Mainstream news is one hundred percent focused on the coronavirus and how much it will impact consumer demand and economic growth. One of the big unknown factors is how it will restrict supply chains that involve components being sourced from China. The supply chain concerns are derived from areas of China being virtually shut down… Read More
Welcome to March, which seems to be coming in like a lamb — we’ll have to see if the “out like a lion” holds true! March also means maple syrup, frost seeding, red clover applications on the wheat fields, and starting to nail down crop rotations and fertilizer rates. With many feeling the cash flow… Read More
John Deere’s new ExactRate liquid fertilizer application system is designed to help farmers deliver accurate nutrient placement at precise rates during planting. The company rolled out the new system last month at the National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) at Louisville, Kentucky. In this interview, Deere product manager Brady Alley explains that ExactRate is another of… Read More
Looking for the latest information on a leaf disease invading your farm fields? Want to know how fungicides recommended for control or suppression stack up? Farmers and crop advisors will find all this and more when they visit cropprotectionnetwork.org, says University of Kentucky plant pathologist Carl Bradley. The Crop Protection Network (CPN) is a multi-state… Read More
Adopting new technology on the farm — from new hybrids to new pesticides, to full-on automation — comes with a price tag. This new or additional cost might be absolutely worth it if the technology makes more yield, decreases input costs, or saves you time and labour. While most technology comes to the farm with… Read More
No matter what profession you choose in life, learning opportunities surround you — although it’s up to you to choose to take them. Speaking for myself, jumping into the agriculture world has had its learning curves but it’s also given me the opportunity to explore and learn more about the industry I have grown to… Read More
If there’s one thing farmers want less of, it’s paperwork. However, in the current climate of “don’t just say you’re doing the right thing — prove it,” verification programs and the corresponding administration are on the rise. Verification and best management practice programs are not new for Canadian farmers, from the Environmental Farm Plan, to… Read More
For some, farming is in their DNA — whether they like it or not. Even when they set out on a path very different from agriculture, some find their way back for one reason or another; and, frankly, agriculture is better for it. In this episode of Agronomy Geeks, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by… Read More
The oat market once again appears headed for a burdensome supply this fall, as strong prices through much of the winter have led growers to pencil more oats into their seeding plans for 2020. New crop prices have started dropping in recent weeks, but many growers on the eastern side of the Canadian Prairies signed… Read More
Yield stability and income stability — that’s what farmers earn when they invest in regenerative agriculture. That message was heard often throughout the recent Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario (IFAO) annual conference in London, Ont. It’s a tune that more and more farmers are singing as they increase efforts to enhance soil health on their… Read More
For farmers worried about 2020, and perhaps already tight budget constraints, cutting input costs may seem like a quick fix, but how is it impacting your bottom line? Resident agronomist Peter Johnson says finding that balance and making those tough decisions comes down to management. “The beauty of soil fertility is that your soil is… Read More
Fendt Ideal combines — minus a steering column and wheel — will make their debut in North America for harvest 2021. AGCO made the announcement this week at the Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas. The IdealDrive steering system is the first joystick steering system for a combine released by a major manufacturer, says AGCO…. Read More
Glyphosate-resistant kochia is spreading quickly across the Prairies, but right now farmers are only seeing the “tip of the iceberg”, according to the weed specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. Kochia populations showing some level of glyphosate resistance in Manitoba rose from one per cent in 2013 to 59 per cent in 2018, according to the latest… Read More
Bigger isn’t always better, as is the case with the new 1745 MaxEmerge 5 planter, says John Deere. The manufacturer rolled out the planter at the National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) earlier this month, touting narrow transport capabilities, a split-row configuration, a fit for small fields and no-till, and compatibility with older tractors. The key… Read More
Five Prairie wheat and barley groups have “significant concerns” surrounding the Seed Variety Use Agreement pilot project recently announced by the Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) and the Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA). The Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA), Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat), Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission (SaskBarley), and the Alberta… Read More