What’s yellow, baled, and wanted all over? Straw of course! The pretty sad wheat crop in Ontario has many farmers asking, “what’s straw worth?” and, “which cereal crop will give me the most?” Host Peter ‘Wheat Pete’ Johnson tackles that question and so much more in this week’s Wheat Pete’s Word. Hear more about straw… Read More
Breaking yield records has become routine for modern corn hybrids. Much of the credit goes to new and improved genetics, but those bin-busting yields also require more nutrients, and that demand extends well beyond N, P, and K. “As we continue to raise the yield bar we need to start looking at micronutrients with a… Read More
If you could move a chunk of acres to fall planting, diversify the crop mix, and get a jump on herbicide-resistant weeds, would you? All of that is an option with winter canola, but the crop isn’t without its challenges. Currently, there’s only one registered winter canola variety for Ontario growers, says Eric Page, research… Read More
It’s that time of year again when producers are being asked by the Soil Conservation Council of Canada (SCCC) to soil their undies! The play on words campaign is in its third year, and involves farmers digging a hole, placing 100 per cent cotton underwear in it, covering it up, and waiting a few months… Read More
As the federal government rolled out the carbon tax April 1, farmers and rural Canadians were understandably irritated. Among the feedback we received was a question that struck me — why don’t farmers get paid to store carbon in the soil? I was a little surprised, because, in at least one province, they do. Alberta… Read More
Ontario winter wheat growers have been expecting an unimpressive winter wheat stand, but early feedback from farmers and agronomists is proving that the 2019 crop may be even worse than expected. The sooner farmers can evaluate wheat stands properly the better, but conditions haven’t been conducive to the crop breaking dormancy. If the crop looks… Read More
Should falling number and deoxynivalenol (DON) become official grain grading factors? The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) wants to know what you think. Right now, both are not official grading factors in the statutory Canadian grading system for any type of crop. According to a news release, DON and falling number have increasingly played a critical… Read More
As a grower, you want your soybeans to hit each of the marks that describe a successful crop: one that provides weed control, is easy to grow and provides a return on your investment. You may find your soybeans haven’t been hitting these marks every season. You may be wondering why – and looking to… Read More
A brand new program with a focus on precision agriculture will be available this fall at Olds College. Being dubbed Techgronomy, graduates will be prepared for careers that require a “deep understanding of the connectedness between agronomy, agriculture machinery/purpose built network management, and data sciences,” the school says. “This diploma program will help students discover… Read More
Health Canada has completed its re-evaluations of the neonicotinoid pesticides clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam in relation to the insecticides’ potential impact on bees and other pollinators. The final decision, announced today, reflects scientific assessment that shows “varying effects on bees and other pollinators” from exposure to each of these pesticides, Health Canada says. The department… Read More
There’s some tough-looking winter wheat across Ontario and many producers are wondering whether they can save their crops. In some instances, growers have forward-contracted wheat for delivery at $7 a bushel. That’s difficult to walk away from, says RealAgriculture agronomist Peter Johnson. “We will lose some acres on the heavy clays, but where we can,… Read More
From the sweet, sweet taste of maple syrup, to the sad state of this Ontario wheat crop, this week’s Wheat Pete’s Word has something for just about everyone. Host Peter Johnson covers soil structure problems, patchy wheat problems, seed-placed fertilizer and so much more in the audio below. Listen now or listen later! Have a… Read More
Are you farming vertically? That’s a question Illinois-based agronomist Ken Ferrie believes every grower needs to ask when making soil and field management decisions. At the CropSmart 2019 conference held earlier this year at Kitchener, Ont., Ferrie, who operates Crop-Tech consulting, explained that vertical farming refers to the ability for water to move up and… Read More
In its monthly release of the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says world wheat supplies are up, along with coarse grain production, while the global oilseed supply and demand forecasts include increased production, lower exports, and increased stocks compared to last month. Also to note, the… Read More
Bayer has announced its Delaro fungicide has been approved for use in cereal crops in Canada. Already used for peas, lentils, chickpeas, and soybeans, the product has two active ingredients: prothioconazole (Group 3) and trifloxystrobin (Group 11). The pair of ingredients tackle foliar diseases including septoria leaf blotch, tan spot, rust species, net and spot… Read More