The smell of a liquid manure spreader (better known as a honey wagon) is very familiar in many rural areas of Canada. Liquid manure spreaders are very popular in hog and dairy operations. Many people argue that once incorporated, liquid manure is highly beneficial in comparison to its solid manure alternative. In talking to farmers... Read More
Category: Agronomy
Globally, we€™re in a position where demand for wheat is surpassing supply. Figures from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) show wheat demand growing by 1.5 per cent per year, while annual production is increasing by only 0.9 per cent. With the global population expected to rise to over 9 billion by 2050,... Read More
In August, I was able to spend a morning with Steve Twynstra, Twilight Acre Farms. Steve runs a diversified farm in the London area and wheat is a major part of his rotation. Steve strongly believes that wheat is not just a rotation filler but a cash crop for his farm. For Steve, wheat has... Read More
At this time of year many canola growers try to figure out if they are going to apply fertilizer in the fall of wait till the spring. I think that many producers make this decisions based on the price of fertilizer in the fall or the need to reduce spring work. There are some more... Read More
Soybean yields in 2010 in Ontario have been outstandings. I have talked to a handful of farmers who have told me that this is the best crop they have ever had on the their farm. With the warm temperatures and timely moisture , the majority of the province has seen the massive benefits right before... Read More
Distiller dried grains (DDG's) have quickly become a very important part of a beef ration and increasingly at dairies. Created by the ethanol industry DDG's have allowed many livestock feeders to diversify the feeding ration. When DDG's first came to the market the supply and delivery logistics of corn DDG's to Canada was a major... Read More
As we discussed with Dana Omland from Palmerston Grain last week, the USDA report shocked the market. With corn yields being revised lower in the US, many producers are wondering what is the deal with the next year of commodity prices. Will we see a repeat of 2007 or a quick trade and then the... Read More
In recent years more and more farmers are looking at the growing season from a systems approach. In the past farmers and and suppliers for the most part considered most inputs independent of one another, working on their own piece of responsibility in the growing cycle. Many researchers, input suppliers and farmers are trying to... Read More
As harvest comes to an end over the next couple weeks it is incredibly important to start laying the groundwork for next years canola crop. The first step is soil sampling and with the warmer temperatures that we are supposed to get the next two weeks this is not the right time. As Ross Mckenzie... Read More
Recently I travelled to Indianapolis, Indiana to visit the global headquarters of Dow Agro Sciences. I had the opportunity along with several other people from the Canadian ag media to entrench ourselves in the company's strategy and objectives to better understand the company. Much of the presentation had to do with with the opportunities for... Read More