The development of Canada’s biofuel sector was highlighted in the Canadian government’s 2024 budget announced on April 16th, but ethanol was notably absent from the list of renewable fuel categories that will receive support. The budget included a commitment of $776 million for a retooled Clean Fuels Fund to drive production of renewable diesel, sustainable… Read More
Category: Corn
It’s the last week of March but the weather has turned cool and more average for this time of year. That means there’s plenty of questions streaming in as farmers get ready to hit the fields. This week on Wheat Pete’s Word, host Peter Johnson has to make good on a bet, we learn about… Read More
There’s plenty of excitement for both economic and environmental reasons about the potential for biological nitrogen fixation for corn and other crops that don’t fix their own nitrogen, but a soil scientist from North Dakota State University says farmers and agronomists should be asking several key questions before counting on added organisms to supply N… Read More
There’s a long list of known ways in which wildfire smoke can negatively affect corn and other crops, but could the overall effect of the smoky haze in summer potentially be positive for yields? It’s a complex question to answer, says Dan Quinn, extension corn specialist with Purdue University, in this Corn School episode recorded… Read More
Have you got your bushels covered? Matt Bennett of AgMarket.net says that if farmers still have a lot of unpriced grain, it’s going to take some work to minimize losses in the next few months. Bennett spoke to several farm audiences at Commodity Classic at Houston, Texas, this week and he says farmers are listening… Read More
When you think about managing crop residue breakdown, do you think about the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of the residue? If not, it might be time to do so, as genetic advancements in corn, for example, has actually made it somewhat harder for stalks to breakdown. That’s just one discussion in this week’s episode of Wheat Pete’s… Read More
A good portion of Ontario is nearing the end of what has been a very mild winter. Bare and sometimes thawed ground has many farmers asking if it’s too early for clover, for frost seeding, for tillage, and for patching in wheat crops. There’s also a saying that goes, “just because you can doesn’t mean… Read More
What’s one thing you love about agriculture in Canada? Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson wants us all to celebrate and share whatever that is next Tuesday on Canada’s Ag Day! Johnson’s got some thoughts on how to best share our thoughts about agriculture in this week’s podcast, but don’t worry, there’s also plenty of agronomic questions… Read More
What’s the most economic rate of nitrogen for corn? Where is that line between feeding the crop the right amount of the yield-producing nutrient and wasting dollars on excess product? University of Guelph sustainable cropping systems professor Dr. Adrian Correndo says a lot of field trials and research brainpower has been invested in identifying an… Read More
Leaf twisting, burning, cupping, or crinkling — those are just some of the signs that a crop may be suffering from herbicide injury. Why do herbicides cause crop injury? University of Guelph weed researcher Dr. Peter Sikkema says injury causes can be classified into seven basic categories. That list includes extreme weather, unique or variable… Read More
How about an 18-row corn head that folds for transport and also flexes to follow the contours of fields with eroded hills or terraces? That’s the big news from combine head manufacturer Geringhoff at Agritechnica, the agriculture innovation showcase in Hanover, Germany. In this report, Geringhoff product manager Hendrik Schneider tells RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney that… Read More
What drives maximum corn yield? We kick off a new season of The Agronomists talking about the king of them all — corn. To tackle the topics of hybrid selection, the planting pass, disease considerations, and fertility, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Paul Sullivan of Sullivan Agro, Mark Foster of Jockbrae Farms, and Nicole… Read More
Corn growers often apply nitrogen later in the season to gain more control of the crop. At the V10 or V11 development stage, growers typically have a better understanding of how the crop is developing, its yield potential, the growing environment and what the market is willing to pay. There’s also logistics to consider —… Read More
Grain farming in Ontario has a significant and growing economic impact in the province and across the country. That’s the conclusion of a recent study from business accounting firm MNP prepared for the Grain Farmers of Ontario. The study, titled: Economic Impact Analysis of Grain Farming in Ontario, found that the industry created $27 billion… Read More
As the holidays approach, two things become increasingly true: we have a much clearer picture of the final tally of the growing season, and it’s never been more timely to reach out and check in with those you maybe haven’t spoken with in a while. For this episode of Wheat Pete’s Word, host Peter Johnson… Read More