Seth Naeve says the argument for earlier planting dates is in how they can help soybean crops get a jump on germination and plant establishment when fields warm up enough for that to happen.
Tag Archives University of Minnesota
Manage Prairie soy fields to get benefits of early planting
An early start to their growing season could spell more bushels of beans at harvest
Do farmers need to apply sulphur to their crops every year?
Research suggests this important nutrient hangs around a lot longer than farmers think
“In terms of the reactions with some of the other elements of the soil, particularly in soils that have a lot of calcium, it hangs around a lot longer than we think it does.”
The real cost of ruts and what to do about them
Resist the urge to rip deep ruts deeper to break up compacted areas
As the winter’s snow melts across the Prairies, many western Canadian farmers are going to be disappointed to see that those deep ruts caused by last season’s wet harvest conditions are right where farmers left them in the fall. Inconvenient? Absolutely. Ugly? Yes, that too. But a big deal? In fact, ruts are much more […] Read more
Soybean protein levels on the decline
What’s causing lower protein levels in soybeans grown in Western Canada?
Soybean protein levels in Western Canada are on the decline and lower than those found in Eastern Canada and parts of the United States. Although researchers aren’t certain of the cause, they suspect that selection for yield at the breeding and genetic levels may have something to do with it. Cassandra Tkachuk, production specialist at Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers, is one of […] Read more
Getting rid of that treated seed
Treated seed can harm livestock, or contaminate an export load. Dispose with care
The issue of disposal of treated seed hit the headlines recently when a Saskatchewan farmer discovered two cows and a bull dead in his fields after consuming treated canola seed which had been dumped illegally on his land. Seed treated with fungicides or insecticides should never be allowed to enter the feed or food chain. […] Read more
Pay attention to post-weaning programs for dairy cattle
You want replacement heifers to grow at an optimum rate, but not too fast or too slow
Almost every time I visit a dairy barn, I make a point of looking at post-weaned replacement heifers as well. Raising young dairy heifers can be one of the greatest challenges even on the best-run dairies. I believe implementing a good post-weaning heifer program makes good sense and contributes to their future success as high-milk-producing dairy […] Read more
Back to tillage after wet years
With extra rain, tillage is back in style in some areas. First, evaluate the risks of erosion and salinity. Then, consider dealing with compaction
Soggy springs and summers have made tillage fashionable again in some parts of the Prairies. Some see tillage as a means of drying saturated soils. Others hope to relieve compacted soils through some sort of vertical tillage. But is tillage an effective solution to these problems? And do the potential benefits outweigh the risks? Tilling […] Read more
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