Demand for nitrogen fertilizer is relatively stable, given the very clear return on pounds applied. But farmers are looking for ways to scale back input costs, and other macronutrients, such as phosphorus, might be on the chopping block. In addition, large areas of the U.S. have turned wet, further decreasing the amount of fall fieldwork... Read More
Category: Agronomy
With herbicide resistance on the rise, the need for more tools in the toolbox is higher than it has ever been, because as Dr. Breanne Tidemann of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada says, there are no magic bullets. While any single management strategy is unlikely to be the final solution to herbicide resistance and weeds generally,... Read More
Not all datasets are created equal. Without a check strip or variety to compare to, or if too complicated, or with too few replications, resulting trial numbers can be nearly meaningless when comparing one decision to another. Good data means that farmers and agronomists can choose a practice or change or hybrid with a level... Read More
Compaction is a common concern with farmers throughout North America, especially in high traffic areas such as approaches and headlands. In this report from Agri-Trade at Red Deer, Alta., Derek Molnar of Degelman Industries discusses the company's new Heavy Duty Staggered Ripper (HDSR) that he says is built heavy but simplified, is easy-to-use and offers... Read More
Dandelion control in soybeans was a significant issue across Ontario in 2024 — large dandelions set roots in many fields and killing the weed was a troublesome chore for growers and agronomists. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness weed management specialist Mike Cowbrough says he hates to sound like a broken record but best... Read More
It's no secret that farmers are looking for more productivity for their farm machinery dollar. A key part of that farming formula is capacity, specifically larger equipment that can get more done in a day and help cover the big acres that many farmers are working across vast tracks of land. Saskatchewan-based Bourgault Industries has... Read More
A low soil pH just needs some lime and is good to go — right? Not necessarily so, explains Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson in this latest episode of Wheat Pete's Word. Correcting low soil pH can be very difficult and expensive if the soil in question has plenty of buffering capacity, plus the pH problem... Read More
Ecosystems are strange and wonderful places, and the ecosystem within canola fields is no exception. It can be easy to overlook the incredible abundance of interactions between different arthropods, including insects and spiders, happening within the canola canopy. Plus, when a farmer or agronomist sees damaged plants, it can be challenging to figure out if... Read More
Two things are true when it comes to agriculture: where there are cattle, there is manure and where there are crops, there is a need for nutrients. Producers have found many ways to handle those two truths individually, but research is showing that some things really are better together. Feedlot operators have been spreading manure... Read More
Genetics and fungicides are the two pillars of disease defence when it comes to yield robbers like tar spot. But weather and technology also play a key role in helping growers defend their crops against the foliar disease. On this episode of the RealAgriculture Corn School, Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Agribusiness pathologist Albert... Read More