Doing the best job possible at seeding pays dividends throughout the year, but is planter-precision necessary for top canola yield? That’s just one question research is trying to answer, not only on a trial basis but at a field level as well. Ken Coles, general manager of Farming Smarter, says it’s not always possible to… Read More
Spring 2019 will be remembered by Ontario soybean growers as one of the toughest they’ve ever tackled. Unprecedented rainfall delayed planting, with the majority of soybeans being planted in June, and some acres having to wait until July. For some growers, those early rains were followed by a dry summer and then the rain and… 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
“There’s lots of things to consider when you’re thinking about growing pulses, and the very first thing that comes to mind is rotations.” Sherrilyn Phelps, agronomy manager with the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, joins us for this Pulse School, where she identifies a few of the key factors to consider when selecting a field for pulses…. Read More
In Ontario, 120,000 soybean plants per acre is a common target to maximize yield. But some of today’s modern soybean genetics can deliver much higher yields when planted at lower populations in high-yield environments. On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Soybean School, Bernard Tobin and PRIDE Seeds market agronomist Matt Chapple put this theory to the… Read More
Ontario’s challenging 2019 spring weather left almost 200,000 acres unplanted in the province, but those acres now present a tremendous opportunity to plant a high-yielding wheat crop. That’s the message agronomist Peter Johnson shares with growers on this edition of the RealAgriculture Wheat School. “Planting early is the number one way to make great yields,”… Read More
A familiar name in the 80s and 90s, the Concord brand will be seen again on seed drills and carts since the company’s reviving of the name announced last year. Ben Sander, marketing manager with Concord, was on hand at the 2019 Ag in Motion show near Saskatoon, Sask., to highlight what’s new on the… Read More
While getting into the harvest season may be top of mind for many farmers right now, numerous seeders and planters were highlighted at Ag in Motion, as producers look forward to 2020. One of the drills that was showcased was New Holland’s P2082 double-shoot air disc drill, which was released in 2018, but saw it’s… Read More
There’s been a mixed bag when it comes to weather across the country. Some places can’t beat the heat while others are getting poured on —up to five inches in an hour! In this week’s Word, Peter Johnson covers what to do when it’s wet as it’s a disease year, when to spray when leafhoppers’s… Read More
With poor spring planting conditions across Ontario, many farmers have run out of time to get major crops in the ground and thousands of acres will remain unplanted in 2019. What should farmers do with those acres? We asked Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs weed management specialist Mike Cowbrough and RealAgriculture agronomist… Read More
For several weeks the message has been that growers need be adjusting their corn variety heat units based on late planting. For some growers, it has become too difficult to drop much further based on hybrid availability in certain heat unit ranges. RealAg Agronomist Peter Johnson recognizes the challenge. “As you move into the lower… Read More
Cool, below normal temperatures in Prince Edward Island have set back the potato harvest for some producers. Ryan Barrett, lead agronomist with the PEI Potato Board says as of Friday, May 25, roughly five to six per cent of the spuds were in the ground. “We are a little bit behind schedule. Normally our main… Read More
Late May means two things in Ontario: black flies and hybrid corn heat unit swaps. While the week’s forecast is nothing to write home about, the market wants more corn acres. If you are sticking with corn, and you should, when do you decide to trim back on heat units? The key in capitalizing on… Read More
It’d be fantastic if this Wheat Pete’s Word update included a milestone planting progress update, but 2019 is proving to be a slow one for much of Ontario. And while Western Canada is having much more luck getting the crop in, areas are still dry to very dry. Questions submitted for this week’s show involve… Read More
Planting is rolling on, even if it is verrrry slowly for parts of Ontario. Meanwhile, crops are emerging well in many parts of the Prairies. This week’s Wheat Pete’s Word tackles some timely topics, such as creative ways to apply N to hungry wheat, why starter fertilizer is almost always worth it on corn, and… Read More