Mental health has been in the agriculture spotlight lately, with a push to break the stigma that often surrounds mental health. And the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan's Young Agricultural Producers (or YAP) committee is hoping to keep the conversation going. Danny Ottenbreit, southeast Saskatchewan farmer and co-chair of the YAP committee, was in the... Read More

Nitrogen in the soil is available to plants in two forms: ammonium (NH4) and nitrate (N03). The problem with nitrate is, unlike ammonium, it's a negatively-charged ion that's not attracted to soil particles or soil organic matter. Nitrate is also water soluble, so it can easily move out of a crop's rooting zone to places... Read More

It's hard to say how many injuries occur or work hours are lost on North American farms due to falls while climbing grain bins. They don't all get reported or talked about, but there are many anecdotal stories of people getting hurt, or narrowly escaping injury. Whether checking grain condition, opening or closing lids, or... Read More

As the hot, dry weather continues across much of the prairies, many growers are wondering "do I even need to desiccate my pulse crops?" It's not always easy to know what the benefits of desiccation are (or aren't) in your peas and lentils, and in this Pulse School episode, Sherrilyn Phelps, agronomy specialist with Saskatchewan... Read More

The painted lady caterpillar, also known as the thistle caterpillar, is typically something pulse growers in Western Canada have seen as a beneficial insect. This is because it feeds on Canada thistle. However, as seen in 2017, the painted lady caterpillar also likes to chew on soybeans, causing leaf damage and potential yield losses. In... Read More

It’s hard to find a farmer these days who doesn’t see some of the benefits cover crops can bring to their operation. From reduced soil erosion to improved soil structure, nutrient recycling, moisture retention and much more – the list of benefits is long and impressive. But how much is too much? Where and when... Read More