There are a number of considerations when it comes to the storage and handling of pulses, but the two most important factors to think about are moisture and temperature. Whether storing just one winter, or a winter, spring, and summer, and maybe longer, ensuring pulses are conditioned for long-term storage is key. “You want to… Read More
If you’ve ever wondered why and when a farmer may choose to add gypsum to soil, wonder no more. Gypsum — also known as calcium sulphate — is a source of both calcium and sulphate, and can work as a nutrient source for both of these, except that it’s actually a pretty expensive way to… Read More
Once harvest is in the bin, there’s not much you can do to improve what you have, but there are plenty of things lurking that could downgrade the crop. RealAgriculture resident Peter Johnson says that storage molds need some attention, as they can cause some major issues when they do pop up. “One of the… Read More
Canadian edible bean farmers are seeing first-hand what an abrupt loss of pre-harvest glyphosate means for their harvest. For many, it’s been a real challenge. “So, for example, a black bean grower – black beans are typically pretty easy to harvest and you don’t have to worry about staining them because they’re already black, but… Read More
A Canadian company is making headway in the spray world with six-legged applicators. Bee Vectoring Technologies (BVT) uses commercially-reared bees to deliver crop controls through pollination. Its first registered product, Clonostachys rosea CR-7 (CR-7), is an organic strain of an endophytic fungus the company says has many functions, including: Controlling numerous diseases in plants, particularly… Read More
After identifying a need for aerial spraying services on large farms, an Ontario-based start-up has developed a fully-automated unmanned aerial vehicle for the Canadian market. “Typically most drones you see out there for aerial spraying are fairly small capacity… and for North American farms…it’s just not going to cut it,” says Meng Wei, CEO and… Read More
In 2019, many Ontario soybean fields showed signs of severe manganese deficiency. Many of the problem areas were a direct result of growing conditions that featured both soil temperature and moisture extremes, says AGRIS Co-operative agronomist Dale Cowan, who notes that many soils in southwestern Ontario tend to be naturally low in manganese. Any time… Read More
Is frosted corn, toast? It all depends, says Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson, so head on out and start checking those cob shanks! On this week’s Wheat Pete’s Word, Johnson covers some key cover crop questions, why wheat seed rates might at max right now, and there’s some gibberella out there that needs attention. Have a… Read More
One of the big benefits of strip tilling corn is the ability to place fertilizer directly into the berm or strip for greater nutrient efficiency. But as growers rotate out of strip-tilled corn, how can they assess the overall fertility of a field where nutrient placement was concentrated in specific areas? On this edition of… Read More
More than success, failure is a great teacher. Still, most people don’t want to openly talk about their mistakes and instead focus on what worked well. When it comes to cover crop use in Western Canada, only talking about what worked well won’t get us to wide-spread adoption. At the same time, a “that will… Read More
Visual damage to wheat kernels might look cringe-worthy, but it’s the damage you can’t see that’s causing downgrading this harvest season. Jeremy Boychyn, agronomist with the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions, says wet harvest weather even before the late September snow storm is negatively impacting falling number — a key measure of milling quality. Some… Read More
A part of France-based Groupe Roullier, TIMAC AGRO has announced new operations and a research facility in eastern Ontario. TIMAC AGRO will offer plant and animal nutrition products and establish a research and demonstration site in Leeds-Grenville County. Ryan Brophy will be in charge of coordinating Eastern Ontario activities and to partner with Western Canada-based… Read More
Imagine rejuvenating a tired pasture (without the need to break it up and start from scratch), while simultaneously reducing the risk of bloat in future grazings. Recent studies conducted on the Prairies have shown that including sainfoin in an alfalfa stand at just 20-30 per cent can significantly decrease or even eliminate the risk of… Read More
Western Canada got absolutely hammered by snow this last week, which brings up questions on lifters, stripper headers, and more. For Ontario, soybean harvest is late but rolling, and that means the questions about winter wheat seeding are also rolling in to Wheat Pete’s Word host, Peter Johnson’s mailbox! From when to bump seeding rates,… Read More
Next year will mark 45 years since New Holland originally introduced its Twin Rotor combine in 1975, the TR70 with 145-168 horsepower. To honour the occasion, the company will roll out significant upgrades to its CR Series of combines. Luiz Miotto, combine product marketing manager for New Holland, North America, says the 2020 models will… Read More