Sweat the details and practice, practice, practice. It may sound like gridiron football strategy but it will also make farmers winners in the battle to improve soil health, says North Dakota-based independent agronomist and crop consultant Lee Briese. When it comes to improving soil health there are plenty of fixes — from reducing tillage to… Read More
Category: Drainage
The topic of tile drainage can get a little controversial — moving water has always been. When digging in to the ins and outs of tile drainage, however, it’s clear that at least some of the sticking points are based on myths. To get the real talk on tile, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by… Read More
Mention farm drainage and the environment in the same sentence and you’ll likely end up in a discussion on the pros and cons of moving water for the purpose of agriculture production. In the final episode of RealAgriculture’s Talking Tile series, Land Improvement Contractors of Ontario executive director Mel Luymes looks at the benefits of… Read More
There’s a sense of satisfaction after tile has been installed and a field has a new drainage system. With sufficient outlet for drainage water movement, farmers can look forward to a more manageable, productive field and higher crop yields. But a new drainage system is not a “one and done” type of thing, says drainage… Read More
Do you have sufficient outlet for drainage water movement? It’s a key question every farmer needs to ask before they start tiling land. On this episode of Talking Tile, Land Improvement Contractors of Ontario consultant Sid Vander Veen shares why it’s important for farmers to ensure they have a place where they can discharge tile… Read More
Every industry needs effective licensing and training to ensure customers receive high-quality service. On this episode of Talking Tile, host Bernard Tobin is joined by Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) drainage program coordinator Tim Brook for a look at the rules, regulations and training programs that drive Ontario farm drainage service… Read More
Are you ready for an agronomy Q&A? On this week’s episode of Wheat Pete’s Word, host Peter Johnson is ready with some timing questions on #plant24, comparing this year’s weather to 1993 (why, though?), answers several questions on cover crop management, taking out a hay stand, and starting off winter wheat. Have a question you’d… Read More
How does farm drainage work and why is it important for agriculture? Those are the first two questions we’ll tackle on Talking Tile, a new RealAgriculture video series designed to share insights on Ontario farm drainage. In the months ahead, we’ll look at everything from the impact on yield to how farmers can maintain their… Read More
It’s time for Day 3 of Ontario Diagnostic Days! The annual Ontario crop diagnostic days were back in the field on July 20 and 21, 2022, but only at Ridgetown campus University of Guelph. Not everyone could attend these two field days, so the organizing committees of these highly successful in-field education and learning events are… Read More
Up to one million in funding is now available for maintenance on natural and constructed agricultural drainage projects. Previously, the Water Security Agency (WSA) only provided funding for natural watercourses. “Obstructions in natural and constructed watercourses can cause flooding and erosion problems and be a significant cost burden to producers and local governments,” says Jeremy… Read More
How can you build soil organic matter? How long does it take and what’s the impact on yield? University of Guelph researcher Laura Van Eerd and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) soil management specialist Anne Verhallen tackle these questions in this 2021 Ontario Diagnostic Days video report. The researchers visit Van Eerd’s… Read More
The practice of variable rate seeding for corn continues to increase as growers attempt to match seeding rates and hybrid characteristics to the varying yield potential across their fields. With the growth of precision agriculture, every year more growers adopt variable rate seeding strategies but are they effectively evaluating and fine-tuning this strategy on their… Read More
How do you measure soil heath? On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Soil School, OMAFRA soil scientist and land use specialist Dan Saurette joins Bernard Tobin to look at some of the assessment tools available to farmers and the type of insights they provide. One of the most well known soil health tests is Cornell’s Comprehensive… Read More
It was a dry start to the year for soybeans in Ontario as a lot of seed went into dry conditions, but the crop seems to have come along. A dry spring in Ontario can make for easier planting though, and coupled with timely rains the season’s start hasn’t been too bad. In this Soybean… Read More
Every conversation on soil health these days eventually comes around to the topic of organic matter. Does it really matter? What percentage should farmers have in their soil? How do you conserve organic matter? How do you build it? On this episode of Soil School, Bernard Tobin and University of Minnesota soil extension specialist Jodi… Read More