A greater emphasis on digital tools and precision application tools that provide tangible benefits for farmers is what Dr. Mario Tenuta sees when he looks ahead to where Canada is moving with nitrogen mangement. Tenuta is the senior industrial research chair in 4R nutrient management and professor of soil ecology at the University of Manitoba,… Read More
Category: Features
Once nitrogen fertilizer lands on or in soil it may be at risk of loss — through leaching, volatilization, or denitrification. Management choices can minimize losses, through split-application, deep banding, or choice of product, but adding an enhanced efficiency fertilizer product can guard against loss, too. How the products work, when to use which, and… Read More
Small variances add up when it comes to data — a few percentage point difference could mean choosing the wrong variety or leaving huge bushels on the table. But what makes for strong data and why does it matter so much? From trial designs and reps, to site selection, and the importance of calibrating equipment,… Read More
This is the first video in a new series called Farming Forward: Sharpen your soil health expertise with cover cropping, nitrogen management, and advanced grazing, brought to you by the Farm Resilience Mentorship program. Visit farmlearninghub.ca for more! Building soil is about capturing sunlight, keeping plants actively growing, and feeding the soil bugs below through… Read More
James Hammerton is looking for innovative ways to increase crop production efficiency. Hammerton, who farms with his family at Sweaburg, Ont., first appeared on The Sharp Edge in 2020 to share how he uses a stripper header to harvest and prepare wheat fields for double crop soybeans. In 2023, he returns to the program with… Read More
There’s a sense of satisfaction after tile has been installed and a field has a new drainage system. With sufficient outlet for drainage water movement, farmers can look forward to a more manageable, productive field and higher crop yields. But a new drainage system is not a “one and done” type of thing, says drainage… Read More
Like the Christmas decorations coming out at Costco, it feels like the variety and hybrid line-up decision keeps moving earlier and earlier each year. For some farmers, early decisions are vital in order to secure the exact variety, treatment, and trait package, but that decision is sometimes made before the current-year’s data is compiled. To… Read More
Every fall, farmers race against Mother Nature to bring in the harvest; nearly as often equipment sizes increase, putting significant pressure on soil and causing compaction. To navigate the risk of compaction at harvest — and at planting! — this episode of The Agronomists features Nick Dubuc, farmer and ag engineer, and Marla Riekman of… Read More
Do you have sufficient outlet for drainage water movement? It’s a key question every farmer needs to ask before they start tiling land. On this episode of Talking Tile, Land Improvement Contractors of Ontario consultant Sid Vander Veen shares why it’s important for farmers to ensure they have a place where they can discharge tile… Read More
Welcome to the latest edition of our new (how long can we call it that?) monthly podcast: “Frontlines — Geopolitics affecting agriculture,” with Shaun Haney of RealAgriculture and Jacob Shapiro, geopolitical analyst with Cognitive Investments and Perch Perspectives. As you would expect, this episode features a discussion on the Israel-Palestine conflict as it continues to… Read More
It pays to spray — but does it pay to spot spray? On this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Tom Wolf of AgriMetrix and Sprayers 101, and Saskatchewan farmer Carl deConinck Smith for a discussion on spot spraying — where it fits best, when in the year, and how to… Read More
On this episode of The Agronomists, two entomologists and a real-live insect join voice-less host Lyndsey Smith to cover so many of the pest problems that popped up on the Prairies this growing season. James Tansey, of Saskatchewan Agriculture, and Tyler Wist, of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, cover the grasshopper lifecycle and threats for ’24,… Read More
Short-term bounces in grain prices should be viewed as selling opportunities in an overall bearish market, according to the president of grain marketing advisory firm IntelliFarm. The lack of bullish news on both the supply and demand sides of the balance sheets for most major crops has resulted in prices sliding over the last few… Read More
Every industry needs effective licensing and training to ensure customers receive high-quality service. On this episode of Talking Tile, host Bernard Tobin is joined by Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) drainage program coordinator Tim Brook for a look at the rules, regulations and training programs that drive Ontario farm drainage service… Read More
Covering 40,000 acres a year with a sprayer is a big job. At Shawridge Farms, a large cash crop and commercial grain elevator operation located in Arthur, Ont., that responsibility falls primarily to sprayer operator Matthew Musselman. So how does one guy get over all those acres? He gets a lot of help from the… Read More