When talking soil, often the topic focus is on soil type, nutrients, moisture, or microbiology. But what about soil structure? As Steve Larocque, Alberta farmer and founder of Beyond Agronomy explains in this Soil School episode, the physical types of soil can't be changed, whether it be sand, silt, or clay. However, how land is... Read More
Category: Agronomy
True armyworms hungry for grassy plants, including wheat, have arrived in large numbers in parts of the Prairies this summer. The pest, which migrates north as a light brown moth, arrived in Manitoba during the last week of May, explains John Gavloski, entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture, in this armyworm-focused Wheat School episode filmed at the... Read More
Research has repeatedly shown corn's yield potential starts declining if plants don't emerge within a tight timeframe, but dry conditions following planting can wreak havoc on best-laid plans for uniform emergence. If one in six corn plants is two leaf stages behind the rest, expect a four per cent yield reduction, says Morgan Cott, agronomy... Read More
Many growers apply a T3 fungicide on winter wheat in Ontario to protect the crop against fusarium head blight and get one step closer to achieving high grain yields. But a strange thing happened on the way to harvest in 2023, as many fields across the province experienced severe leaf tip burn after fungicide application.... Read More
Advancements in RNA interference (RNAi) technology could soon unlock new tools for managing canola pests and pathogens, such as sclerotinia and flea beetles. RNAi — ribonucleic acid interference — involves targeting specific RNA sequences in a disease or pest, rather than targeting entire proteins or enzymes, as is the case with current pesticides. It's a... Read More
Could cameras mounted on sprayer booms help revolutionize crop scouting, stand assessment and the gathering of crop management information? On this episode of RealAgriculture Soybean School, we ride along with the SWAT Cam to learn how these sprayer-mounted cameras scout fields and gather information agronomists and growers can utilize to make crop management decisions. Agronomist... Read More
On a recent Wheat School episode, RealAgriculture's resident agronomist Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson spoke to New Zealand's Eric Watson, the former world record holder for wheat yield. This got RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney thinking about whether Canadian growers could apply any of Watson's techniques to the spring wheat crop. Of course, before making any... Read More
Unfortunately, when it comes to Mother Nature, there's no equality in the weather. Regardless, #harvest23 for winter cereals is underway in parts of Eastern Canada, and will continue through the country in the upcoming weeks. There are a few things Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson wants to hit on before everyone is in full-blown harvest mode,... Read More
Corteva has announced plans to launch its new Vorceed Enlist corn varieties in Canada for planting in 2024. Vorceed Enlist corn combines three modes of action for above-ground insect protection and three modes of action for below-ground insect protection, including a new RNAi mode of action. It also includes tolerance to four herbicides – 2,4-D... Read More
Earthworms are not just great for fishing bait, but also an indication of soil health. Or is that actually true? The origin of this topic popped into my head as I travelled across the Prairies last week shooting agronomic videos. At a couple stops the farmers referenced earthworm populations as an indication of soil health.... Read More