From October, 1965 to March, 2002, Dr. Phil Williams worked at the Canadian Grain Commission’s Grain Research Laboratory. Needless to say, Williams had a significant impact on the Canadian wheat industry over those four decades. In 1970, he was appointed as the first chemist-in-charge of protein testing and organized the testing and monitoring procedure for… Read More
Success in other crop systems can sometimes translate other cropping systems. As an example, using a planter in corn adds precision and accuracy to maximize yields and improve agronomic management. In recent years, not a lot of progress has been made in the area of irrigated durum wheat yields. and Farming Smarter is looking at… Read More
It’s possible Ontario could set a new wheat record for 2021, and that’s saying something, as reports are that many fields are yielding smaller than average seeds. Also this week on Wheat Pete’s Word, host Peter Johnson tackles if corn will yield double cobs, why you need to be out scouting the soybean canopy, and… Read More
The Alberta government announced it will use $4.7 million from the TIER fund through Emissions Reduction Alberta to build a facility in Lethbridge to produce renewable fuel. The Canary Biofuels facility, with an estimated worth of $28.6 million, will produce approximately 70 million litres of high-value renewable fuel. The facility is slated to be the… Read More
Manitoba Harvest is partnering with a consortium of industry leaders through Protein Industries Canada (PIC) to develop new hemp and pea varieties with increased protein content, differential starch content, and improved texture. Manitoba Harvest will lend its expertise in food innovation, product development, and formulation, to improve the potency and functionality of hemp and pea… Read More
It’s important to know what’s going well, and what’s not, especially with soil. Certain “canaries in the coalmine” can indicate existing, persistent problems with management practices that over time can be improved. Adam Ireland, who farms with his family near Teeswater in Bruce County, Ont., is joined by Bernard Tobin for this episode of Soil… Read More
As the drought continues across the Prairies, ranchers and grain farmers are navigating baling and grazing drought-affected crop. There are insurance considerations when offering field crops as grazing, but there are also several considerations for livestock producers when determining the suitability of a field as feed. Shannon Argent, business manager with VBP+, says that ranchers… Read More
Interest in building soil resiliency or measuring soil health is growing. But before jumping to complicated soil health tests, we first need to understand how the basic physical, chemical, and biological properties of a soil in combination with management practices will affect soil microbial populations. “You can’t take the genetic base, essentially, like the DNA… Read More
India has lowered its tariff on Canadian lentils to 11 per cent, down from the 33 per cent levied against the crop about a year ago. The new tariff rate applies to all lentils, except those from the U.S., which will face a 22 per cent levy. Mac Ross, director of market access and trade… Read More
Plot trials are a great way to gain preliminary research findings about a particular subject. Based just outside of Lethbridge, Alta., Farming Smarter’s primary focus is applied research that helps producers make informed choices around inputs, technology and management practices for their operations. Carlo Van Herk, research technician at Farming Smarter, walks Kara Oosterhuis through the… Read More
Bigger corn planters with on-board fertilizer deliver efficiency and cover acres quickly. All that weight, however, can produce yield-robbing pinch rows and compaction. On this episode of The Sharp Edge, we visit Jeff Cook who farms with his family at their Mapleview Farms operation, just southwest of London, Ont. Over the years, the Cooks have… Read More
Glyphosate resistant waterhemp has spread from Essex Country, Ontario, all the way to Leeds-Grenville County, nearly 700 kilometres away in just seven growing seasons. While the exact path of spread is not known, Dr. Peter Sikkema, weed management professor with the University of Guelph, says that introduction can be through wind dispersal, in livestock feed, or… Read More
Drought is having a substantial effect on grain farming and ranching on the Prairies, and recently Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) made changes to how disaster-affected crops can be diverted to help ranchers with their grazing needs. “The dry conditions are certainly having an impact, and I’d say it’s primarily on the west side of… Read More
As drought ravages grassland, pasture, hay fields, and grain crops, ranchers are working hard to find immediate feed sources and source feed for the winter. Grazing or haying drought-affected fields requires navigating the issues of fencing, crop insurance considerations, payment, and more, but there’s also feed quality to consider. For some ranchers, sourcing feed low… Read More
It’s been a tough year for growers in the west — some crops are getting by rain to rain, and some are relying on soil moisture alone with the chance of rain being a hope. Drought can affect silage quality and yield, obviously, but how can smoke from wildfires affect the corn crop? Sara Meidlinger,… Read More