Alberta Agriculture and Forestry's field crop development centre is changing its location, and how its research is conducted. Now to be housed at Olds College — through an initial $10.5 million grant over three years, funded through Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) — the barley breeding program will continue to develop and introduce new varieties... Read More
Category: Agronomy
Our resident agronomist Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson and OMAFRA cereals specialist Joanna Follings hatched a nifty plan a little while back to test out precision planting wheat using four different drills at Follings' farm at Ayr, Ont. (If you missed out on the seeding episode, you can find it here.) "We're already seeing some really... Read More
The government of Alberta is investing in research capacity at the Lethbridge College through the Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) program. Details are currently being finalized for a $2-million agreement that will see the Alberta Irrigation Technology Centre (AITC) and the Brooks Greenhouse transitioned to Lethbridge College. The agreement will have the post-secondary institution manage... Read More
As combines roll across Ontario, growers are harvesting impressive crops that in many cases are producing record yields. But with all that excitement, it's important to remember the impact those huge yields will have on nutrient removal and what they take out of your soil bank account. On this episode of RealAgriculture's Soil School, Brussels... Read More
When the combine is running through those soybeans, how good of job is it doing at spreading the residue? Getting the wheat in right after the beans isn't always just about timing — excellent field conditions and residue management matter too, says Peter Johnson, host of Wheat Pete's Word. In this week's episode, Johnson shares... Read More
September wheat went in beautifully with nice conditions, and Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson thought maybe record wheat acres would be set in Ontario for a 2021 harvest, but then the rains came. Even though it's getting a bit late, Johnson knows you can still get high yields. It all comes down to management and in... Read More
Leveraging a loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank, the province of Alberta and eight southern irrigation districts will pony up over $400 million for new irrigation projects. A 50 per cent commitment from the federally-backed bank will cover off the remaining $407 million, for a total funding of $815 million for new reservoirs, enhancements to... Read More
Argentina's ministry of agriculture has granted approval of a genetically modified trait for wheat. Bioceres announced on Thursday that its HB4 wheat "event" has been approved for growth and consumption, making Argentina the first country to approve HB4 drought tolerance technology for wheat. The regulatory clearance follows the approval of HB4 soybean, which has been... Read More
Rainfall during the growing season is often a major determinant in how severe phytophthora root rot is in soybeans, but there are several tools growers can deploy to build a strong defence against the underground yield robber, including genetic resistance. As soybean harvest winds up in Western Canada, and attention shifts to choosing varieties to... Read More
Did September feel a little cool? Well, that's because it was. Not that the month was that cold, but it was cool enough, and cool enough on consecutive days that the Ontario corn crop is taking for-ev-er to dry down. In this week's Wheat Pete's Word, host Peter Johnson tackles some recent questions, offers encouragement,... Read More