Category: Farming Forward

For farmers, managing nutrient efficiency can come down to a matter of inches. While the speed of broadcasting is practical for some nutrients, the agronomic benefits of placing nutrients, especially N and P, deep in the soil profile helps reduce losses. On this episode of Farming Forward, Dr. Rigas Karamanos joins RealAgriculture’s Amber Bell to... Read More

Managing cover crop residue can prove challenging especially when spring rain, cool soils, and heavy trash collide with planting. On this episode of Farming Forward, we travel to Rose Farms near Mitchell, Ont., to explore the farm family's decade-long journey with cover crops and residue management. On a rainy April morning, RealAgriculture’s Bernard Tobin visited... Read More

Improving the soil while maintaining a profit to feed the farm. It's a simple philosophy that's reflected in Cavan, Ont., farmer Norm Lamothe's approach to nitrogen management and cover crops. On this episode of Farming Forward, Lamothe shares how he's combining cover crops and the power of living roots with a split nitrogen strategy to... Read More

Integrating cover crops into cash crop systems doesn’t have to mean adding livestock or completely reworking existing farm practices. Saskatchewan agronomist Kerry Nell says on this episode of Farming Forward that integrating a cover crop successfully requires a practical, low-disruption approach to balance limited water resources, tight seeding windows, and short growing seasons. He's seeing... Read More

Trying to figure out nitrogen rates can be a real head scratcher but critical thinking and discipline will help growers find the most profitable rate for their farm, says MooseAg agronomist Aaron Breimer. On this episode of Farming Forward, Breimer looks at the rules and tools he applies to determine profitable nitrogen rates and strategies... Read More

Gerard Grubb is determined to find the most profitable nitrogen rates for growing corn on his Mildmay, Ont. farm. Grubb says the farm, which has been no-tilled since 2000, has the potential to yield 250 bushels per acre, but he's not chasing the highest yield; he wants to dial in his nitrogen rates to produce... Read More

For Derek Axten, changing nitrogen management on over 10,000 acres first required changing the goal. Shifting from a production-maximizing mentality to a profitability-first and resilience mindset is more fun, he says, though it's not without its share of challenges. The Axtens have been using several different management tools to make the shift to a soil-health... Read More

There are a number of key inputs that are required for a crop to be successful and at the top of the list is nitrogen. While crops need nitrogen in order to thrive, there is a balance to be had and too much N is money waste and a potential risk to the environment. In... Read More

It seems that everywhere you go right now, farmers are talking about cover crops. Producers across the country are not only using a diverse plant mix to provide feed for livestock, but also as potential solutions to compaction, a lack of nutrient availability, and to address weed issues in their fields. In this Farming Forward... Read More

Are crops really inefficient at taking up nitrogen? Actually, no — crops take up and store N in grain and also in stalks, stems, leaves, and roots, which can sometimes be overlooked in nitrogen removal calculations, leading some to think that there is more N "lost" than is actually so. But if crops are pretty... Read More