When everything is dry around you, there has to be something to look forward to. Rain can really change people’s frames of mind when the Prairies are in the condition they’ve been in these past months. Rob Stone, a farmer from Davidson, Sask., wanted to tilt the scales for himself and the farming community by… Read More
One of the reasons weed species can be so difficult to get ahead of is because of their ability to adapt to conditions. Herbicide labels often refer to weed size when targeting the ideal control window, but in dry conditions weeds can stay small while rapidly move towards maturity. Mike Cowbrough, weed specialist for the… Read More
This week’s Farmer Rapid Fire on RealAg Radio has confirmed one thing: there is some serious drought out there — especially across the southern parts of Western Canada. The severity changes pending what pocket you belong to, but even areas such as the Palliser Triangle, which is known for its dry climate, is facing extreme… Read More
Start clean, stay clean is the motto when it comes to weed control. Super dry conditions, however, can throw a wrench in the best laid plans, as soil-applied herbicides may be less effective and timing a first pass is tricker as weeds are slow to emerge. To discuss per-emerge and early season weed control on… Read More
If you’re on the Canadian Prairies, chances are you could likely describe this winter as “meh.” There hasn’t been a lot of snowfall in most areas, and temperatures — until the last week or so — have been fairly mild. Eric Snodgrass, principal atmospheric scientist with Nutrien Ag Solutions, agrees, calling it a “boring winter”… Read More
There are few things as popular for farmers to discuss than the weather. While it’s still too early in the year to get a solid handle on spring trends, there are some fascinating weather patterns at play. To translate all the temperature, wind, moisture, and weather flows, we go to Eric Snodgrass, senior atmospheric scientist… Read More
Every conversation on soil health these days eventually comes around to the topic of organic matter. Does it really matter? What percentage should farmers have in their soil? How do you conserve organic matter? How do you build it? On this episode of Soil School, Bernard Tobin and University of Minnesota soil extension specialist Jodi… Read More
When there’s good wheat in abundance, those loads with sub-250 falling number are going to get dinged — and so begins some of the tougher lessons of this harvest season, says Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson. On this week’s Wheat Pete’s Word, you’ll get a harvest season update, more on the cover crop survey for Ontario,… Read More
If you remember farming in 1988, this year may seem a little similar, at least for Ontario. That year, the drought broke in mid-July with a torrential downpour — are we in for something like that soon? Well, we won’t know for sure for a few days yet, but this week’s Wheat Pete’s Word does… Read More
July has hit Ontario hot and dry; a continuation of the dry bias, but a welcome change from the unseasonably cool start to the season. While corn and soybean fields aren’t as negatively impacted by dry weather this early in the season, much of the wheat crop and spring cereals are either filling or about… Read More
Do you remember 1966? You can be forgiven if you don’t, but Drew Lerner, weather guru with World Weather Inc., says the first half of 2020 is shaping up to be very similar to that year. What does that mean for crop growing weather, hail, rainfall amounts, and more? Listen/watch below to this Tuesday, June… Read More
Mother Nature is perhaps not always that motherly, but every now and again she does throw us a bone. This last week in Ontario was pretty good on the average, with some timely rains in some areas and some first-cut haylage wrapping up. But the timely rain has also brought along some storms, and heat,… Read More
This year has been a real struggle for huge parts of the Prairies due to the extreme dry bias. July rains have saved some of the acres, and given them a fighting chance. Even though crop conditions have improved, they are by no means out of the woods yet. Recently on RealAg Radio, Megz Reynolds,… Read More
Canada’s Farm Progress Show (CFPS) is well underway, and, with it, a much-needed rain for southern Saskatchewan, where crops are struggling. “Probably the first thing that I’ve seen in a long time is our first seeded crops are actually our worst looking crops, and our last seeded crops look fantastic,” says Decisive Farming’s Garth Donald,… Read More
Parts of the Prairies have received decent rainfall recently, though some areas are still waiting on even a drop. For those who were blessed with a little moisture, if you’re wondering whether or not to top up nitrogen on the wheat crop, listen up. Peter Johnson, agronomist for RealAgriculture, says that for those that backed… Read More