Senator Rob Black gets around. Appointed in 2018, he's earned a reputation for his diligent commitment to agriculture issues and ensuring they get their fair share of attention in the upper house of Canada's parliament. Black was on hand this week at the Ontario Federation of Agriculture AGM at Toronto where he kicked off the... Read More
Category: Soil
There is a lot more going on beneath our feet than what meets the eye. Soil is home to billions upon billions of microbes that benefit plants. Beneficial bacteria and fungi are constantly interacting with plants and helping them to access nutrients, water, and other things that they might need within the growing cycle, explains... Read More
When does it make sense to re-tile cash crop fields? That's a thought process that Mount Brydges, Ont., farmer Larry Cowan shares with RealAgriculture's Bernard Tobin in this report, recorded earlier this summer. Cowan has been retiling an average of 150 acres each year for the past eight years. In this field, which was tiled... Read More
How does commercial nitrogen fertilizer impact soil organic matter? Does adding nitrogen burn up organic matter or does it actually enhance organic matter levels in farm soils? Earlier this year, Syngenta soil health assessment lead Jordan Wade and Washington State University agronomist Andrew McGuire teamed up to answer that question. After reviewing decades of academic... Read More
A low soil pH just needs some lime and is good to go — right? Not necessarily so, explains Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson in this latest episode of Wheat Pete's Word. Correcting low soil pH can be very difficult and expensive if the soil in question has plenty of buffering capacity, plus the pH problem... Read More
Two things are true when it comes to agriculture: where there are cattle, there is manure and where there are crops, there is a need for nutrients. Producers have found many ways to handle those two truths individually, but research is showing that some things really are better together. Feedlot operators have been spreading manure... Read More
Cover crops are everywhere on Prince Edward Island. In recent years, growers looking to help manage the Island's light-textured soils have rapidly ramped up cover crop planting to improve soil health and fight erosion. Syngenta Canada agronomist Eric Richter says he noticed a big change since he moved to PEI five years ago. In this... Read More
Farmers have become quite familiar with the 4Rs of nutrient management — when it comes to fertilizer application they need to consider the right source, rate, time and placement of nutrients. As more farmers use biologicals to help meet crop nutrient needs, Mosaic regional agronomist Braydn Lingbeck feels it's important to take a 4R approach... Read More
Applications are now open for the 2025 Ontario Soil Network (OSN) network challenge. This year-long program is designed to help farmers, agronomists, and soil enthusiasts across Ontario improve their soil health practices, build strong networks, and make a lasting impact in their communities. The OSN Network Challenge starts January 2025, and begins with a 6-week... Read More
There isn't any one thing that creates a healthy soil. Instead, building soil health and resiliency takes a combination of plant growth, nutrient additions, and careful management. Turns out, it's not just building organic matter that adds to this dynamic — growing high yielding crops is also key part of nutrient cycling and productive soil.... Read More