Black beans, sometimes called black turtle beans, are hugely popular in Latin American and with fans of cajun and creole cuisines. From salads to rice, burritos and fajitas, demand for the small, shiny bean is creating opportunities for bean growers across Canada. On this episode of the RealAgriculture Edible Bean School, host Bernard Tobin looks… Read More
Category: Crop Schools
Potato farmers on Prince Edward Island have increased their use of cover crops dramatically over the last five years. PEI farmers have been measuring the growth and impact of cover crops through participation in Living Lab — Atlantic, a four-year innovation project on the island that involves researchers and industry stakeholders. Living Lab data shows… Read More
Producers have limited means to test for the presence of aphanomyces ahead of the growing season, but some new tools are coming online, literally, to help determine aphanomyces risk. Meagan Reed, agronomy manager with Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, says that growers do have some tools in the toolbox to manage for aphanomyces risk, including rotating away… Read More
Crop researchers can learn a lot in 28 years. That’s how long crop rotation trials have been on-going at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown campus. On this episode of the RealAgriculture Corn School, host Bernard Tobin and University of Guelph crop researcher Dr. Dave Hooker look at the importance of crop rotation and key corn… Read More
In 2020, 44 per cent of soils tested in North American showed potassium levels below the critical level. What does that mean in terms of impact on crop production? On this episode of the RealAgriculture Soil School, Bernard Tobin and Plant Nutrition Canada chief scientist Tom Bruulsema dig into how K is available in the soil;… Read More
Once applied, herbicide active ingredients that land on the soil surface are broken down by soil microbes. Those microbes require moisture and warmth to chew through and neutralize the herbicide. When in-season water is limited, those active ingredients can stay in the soil, sometimes for years. Cory Jacob, acting provincial weed specialist for the Saskatchewan… Read More
It’s the tale of two very different markets when it comes to red and green lentils, with both markets seeing early excitement to the upside earlier this year. But now, Chuck Penner says, red lentil prices have dropped off sharply from the highs, while green lentil prices are strong enough there are new-crop bids already… Read More
Field Bindweed is a heavily-vined, troublesome weed that can cause growers headaches when it gains a foothold in soybean fields. On this edition of the RealAgriculture Soybean School, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs weed specialist Mike Cowbrough looks at control options for the perennial pest in both identity-preserved (IP) and conventional soybeans…. Read More
Cover cropping is a rare practice for much of North America’s Great Plains, as a general lack of moisture has limited their use on a large scale. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t producers using cover crops successfully in rotation. In this episode of the Soil School, fellow Prairie dweller Kelvin Heppner tours the… Read More
When a field of winter gets knocked down, don’t count it out. RealAgriculture agronomist Peter Johnson says the 2022/23 crop is a perfect example of how winter wheat can absorb multiple agronomic and environmental blows and still get off the mat to deliver a big yield punch. On this episode of RealAgriculture Wheat School, Johnson… Read More
As combines push through the Ontario corn crop, growers are being advised to focus their first harvest efforts on fields where gibberella fungus could produce higher levels of deoxynivalenol (DON) in the grain. On this episode of the RealAgriculture Corn School, agronomist Peter Johnson shares tips for identifying fields at higher risk for gibberella and… Read More
Good kernel set — from the tip to the butt of the ear — plays a key role in achieving high corn yield. But every year growers run into environmental and agronomic challenges the can lead to poor pollination, aborted kernels and a significant impact on yield. On this episode of the RealAgriculture Corn School,… Read More
Verticillium has been impacting canola crops in Manitoba for over a decade, but it is now spreading across the Canadian Prairies. According to Jeanette Gaultier of BASF, while verticillium was first detected in Manitoba around ten years ago, it has since been found in every canola growing region of Canada, except the Atlantic provinces. Verticillium… Read More
Weed control is not an exact science, especially when Mother Nature throws curveballs at growers throughout the growing season. BASF agronomist Ken Currah says the extremes of the 2023 growing season are a good example of why it’s best to think season-long when planning a weed control program. During spring, as dry conditions continued through… Read More
As canola harvest wraps up for another season, it’s an important time for growers and agronomists to get out into fields and scout for disease. Walking fields in the weeks after harvest helps paint a picture of what diseases may be lingering in the soil or crop residue, which can be important when considering a… Read More