Category: Crop Production

There is no mineral that provides nitrogen for plants. No rock, like there is for phosphate or sulphur. There is some nitrogen in the organic matter of soils but any additional nitrogen that a plant needs has to come out of the air. The good news is that about 78 percent of the air around... Read More

A French company is purchasing 15 malt barley facilities from Cargill. The purchase includes Prairie Malt, located in Biggar, Sask. The two companies, Cargill and Axéréal’s malt subsidiary, Boortmalt, entered into an agreement expanding Boortmalt's global economic footprint. In a news release, Cargill states existing clients should also see further opportunities for growth as a... Read More

There are a lot of different strategies farmers can use to delay or manage for herbicide resistant weeds. Some are complex and some are expensive, but sometimes a simple thing like making sure the ground is covered can make a big difference. RealAgriculture's Dale Leftwich recently had the chance to speak with Ian Epp, Canola... Read More

What can corn growers expect from the markets in 2019? In Ontario, will sufficient markets be found for high DON corn? After three years of sideways trade, will world markets finally break the mold and push corn higher? On this edition of RealAgriculture's Corn School, host Bernard Tobin travels to the 'Agridome' at Dresden, Ontario... Read More

Will pulse growers get a great gift of pea export movement in the new year? Will the Canadian dollar get back to tracking crude oil? Will soybeans have another tough year in Western Canada? Chuck Penner, of LeftField Commodity Research, joins RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney for a market melee full of holiday joy and... Read More

As 2018 winds down, so does Ontario's corn and bean harvest — finally. It's been a trying harvest across much of Canada, and more than a few weary farmers are absolutely relieved to finally be able to park the combine for a another year. But just because harvest is finally done doesn't mean the field... Read More

If your goal is to eat local, mushrooms should figure prominently on your list. Canada's commercial fresh mushroom growers produce about 99% of what you'll find at the grocery store. What's more, about 40% of the over 130,000 tonnes of mushrooms produced are exported, mainly to the U.S., and that demand is growing, says Ryan... Read More

There is a nondescript building in the north end of Saskatoon that produces live organisms that are shipped around the world to help plants feed themselves and produce grain. It takes some management to make sure the live organisms make it to their destination – farmer's fields – healthy and vibrant, so they can get... Read More

The 2018 Ontario soybean crop is one for the record books, but you never would have predicted that back in July when much of the crop was desperate for rain. Not only did the 2018 Ontario crop set a record yield average at 54 bu/ac, it smashed the previous record of 48.3 set in 2012... Read More

The Canadian Prairies are exactly that — prairie. Rich soil supports incredible crop production now, but the climate, soil, and plants that have mingled and grown here long before agriculture moved in were all about permanent ground cover. Annual cropping leaves soil exposed or even bare if tillage is part of the equation, and while... Read More