As tillering winter wheat moves into stem elongation it’s time to assess the lodging potential of the crop and determine whether a plant growth regulator (PGR) should be applied. On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Wheat School, Syngenta agronomic service representative Marijka Vanderlaan offers tips on identifying plant growth stages and how plant growth can be… Read More
We’ve all experienced those fields where the weeds have gotten out of hand. Sometimes weeds getting away on us is because we didn’t have a great handle on what was out there to begin with. RongRong Xian, technical service manager with BASF, says scouting before you get into the field with the drill is key…. Read More
Tillage can play an effective role in warming and preparing soil for planting. When it comes to weed control, however, there are limitations and growers need to have a plan in place to tackle weeds that escape uprooting by cultivators, or those tenacious plants that manage to re-root and grow on to steal yield. On… Read More
Looking at the current state of the commodity markets, you may be tempted to make some last minute changes to your crop plan. Deviating away from your crop rotation may seem like a good idea in the short term, but as Sheldon Toews, technical service specialist with BASF, explains in this Canola School episode that… Read More
A cool, wet spring has slowed fieldwork and dreams of early planting appear to be disappearing as the calendar turns to May. But the backward conditions have not stalled weed growth in fields across Ontario. That means growers will need to keep a close eye on winter annuals and mounting weed pressure in soybean and corn… Read More
As warmer weather arrives and fields start to dry up, many growers are tempted to begin field work in preparation for planting. Working soil that’s not fit, however, can prove problematic later in the spring and throughout the growing season. On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Corn School, we catch up with PRIDE Seeds agronomist Matt… Read More
In the pulse industry, the use of inoculants is becoming more and more widespread. However, they can be a complicated input to wrap our heads around sometimes. Different than other products, inoculants are living organisms that help provide crops such as peas, lentils, faba beans, chickpeas, and soybeans with the required amount of viable bacteria… Read More
As the snow melts, many producers across the Prairies are eagerly awaiting for the day they can get in the field — if they there aren’t already. Sheldon Toews, technical service specialist with BASF, says when it comes to getting canola seed in the ground, farmers definitely need to pay attention to soil temperatures. “You… Read More
Corn yield records are made to be broken. That was certainly the case in Ontario in 2021 when the provincial average topped 200 bushels per acre, smashing the previous average yield mark. But all the corn brings with it an abundance of organic matter to return to the soil. When it comes to soil health… Read More
In recent years, leading U.S. soybean researchers have touted the benefits of early planting to reduce the loss of yield potential as planting stretches into late April and pushes into May. But does this research give growers clear direction on the best time to plant further north in Ontario? Horst Bohner, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,… Read More
After a methodical march north from the Corn Belt, tar spot has now gained a foothold in Ontario. Last year, the yield-robbing leaf disease was confirmed in five counties in the southwestern, stretching from Essex to Simcoe. Characterized by tar-like speckling on the upper surface of corn leaves, the fungal pathogen has been delivering yield… Read More
Potassium powers soybean yield. Nitrogen and phosphorus make key contributions and then there are the micros like sulphur and boron that pitch in and help. How much of these nutrients should growers apply in 2022 to optimize their soybean acres? How do you navigate the challenge of skyrocketing fertilizer prices and availability versus lucrative market… Read More
The right source, right rate, right time, and right place —together, these make up the 4Rs of nutrient management. In recent years, there has increased focus on 4R nutrient management as a tool of environmental stewardship, but in a year where input costs are through the roof, the 4R focus makes economic sense, too. Bethany… Read More
Precision agriculture strategies and technology have become an integral part of managing crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat, but are edible bean growers using it effectively in dry bean crops? Dublin, Ont., grower and Hensall Co-op field marketer Dave Louwagie doesn’t think so. On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Edible Bean School, Louwagie explains that compared to other… Read More
Have you zeroed your row units? It’s one way to help ensure the corn planter is planting at the same depth across the entire implement and the field. On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Corn School, Kearney Planters sales and customer care specialist Jay Curtis shows why zeroing row units is important and how to do it… Read More
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