It’s well documented that if a micronutrient is missing or deficient, your expected yield could crash.

Soil fertility, revisited 

Practical Research: The history of crop production on the Prairies was one of nutrient extraction at an alarming pace

Soil fertility: a simple concept that requires long and well thought out answers. There are lots of articles on soil nutrient testing, along with many procedures, methods and interpretations.  Early on in the 1970s with Alberta Agriculture, my colleagues and I were very surprised with the answers to the soil testing questions we asked. A […] Read more


It appeared that some kind of leaf disease had infested the durum and Eric feared the whole crop was in jeopardy.

Crop advisor casebook: What’s causing severe leaf lesions in this durum crop?

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the April 20, 2021 issue of Grainews

Eric is a prosperous grower with a 10,000-acre grain farm near Verwood, Sask., which produces durum wheat, canola, chickpeas and lentils. In early June, he’d been out scouting his durum field for herbicide timing when he saw something that suggested he had a disease problem on his hands. It appeared some kind of leaf disease […] Read more

Zinc is an important mineral for many production reasons.

Zinc is a powerful trace mineral for cattle

From breeding to good feet it plays an important role

Recently, I was talking to a feed mill operator I occasionally do some beef nutritional work, and he told me many customers are requesting the best level of zinc added into their cattle mineral. We realize many pastures and harvested forage from this summer’s drought might likely be zinc-stressed, so we made sure to formulate […] Read more


Not all minerals are created equal. Buy a proper blend for the third trimester period.

Trace minerals directly affect unborn calves

If the cow isn’t getting sufficient minerals calf development and strength suffers

Within the next few months, there will be a lot of newborn calves on the ground. Fair- to good-quality forage is quite plentiful this year and grain is a reasonable price, so most of the cow herds I have seen across Western Canada this winter are in good body condition for calving. But one area […] Read more



wheat field

Copper applications have limited impact on wheat

Researchers say non-targeted copper application does not increase macronutrients

The importance of micronutrients, including boron (B), chloride (Cl), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni), has come under the microscope in recent years. Some researchers say a lack of micronutrients can cause yield loss. According to Tee Boon Goh, a specialist in soil chemistry and mineralogy at the University […] Read more

Prevention is best tool against foot rot

Anyone can start farming

Foot rot in sheep and goats is caused by a synergistic infection of two bacteria; Fusobacterium necrophorum and Dichelobacter nodosus. It causes much economic hardship, and is one of the reasons many people caution against buying animals from unknown sources, such as through an auction house. Once established on the farm, the disease is it […] Read more