Market turmoil has always been something that producers have had to deal with, but increasingly, one of the only characteristics of the markets you count on is the instability of the markets. As analyst John DePutter put it, ” Volatility is a fact of life in the markets.” Those ups and downs have become more… Read More
Category: Crop Schools
Planting early is almost always a good idea. There are aspects and elements that we can’t control like the weather that tend to throw the best laid plans out the window, but in general, the theory is simple. The soybean plant is a factory that produces soybeans. That factory runs primarily on sunlight. The more… Read More
In this episode of the Corn School we continue our series with agronomist Darel Walker about the key factors in the pursuit of 300 bushel corn. In the first episode of the series we looked at soil tilth as one of those factors; in this episode we look to proper nitrogen application as another piece… Read More
As far as cover crops go, red clover is a no-brainer. That according to OMAFRA wheat specialist Peter Johnson. It’s a statement that seems to be backed up by a lot of facts. The first being its ability to provide ample amounts of nitrogen and organic matter to the soil. A good stand of red… Read More
In this episode of the Corn School we talk with OMAFRA Corn Specialist Greg Stewart talks about the 4 year project undertaken to look at the benefits of starter fertilizer on corn. The study looked at all manner of formulations, applications and combinations. The major conclusion of the study showed the importance of potash levels… Read More
Considering some of the conditions during planting last year, the provincial average yield for soybeans was fairly impressive. If we can get 45 bushels last year, what is the real long term potential of soybean yields? What factors can we look at to bump those yields even higher. It has been reported that a grower… Read More
RealAgriculture.com has launched a new online resource for Canadian soybean growers in partnership with PRIDE Seeds, HiStick N/T and Cruiser Maxx Beans. As part of the On-Line Soybean School, RealAgriculture.com will publish a full schedule of episodes on soybean agronomy, markets and end use issues that can be found at SoybeanSchool.com. For many soybean growers the opportunity to… Read More
New technologies have pushed corn yields into areas previously thought unreachable. The newest milestone being looked at is the 300 bushel mark. Many in the agriculture industry still think it’s a possibility. The issue is finding the missing part of the puzzle to unlock that potential. There have been great advancements in the areas of… Read More
Corn has dropped over 200 dollars a tonne in futures markets since August. The argument taking place now is whether we are correcting a hot market or just starting the slippery bear slide. A number of different factors come into play with either argument. One argument states that supplies are still tight and demand is… Read More
Wet weather has really put winter wheat in a hard place for farmers in parts of Ontario. For starters, it pushed the seeding date back and secondly a large portion of it is sitting in some very wet conditions, conditions that can be very problematic for growth and development. So what does that mean for… Read More
The clubroot problem is growing, and it’s not a matter that can be avoided any more. So what has the canola industry at large learned from clubroot? I discussed the clubroot issue with Clint Jurke of the Canola Council of Canada and found a number of things that we’ve learned from the experience. First, we have found that… Read More
Are you having trouble looking down the line at the canola markets? You’re not alone. There are a number of sources sending mixed signals to producers. On one hand when we look at the charts, we see that the January-March futures indicate a strong sell (according to Barchart). On the… Read More
Once your corn is in storage, the story isn’t over. There are still some aspects that need controlling and monitoring in order to maintain the value and quality of your crop. Conditioning your corn isn’t as simple as turning on the fan. Proper airflow is essential to even and effective aeration of your crop. Anything… Read More
In a year like this, drying your corn properly can involve some legwork. Periods of rain, varying maturities and other harvest delays can all cause variations in the moisture content of your crop. If those variations aren’t addressed properly, they can have an impact on overall quality and test weight. Things like proper calibration of… Read More
More details are coming soon on the SOYBEAN SCHOOL.