Adopting new technology on the farm — from new hybrids to new pesticides, to full-on automation — comes with a price tag. This new or additional cost might be absolutely worth it if the technology makes more yield, decreases input costs, or saves you time and labour. While most technology comes to the farm with... Read More
Category: Agronomy
For some, farming is in their DNA — whether they like it or not. Even when they set out on a path very different from agriculture, some find their way back for one reason or another; and, frankly, agriculture is better for it. In this episode of Agronomy Geeks, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by... Read More
Yield stability and income stability — that's what farmers earn when they invest in regenerative agriculture. That message was heard often throughout the recent Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario (IFAO) annual conference in London, Ont. It's a tune that more and more farmers are singing as they increase efforts to enhance soil health on their... Read More
For farmers worried about 2020, and perhaps already tight budget constraints, cutting input costs may seem like a quick fix, but how is it impacting your bottom line? Resident agronomist Peter Johnson says finding that balance and making those tough decisions comes down to management. "The beauty of soil fertility is that your soil is... Read More
Fendt Ideal combines — minus a steering column and wheel — will make their debut in North America for harvest 2021. AGCO made the announcement this week at the Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas. The IdealDrive steering system is the first joystick steering system for a combine released by a major manufacturer, says AGCO.... Read More
Glyphosate-resistant kochia is spreading quickly across the Prairies, but right now farmers are only seeing the "tip of the iceberg", according to the weed specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. Kochia populations showing some level of glyphosate resistance in Manitoba rose from one per cent in 2013 to 59 per cent in 2018, according to the latest... Read More
Bigger isn't always better, as is the case with the new 1745 MaxEmerge 5 planter, says John Deere. The manufacturer rolled out the planter at the National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) earlier this month, touting narrow transport capabilities, a split-row configuration, a fit for small fields and no-till, and compatibility with older tractors. The key... Read More
Five Prairie wheat and barley groups have "significant concerns" surrounding the Seed Variety Use Agreement pilot project recently announced by the Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) and the Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA). The Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA), Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat), Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission (SaskBarley), and the Alberta... Read More
Farmers need to treat soil as more than a chemistry set — they need to think about biology and ecology. That's the message Kansas farmer Michael Thompson shared with those attending the Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario (IFAO) annual conference last week in London, Ont. Thompson does admit, however, that farmers have been successful in... Read More
While eastern Ontario is expected up to 50 cm of snow over the next few days, other parts of the province are starting to tap maple trees and get the frost-seeding equipment ready. It may be the last week of February, but there's some serious spring fever happening all over the country! In the west,... Read More