When it comes to increasing soybean yield, University of Illinois plant physiology professor Fred Below has two words of advice — plant early. In his presentation earlier this month at the Ontario Agricultural Conference, Below shared data from eight years of trials that show growers in Illinois lose almost half a bushel (0.47 bu/ac) for every day… Read More
Cover crops deliver significant soil health and ground cover benefits, but they can often cause spring headaches when growers fail to kill them off in advance of corn and soybean planting. In this video report from Ontario Diagnostic Days 2021, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs soil management specialists Anne Verhallen and Jake… Read More
If you change how you deliver seed to the ground, what else has to change? From fertilizer planning, to seeding rate, to weed control, the planter vs. seeder decision isn’t as easy as which unit does the most consistent job. To explore considerations for canola and soybeans, and to kick off the 2022 season of… Read More
At this point in the year, plenty of growers have booked their canola varieties for the upcoming season or are trying to sort that decision out as quickly as possible. There’s been increased focus over the past few years on reducing seeding rates, and it’s a good question to explore says Russell Trischuk, InVigor technical… Read More
Planters add a level of precision depth, seed placement, and seed spacing that’s rather difficult to duplicate in a drill, but adapting planters to a canola growing strategy does require shifts in management. Doug Moisey of Pioneer Seeds Canada says that row spacing is the first of several considerations for planter success. Super wide rows… Read More
As we work through the final week of October, many Ontario farmers are feeling the stress of a very wet weather cycle impeding soybean and early corn harvest. Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson knows it can be tough to be patient right now, so be sure to reach out to those around you and check in to… Read More
It’s time for Day 6 of Ontario Diagnostic Days! The annual Ontario field crop diagnostic days held at Ridgetown, Elora, and Winchester are again virtual in 2021. Management tips for corn, soybeans and dry beans; learning lessons from your soil; and the role robotic technology plays on the farm are all featured in this episode. We’ll… Read More
What’s the number one way to get great wheat yields in the east? Plant early! In this episode of RealAgriculture’s Wheat School, Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson shares his tips for planting, and his insights on phosphorus, based on soil type and base fertility. “If you can plant wheat in September in Ontario, that’s almost always… Read More
Edible bean growers in Ontario experienced a little bit of everything in 2021 — from excellent soil conditions, to frost and hard-to-find moisture. On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Edible Bean School, host Bernard Tobin and Hensall Co-op agronomist Josh Moffatt explore four different Oxford County fields, and share lessons learned from the spring planting rollercoaster…. Read More
It’s been a challenging start for wheat in much of Western Canada this spring due to hot and dry conditions, which might lead growers and agronomists to ask “what if?” this cool season crop had been planted earlier. Wheat’s yield potential is determined early on, at the three to six leaf stage, explains Brunel Sabourin… Read More
Scouting soybeans is a big part of any Ontario agronomist’s year. Emergence, a consistent plant stand, and seeding depth are the first few things to scout for in the field. Ryan Benjamins, who owns and operates Benjamins Agronomy Services, gives tips for scouting soybeans and what to consider further along in the growing season, in… Read More
With the corn crop pretty much planted in Ontario, growers are pushing to finish soybeans as increasingly hot, dry weather depletes soil moisture. With only small, isolated rain events forecast for the week ahead, growers are wondering how deep they should plant seed for their remaining soybean acres. With many already planting at the 2″… Read More
Early season scouting is underway for some winter wheat crops, plus early emerged wheat and barley. That early scouting brings up questions like what happens to wheat or barley if it gets nipped by frost? What insects are a concern for this growing season? Jeremy Boychyn, agronomy extension specialist with Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions,… Read More
Anyone else feeling like spring has sprung and the pressure is on? Today’s guest can answer all those early-season cropping decisions that you may have, if you’re feeling the pressure to get in the field. Today’s RealAg LIVE! features our resident agronomist Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson who chats with host Shaun Haney about early season… Read More
Whether you are in a dry or wet part of the country, we are all asking the same thing: how deep do I seed my crop? Do I chase the moisture? How deep is too deep? If I seed in the dust, will the bins really bust? All of these questions, and more, are answered… Read More