Many factors converge in determining the final yield tally of the soybean crop each year, but choosing the highest yielding variety for your area is a good place to start. How do you know which is the highest yielding? Well, on-farm performance is a good indication, but it pays to compare what else is available…. Read More
Month: February 2013
Almost 10 years ago, Canada got its global butt kicked when news broke about a lone case of BSE in Alberta. Naysayers everywhere – competitors and anti-corporate activists, among them — were lurking in the weeds, waiting for an opportunity to discredit our food system. The agriculture minister at the time, Lyle Vanclief, tried hard… Read More
Today, I have far more questions than answers. At FarmTech, I spoke with one farmer about the Alberta Wheat Commission — its proposed role, its goals, who was involved. It all sounded on the up-and-up and very noble, though I got the sense I had heard the speech before. Before that, in Saskatchewan, I spoke… Read More
Farmers growing glyphosate-tolerant soybeans now have a new herbicide option in BASF Canada’s Optill product. Optill is a pre-plant soybean herbicide that offers a fast burn-down and residual weed control of grassy and broadleaf weeds. Pre-registration trial results for Optill showed a yield increase of two to three bushels per acre compared to using glyphosate… Read More
Investing in a sectional control option on a new seeder isn’t an inexpensive proposition, however, you may change your perception of the true cost once you see just how much it can save you. Chris Morson, with Seed Hawk, took Shaun Haney on a tour of Seed Hawk’s software program that incorporates Google Earth images… Read More
Ken Ferrie wants you to slow the planter down. And then stop. Yes, really. While the planting season is a hectic one, rushing, especially in wet conditions, is a recipe for disaster. Ferrie, an independent agronomist, wants farmers to slow down and better match planter speed to planting conditions. What’s more, he wants you to… Read More
A soil test is an excellent starting point for any fertility plan, but interpreting the results can leave some people scratching their heads. There are several strategies to soil sampling itself — analysis and recommendation strategies vary as well. One Saskatchewan company takes a somewhat different approach to testing and recommendations, using made-in-Saskatchewan technology. In… Read More
Seeding (or planting for our eastern and southern friends) is the single most important pass you’ll make on your field this year. The piece of equipment you chose to place and pack seeds typically has to work for all the crops in your rotation, and that can mean using something better suited for large seeds… Read More
In our drive to continuously deliver the content you want to see, RealAgriculture.com has launched the RealAg Machinery Update. This twice-a-month email update will feature our most recent machinery content — from new tractors, to precision ag applications, to the latest in tillage tools. As always and like all of our other updates, the RealAg… Read More
Farmers hit with aster yellows in 2012 aren’t likely to soon forget the devastation high infection rates can cause. The trickiest aspect of the disease is how futile it is to try and control it. The phytoplasma, carried on the aster leafhopper, is passed quickly from insect to plant and then the insect moves on…. Read More
It was at Cropweek 2013 in Saskatoon where we asked the question “Are you happy hockey is back?” A deal had been finalized between the players and the owners, Facebook was overflowing with comments like “who cares” or “I’m done with this!” (comments edited in the interest of decency, of course) while the other side… Read More
Most farmers would find selling the farm and moving a province over a significant undertaking. What about moving an entire continent away? Would you do it? That’s what Stuart Barden did. After visiting Kenya during his Nuffield Scholar tour in 2009 and being wowed by the beautiful black soil and diverse landscape, Barden packed up… Read More
Kathleen Wynne was sworn in as Ontario’s premier yesterday, and, as expected, assumed the role of agriculture minister in addition to her role as premier. What surprised many, however, was that she didn’t take on OMAFRA — she just took on OMAF, as the Rural Affairs portion of the ministry was handed to Jeff Leal,… Read More
Amidst pressure from investors to split its business, Agrium has appointed two big names to its board of directors — David Everitt and Mayo Schmidt. While Everitt, recently retired from Deere & Co., may not be a household name in Western Canada, Mayo Schmidt most certainly is. Schmidt was most recently president and CEO of… Read More
When should you start succession planning? The earlier the better, says farm succession expert Len Davies. In the second episode of the Agricultural Management Institute’s (AMI) new farm succession video series, Davies takes us to the Veenstra family farm near Port Colborne, Ontario. Here we meet Andy Veenstra who shares succession tips and strategies he used… Read More