Larger discs sure do look menacing. They also require far more horsepower to pull, but they wear out more slowly than smaller-diameter discs. But there are two very important considerations when choosing planter disc size. The first is trash management (guess which one cuts through straw better? You may be surprised) and the second is… Read More
Category: Agronomy
Many of the typical downgrading threats at harvest were a non-issue this year. There were no early frosts and very little rain to stain and sprout kernels. As such, much of the 2012 crop is testing very well with high germination rates and low weathering. The news is not all good, however, as extremely hot… Read More
The feel-good message about how healthy pulses are for us isn’t new, but those who struggle to eat beans, peas, lentils and chickpeas in their whole form may be able to include more of them in their diet without changing the foods they already eat. That’s the scope of a four-year pulse flour milling and… Read More
Dormancy or hard seed counts in peas is not a new phenomenon, but, interestingly, pea germination samples last year and again this year have had higher than usual hard seed counts. Hard seed is seed that has an impermeable seed coat — the seed is impermeable to water or the exchange of gases that occur… Read More
Do you remember the time before the world was saturated with information? Do you remember having to wait to get it? We have so many avenues to get our information by now that our biggest issue is where we get our information from. When we look at consumer attitudes toward agriculture, good or bad, we… Read More
Whatever your reason for planting a cover crop — for ground cover, for grazing or putting up feed or for N capture — there’s a long list of options. Add in the choice of a second, third or more species and the combinations are endless. Planting two or more species may provide expanded options for… Read More
Ah, October — when farmers’ thoughts turn to fall field work, turkey dinners and canola seed. 2012 was a tough year for the oilseed, there’s no doubt, but a difficult growing season can really highlight the strengths and weaknesses in your canola seed genetics. While some will stick with the tried and true, others are… Read More
When we consider the effects of dry weather, we tend to think mostly about germination and seeding, but the effects of prolonged dry conditions reach into other areas we may not consider. One of those secondary areas includes fall fertilizer application, in particular, anhydrous ammonia. While the Thanksgiving weekend finally delivered some much needed moisture… Read More
I’ve spent quite a bit of time in harvested canola fields this fall. It might be because canola started coming off in late August or that there were so many acres this year that almost every second field is canola stubble, but whatever the reason, I’ve noticed most fields have a few things in common…. Read More
The concept of controlled traffic farming — that is, running all equipment on set paths in a field to reduce compaction — is one RealAgriculture.com has explored before. In this video, Steve Laroque discusses what he’s learned in the second year of adopting the practice. Alberta is most certainly the leader of the practice in… Read More
It’s the beginning of October and it has been dry, dry, dry for many parts of the Prairies. Winter wheat is struggling to germinate and there have been several devastating grass fires over the last month in Alberta and Manitoba. While there have been frosts, above normal daytime temps even just a week ago set… Read More
The Tillage Radish has piqued the interest of both eastern and western farmers. While cover crops are far more common in the east, western Canadian farmers are warming up to the usefulness of oilseed radish and the Tillage Radish. It’s a versatile crop — the Tillage Radish creates massive roots that can break up hardpan,… Read More
Harvest is a great time to grab a sample of grain and have it tested for germination and disease levels. Harvest is also the easiest (and warmest) time to get a representative sample, as you can sample as you fill bins. The sooner you know some basic quality parameters the better, as poor germ or… Read More
Whether it’s to fix nitrogen, protect against erosion or to do both these and provide grazing or green feed, cover crops are a key component of Ontario crop rotations. While many farmers are content with oats, red clover or ryegrass, the options for cover crops are seemingly endless. Christine Brown, cover crops specialist with OMAFRA,… Read More
Uniform seeding at a consistent depth is the first step to a banner wheat crop, but the first mistake many farmers make — seeding too deep — hurts them twice over. Wheat seeded too deep means fewer plants emerge and those that do are slower to grow and produce fewer tillers. It’s an issue for… Read More