25 to 100 feet) glacial aquifers are the source of the pressure that prevents downward flow of water to drain the slough. The constant upward pressure maintains a high water table even in dry periods when evaporation is busy concentrating the salts.

Columns

Les Henry: Sloughs and ‘bathtub’ salt rings

Some sloughs have rings, some do not — why?

By Les Henry October 25, 2023

Sloughs (polite name is potholes) are widespread on the Canadian Prairies and particularly in Saskatchewan, which has a great depth of glacial deposits. The sloughs catch much of the snowmelt and runoff from summer rains. If the water in the slough is the sole cause of salt rings, then all sloughs should have them. Artesian […] Read more

Here is a soil core laid out for sampling. Soil samples collected for soil nutrient analyses should be placed in breathable bags. In this picture, soil moisture samples were being collected and placed in stainless steel containers to precisely determine soil moisture content.

Columns, Crops

The importance of soil testing after a season of drought

Develop sound, economical fertilizer plans for each crop and field

By Ross H. McKenzie October 17, 2023

In my last article, I discussed concerns of herbicide residue carry-over after a season of drought. In this article, I will discuss the importance of soil testing for plant-available nutrients after a drier-than-normal growing season. Many farmers in the southern Prairies had below normal growing season rainfall, while some had almost no rain. The result […] Read more

Editor's column, Wheat & Chaff

Meet your Soil Champions

By Kari Belanger October 12, 2023

At Ag in Motion 2023, the Soil Conservation Council of Canada (SCCC) announced a new initiative — a committee of “Soil Champions.” These soil champions are tasked with conveying a soil health message beyond the farm to the broader agricultural industry, food processors, consumers and the government. Their message: the importance of soil conservation. They […] Read more

A typical brome grass field of the many I drive by on the way to Dundurn Farm. In wet years, there are many bales and in dry years only a few bales. The rain or soil moisture is always needed but if fertility is missing, wet years become ordinary years not high-yield years.

Columns, Crops, Hay, Pasture

Les Henry: New wrinkles when fertilizing grass crops for hay and pasture

One quarter section of fertilized grass could give the same yield as five quarters of “cut what is there”

By Les Henry May 10, 2023

There are many old grass stands that are mainly brome grass and serve as hayfields with occasional grazing. Many hayfields have never seen a kernel of fertilizer. Perhaps this piece will start folks thinking and will lead to a change in practice. There are many old reports that deal with the topic. The two main […] 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

Tag Archives soil