Fine-tuning nitrogen rates promises to get easier with the arrival of ‘tailgate technology’ that allows growers to test for nitrates on the tailgate of their truck. That means no more couriering soil samples to the lab, or waiting for up to three days for results in the busy season. In this episode of the Corn... Read More
Category: Crop Production
Inspired by the Canola Council of Canada's work to encourage best management practices to meet customer expectations, Cereals Canada has launched its own Keep it Clean — Cereals campaign. “Rather than creating a stand-alone but similar brand, Cereals Canada has worked with the Canola Council of Canada to present a consistent message to producers across... Read More
As the time for applying a plant growth regulator (PGR) to wheat approaches, there have been many questions about whether Manipulator, a PGR introduced in Canada by Engage Agro in 2015, has been approved for exports into the US. The answer is no. "Engage Agro does not anticipate the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in the... Read More
Herbicides are one tool for managing cleavers in canola, but there are many other "small hammers" in the toolbox as well. Seeding rates, row spacing, control timing, and crop rotation all need to be considered, explains Ian Epp, agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada, in this episode of Canola School. "We can add... Read More
Looking to add 15 to 20 bushels to your winter wheat yield? Depending on your base fertility level, seed-placed phosphorus could do the trick. In this episode of Wheat School, Real Agriculture resident agronomist Peter Johnson takes you on a tour of long-term phosphorus and potash trials at Lucan, Ontario. “In these research trials, we’re... Read More
Crops are moving along quickly thanks to the recent heat in much of Ontario. RealAg agronomist Peter Johnson discusses what the hot, dry weather means for wheat, nitrogen considerations in light of the dry conditions, keys to reducing leaf burn from in-season N on wheat and much more on this week's Word. Have a question... Read More
What impact will a cool April have on nitrogen availability for Ontario’s corn crop? Will the hot late May weather speed up nitrogen release and help soil levels catch up? On this episode of Corn School, Real Agriculture agronomist Peter Johnson is joined by OMAFRA Corn Lead Ben Rosser to tackle these questions. Rosser says... Read More
Sulphur is needed to grow wheat in Ontario. It’s that simple, says Real Agriculture resident agronomist Peter Johnson. Sulphur deficiency was widespread in the province this year after one of the coldest and driest springs in the past 30 years. The cool temperatures tend to limit the amount of sulphur release, says Johnson who notes... Read More
If a corn plant emerges one, two or three days after its neighbour, will it yield less? Real Agriculture resident agronomist Peter Johnson is determined to find out. At the SouthWest Ag Conference last January, National Corn Growers Association yield contest champion Randy Dowdy challenged growers to plant a flag test on their farm to... Read More
There are many factors that will make a wheat crop more likely to lodge — seeding rate, fertility, moisture levels, variety and so on, but when it comes to understanding lodging risk during the growing season, watch nighttime temperatures, says RealAgriculture agronomist Peter Johnson. "At nighttime, what does wheat do? All it does is respire,"... Read More