As if a late spring and cold weather weren't bad enough, current planting conditions in some areas of Ontario are ripe for a millipede feeding frenzy. Millipedes prefer cool soil temps and will stay deep in the soil profile, munching away on organic matter, as long as surface soil temps are warm and increasing. But... Read More
Category: Crop Schools
The s-tine field cultivator isn't the most complicated piece of equipment you'll have on the farm, but it sure can prove handy, especially in a less than ideal spring planting season. As Jim Boak, with Salford Machinery, explains in this Corn School video, the s-tine unit's unique vibration pattern means it's well suited to working... Read More
Just when you think you're getting somewhere on disease management, the disease population shifts just enough to stay competitive. Fusarium, with its many strains and staying power on residue, is a constant thorn in the side of many Manitoba farmers, but it's also increasingly an issue for Alberta and Saskatchewan farmers as well. What's more,... Read More
Only a few months ago, soybeans were the darling crop of nearly every farmer from Manitoba to Alberta. The crop could do no wrong, it seemed, and everyone wanted a piece of this nitrogen-fixing pie. Acres in Manitoba were set to surpass a million if you asked someone in January, but here we are in... Read More
The drive to get on the field to plant in a timely manner can sometimes overshadow the importance of planting only when the soil is ready. What's more, if there's any tillage to be done before planting, a late start can start feeling very late indeed. But if you head out planting before the soil... Read More
As planting (eventually) gets under way, a little planning and moving of skids of seed can go a long way in not only increasing the efficiency of planting, but also ensuring that refuge requirements aren't missed. Some seed variety packaging has made meeting the refuge requirements easy with the RIB (Refuge In a Bag) system,... Read More
Each seed treatment product protects against a specific list of diseases or insects, but it's the overall impact of early season protection on stand establishment that has much more far-reaching impacts than simply avoiding disease infection. In this Pulse School episode, Wes Anderson, agronomy manager for Richardson Pioneer, does outline which seed treatments will protect... Read More
The cool and sometimes downright cold conditions of spring can really throw a wrench in the seeding schedule. The seed treater isn't immune to the cold either, and working in less than ideal conditions takes a bit of a different approach. There's also general maintenance and calibration that should be done every year. In this... Read More
Timing a spring tillage operation can be particularly challenging when the weather decides to be rather uncooperative for a timely planting season. And while cool or wet conditions can have you stressed out about the need to get on the field, heading out too soon on wet soil can have season-long negative effects. As Jim... Read More
Is it warm enough to plant? It's a common question these days and one that has many a farmer out checking soil temps often. The tricky part about spring soil warm-up is that the optimal soil temp for germination isn't necessary the optimum soil temp for sprouting and emergence of the corn crop. Add in... Read More