How much more resilient and productive are soils with higher organic matter content? A quick review of available research and a look at farm fields paints a pretty clear picture of the power of soil organic matter, says University of Minnesota soil extension specialist Jodi DeJong-Hughes. On this episode of the RealAgriculture Soil School, DeJong-Hughes... Read More
Category: Soil
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
On this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Aaron Daigh of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Ian McDonald of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Agribusiness to talk about soil water infiltration and the impact of compaction. Up for discussion: soil dynamics, soil aggregates, the role of macropores, infiltration rates,... Read More
For more than 30 years the Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario (IFAO) was a fixture of Ontario's agricultural landscape as the organization worked to enable and inspire farmers to test new practices and pursue healthier soils. In November, IFAO announced that its members and board of directors had voted to wrap up the organization and... Read More
There’s growing interest in how cover crops influence soil health and their role in managing diseases, but the biological mechanisms driving those plant-soil-interactions is still a work in progress. Understanding underground interactions is part of new research exploring how different cover crop groups shape the soil microbiome and affect disease pressure in subsequent crops. Dr.... Read More
Whether it's a corn planter, strip tiller, cultivator or high-speed disc, running any form of tillage over a field will move both soil and the fertilizer farmers apply. On this episode of RealAgriculture's Soil School, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Agri-Business crop innovation specialist Ian McDonald compares how different tillage implements move soil and... Read More
When drought or flood threatens forage supplies, flexibility becomes the foundation of profitability. That’s a principle Bluesette Campbell and her family have put into practice at B-C Ranch (pronounced B bar C) in northwest Saskatchewan, where rotational grazing is key to both profit and sustainability. In this episode of RealAgriculture's Profitable Practices, Campbell explains that... Read More
As farmers push for higher yields, nutrient management becomes even more critical, especially when it comes to potassium. At Ag in Motion in Saskatchewan, Nutrien Wholesale agronomist Lyle Cowell shares why potassium deficiency is a growing issue and how farmers can address it. Cowell explains that potassium is “one of the big four…essential nutrients” and... Read More
Unpredictable weather across the Prairies has left growers facing very different starting points heading into next year’s canola crop. From parched fields with low yields to regions that saw record rainfall and bumper harvests, careful planning is essential. One of the most powerful tools available right now is fall soil sampling — a practice that... Read More
Over the years farmers have heard a lot of about the 4Rs of nutrient management — the right rate, timing, source and placement of nutrients. On this episode of RealAgriculture's Soil School we explore a new management concept — the 5Rs of tillage. At Southwest Diagnostics Days at Ridgetown College, tillage specialist Jim Boak and... Read More