Details are starting to emerge on the impact of the Carney government's cost-cutting measures within Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). AAFC is closing three research and development centres – Guelph (ON), Quebec City (QC), and Lacombe (AB) – and four satellite research farms – Nappan (NS), Scott (SK), Indian Head (SK) and Portage la Prairie... Read More
Category: Crop Production
The Great Lakes are the foundational driver of regional weather patterns, influencing temperatures, moisture and storm tracks across the Ontario, says meteorologist Ron Bianchi. At the recent Ontario Certified Crop Advisor annual meeting in London, Ont., Bianchi looked at the growing impact of the Great Lakes and unpacked what’s driving weather across Ontario and Western... Read More
After confirmation of imminent staffing cuts at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) yesterday, today news broke of multiple AAFC research facilities being shut down. Social media posts on Jan. 22 claim that sites including the AAFC Lacombe Research and Development Centre at Lacombe, Alta., and the Nappan Experimental Farm/AAFC Nappan Research Farm in Cumberland County,... Read More
After nearly two decades of growing soybeans at Pitura Seeds near Domain, Man., the farm team started looking for a way to better handle dry Julys. Even with a strong-looking crop and solid management, a missed mid-summer rain could quickly cap yield because the plants weren’t able to access enough moisture deeper in the soil... Read More
Tar spot has been a moving target for corn growers in recent years, with its severity and timing varying from season to season. At the Ontario Certified Crop Advisor annual meeting earlier this month, Bernard Tobin caught up with Purdue University plant pathologist Darcy Telenko to discuss what growers might expect from tar spot in... Read More
It's time for the 50th episode of The Truth About Ag podcast! In this first recording of 2026, co-hosts Kristjan Hebert and Evan Shout offer a realistic read on the mood coming out of Crop Production Week, last week in Saskatoon. Many producers are still coming to grips with what 2025 actually looked like once... Read More
It may be a frosty January, but Wheat Pete’s bringing the heat with updates from near and very far. In this week’s episode, Pete dives into early planting in Alberta, puzzling oat flower failures, and where sulphur is truly paying off. Plus, he tackles questions on winter crop survival, winter canola rotations, and the science... Read More
There are reasons to be concerned about the cost of production for 2026. Crop prices are down and input prices — across the board — are up. Some input costs have risen faster than others, and farmers are navigating ways to trim budgets without sacrificing yield potential. While there's very little farmers can do about... Read More
Soybean growers have a new tool to help protect seed against nematodes and key soil-borne fungal diseases. Victrato Complete fungicide and nematicide seed treatment from Syngenta Canada includes the novel active ingredient tymirium plus Vibrance fungicide to help protect against major below-ground, yield-robbing soybean diseases including pythium, fusarium, phytophthora, soybean cyst nematode, and sudden death... Read More
On this episode of The Agronomists, guest host Peter Johnson is joined by Dennis Lange of Manitoba Agriculture and Paul Hermans of Pioneer Seeds Canada to discuss soybean seeding rates — what's the optimum rate? How does row spacing play in? Does seed size matter? What about planter vs. seeder? What about tillage, disease, and... Read More