Early crop scouting is sometimes passed by depending on the weather and growing conditions. Making scouting decisions by driving by the field in your pick up is not good scouting and can force you into poor decisions on disease and insect control and crop staging. David Townsend, Becker Underwood, provides us with some great quick… Read More
Category: Agronomy
Roots are the brains of all crop types, including pulse crops. Inoculants play a key role in making sure the root fixes nitrogen properly in the soil. Healthy roots mean a healthy plant and the opportunity to create yield above ground. Making an agronomic decision without the proper follow up is really making stabs in… Read More
RealAgriculture.com reader, Shawn Thacker, Thacker Harvesting Ltd, sent us the following photos from the combine in Kansas. Shawn says that the yields of the wheat crop in the picture are 15-20 while the typical yield expected would be 35 bushels per acre in Kansas. Shawn says that they are just finishing combining in Kansas and… Read More
Jay Peterson of Frontier, in Saskatchewans southwest corner, sent in some images of how the crop is progressing there. Seeding started in late April with mustard. The lentils pictured here went in on May 13. There are three images: lentils (small red, Maxim Clearfield variety), and the other is mustard. Jay had this to say… Read More
Spraying is one of those jobs that can have a very short window in which to get accomplished. It’s also a job that has to be done when conditions are right. Getting to it before the wind or the rain, or whenever conditions are calm can be frustrating for producers. It’s a big part of… Read More
It may seem a bit presumptuous to even begin the topic of 400 bushel corn when 300 bushel corn is barely in it’s infancy, but with the sheer speed of progress in the area of corn yields, the discussion may be warranted sooner rather than later. The truth is, as we’ve said before, the potential… Read More
Weed control in pulse crops is an area that has to be managed well in order for your crop to reach its potential. Pulse crops are not very competitive once put into the ring with invasive weed species. While they’re not exactly the 98-lb weakling of the agricultural world, they do need the playing field… Read More
There are a number of different elements that have to come together to unlock yield potential in corn and move it to that coveted 300 bushel mark. As we visit field number 2 of the PRIDE Seeds 300+ bushel initiative, we take a look at one of those factors and the issues that can come… Read More
Managing fusarium has become a fact of life for wheat producers in areas of the west. The disease is a real challenge for producers living in regions that are intensely affected. While there is no one-step solution available to those producers, an integrated approach can provide producers with a high level of management, maintaining yields… Read More
In the last episode of the Canola School, we talked to Doug Moisey of the Canola Council of Canada about investigating some of the causes of variable emergence in canola. This time around we look at some of those causes, in particular, deep seeding. Seeding canola too deep is not only responsible for delayed emergence,… Read More
Kris Penner of H & M Farms near Altona, Man., sent in a few images of the corn and soybean crop. There was a light frost last Tuesday night (May 27th) that knocked the corn back a bit, especially on field margins, about six to eight rows in. It should recover fine, he says, but… Read More
Every day matters when it comes to soybeans. When it comes to double crop soybeans, it matters much more. In a year like this one, where it looks as though that double crop may be a reality, producers in that position have to start thinking about risk management. While getting that crop in the ground… Read More
Guess what just flew in from the U.S. courtesy of the jet-stream? Armyworms, and apparently they brought friends this year. Reports are in from producers all over Ontario who have spotted the pests in their wheat fields. Infestations of armyworm tend to be cyclical with populations dependent largely on the natural parasites that affect them…. Read More
Producers and agronomists have both touted the benefits of early planting when it comes to soybeans. Just how much of a benefit is it? Considering the relatively short season for soybeans in Ontario, three to four weeks can pay off at harvest. That early planting doesn’t come without risk. Cold temperatures and other adverse early… Read More
Spray timing, plant population and desiccants are very important elements to manage when it comes to weed control and the proper development of your pulse crop. According to Weed Biologist Eric Johnson of Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, producers should start to plan weed control 2 to 3 years ahead. What that means is that in… Read More