Cover crops can be a non-starter in dry areas of the Prairies — or are they? A lack of moisture is definitely a concern when working to establish cover crops; however, over the long term, farmers Derek and Tannis Axten of Axten Farms at Minton, Sask., are finding covers build soil water holding capacity. That's... Read More
Category: Crop Production
Farmers sitting on unpriced grain aren't going to love this week's market report from Neil Townsend, market analyst with Grainfox. But not liking it doesn't change the facts: there's plenty of grain out there and buyers know they can get what they need at a lower price than many want to accept. Townsend, in this... Read More
How does an on-farm biodigester and 2,200 beef cattle merge to make a farm more profitable and sustainable? On this episode of RealAgriculture's Profitable Practices, Carl Frook shares how Frook Farms and Mar Creek Renewables have come together to help him manage manure, his cattle, his crops, and boost the bottom line for the family... Read More
When you think about managing crop residue breakdown, do you think about the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of the residue? If not, it might be time to do so, as genetic advancements in corn, for example, has actually made it somewhat harder for stalks to breakdown. That's just one discussion in this week's episode of Wheat Pete's... Read More
When it comes to spraying crops, European farmers want accuracy and the ability to effectively control rates as they travel through the field. North American farmers have similar spraying goals, but the size and capacity of equipment differs considerably from one continent to the other. In this report from Agritechnica in Hanover, Germany, John Deere... Read More
Ontario Bean Growers (OBG) will contribute $660,000 towards an industry investment of $2 million in the Weed Management Professorship position based at the Ridgetown campus of the University of Guelph. “With the retirement of Dr. Peter Sikkema in 2024 this funding will not only ensure weed research continues for dry beans but will also support... Read More
The dry bean breeding program at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Morden Research Centre in Manitoba will continue for at least another five years under a new arrangement involving McGill University in Quebec and AAFC's Harrow Research Centre in Ontario. An earlier proposal from the federal government would have seen the program cut or moved to... Read More
2023 was a roller coaster for edible bean growers in Canada's two biggest growing regions. After record-breaking yields in 2022, Manitoba endured some dry summer growing conditions to produce a good crop with most growers harvesting above-average yields, reports Manitoba Ag pulse and soybean specialist Dennis Lange. In Ontario, the crop emerged well despite dry... Read More
With a new brush-based seed guidance system, Monosem says its ValoTerra Ultimate planter can ensure optimal planting and depth at speeds of 2 to 18 kilometres per hour. In this report from Agritechnica, Monosem product sales specialist Flavien Cattoni explains how a new Active Seed Guidance system was developed based on a zero-gravity concept to... Read More
Grain Farmers of Ontario, which represents Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers, has elected Jeff Harrison as its new chair. Jeff Harrison is the director for District 12 (Durham, Northumberland, Kawartha, Peterborough, Hastings) and has served on the board since 2016. He farms with his family in Quinte West. “I am deeply... Read More