Farmers still have a bit of time to evaluate their fields for levels of grubs and wireworms, two key pests that will factor in to the need for a neonicotinoid pesticide seed treatment. And that's good news, because the deadline to ordering fungicide-only corn seed is rapidly approaching. Most companies have a mid- to late-November... Read More
Category: Crop Schools
Do you know what quality impact moving corn through your handling, drying and storage set up has? It can be significant, but if you're not sampling (and sampling properly) at several points in the process, you can't know for sure. What's more, a good chunk of damage, either through too hot/too fast drying or moisture... Read More
If the soybeans are mature, but a wee bit damp yet, do you let them stand or get them in the bin so you can dry them down? Helmut Spieser, agricultural engineer with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, would call leaving the beans out a "gutsy" move, and not one that's... Read More
Can deep-tilling soybean residue be justified? A researcher from the University of Manitoba is looking at whether tillage practices need to change as farmers in Western Canada grow more soybeans. Despite leaving less plant matter behind than most crops, it's not uncommon to see soybean ground cultivated to leave a dark surface that warms up... Read More
As little as 2% green seed in a canola sample can cause the loss of a No. 1 grade in Canada, traditionally equating to roughly $10-15/tonne. Immature canola seed naturally contains chlorophyll, a green pigment essential for photosynthesis. As canola seeds mature, enzymes remove the chlorophyll, a process thought to improve seed longevity. The enzymes... Read More
The Official Grain Grading Guide, developed by the Canadian Grain Commission, lists all kinds of factors influencing the grade of Canadian pulses. From colour to odour, disease to damage, there's a lot to consider when harvesting grains, and particularly, those incredibly sensitive pulses. Related: Third-Party Grade Could Be Useful In Marketing Crop With Variable Quality... Read More
Residue management may prove a challenge this year, as many prairie crops experienced high levels of lodging, but it's nothing to ignore, especially if you're considering canola as your next crop. Excess trash can affect seed-to-soil contact by either preventing drill openers from penetrating into the soil or filling the furrow, thus preventing row closure.... Read More
Many producers are looking to strip-tillage as an intermediary between conventional and no-till farming systems. Like any tillage system, strip-till doesn't come without its challenges. In areas with changes in terrain, it can be difficult to remain in position without adjusting the GPS/auto-steer system. Till-N-Plant Offers Strip-Tillage, Fertilizer Application & Planting in One Pass Gaining... Read More
We're staring down the Thanksgiving weekend and harvested soybean fields are few and far between. All these late soybeans are holding up wheat acres — if you want to get wheat in, does it pay to get creative? In this episode of the Wheat School, Peter Johnson, cereal specialist for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,... Read More
You wouldn't think that it works this way, says Peter Johnson, cereal specialist for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, but every single time mature wheat gets rained on, you lose test weight. But, why and how, our friends and followers on Twitter asked? The short answer? Wrinkles. In this very informative... Read More