Join us for two full days of research results, brainstorming ideas, and engaging conversations. We found some great keynote speakers and have updates from all our research programs including strip tillage, precision planting, cover crops, variable rate irrigation, and much more! See the full agenda below. We always give lots of time to network with… Read More
Tag: Farming Smarter
Success in certain crop systems can sometimes translate to other cropping systems; for example, using a planter in corn adds precision and accuracy to maximize yields and improve agronomic management. In recent years, not a lot of progress has been made in the area of irrigated durum wheat yields, and Farming Smarter is looking at… Read More
Plot trials are a great way to gain preliminary research findings about a particular subject. Based just outside of Lethbridge, Alta., Farming Smarter’s primary focus is applied research that helps producers make informed choices around inputs, technology and management practices for their operations. Carlo Van Herk, research technician at Farming Smarter, walks Kara Oosterhuis through the… Read More
A three-year trial conducted by Farming Smarter on grain corn production under dryland conditions in four Alberta locations is yielding some interesting results. The trial at Lethbridge, Vauxhall, Bow Island, and Medicine Hat, was conducted between 2015 and 2017, and included agronomic factors that may affect dryland grain corn production, including plant population, row spacing,… Read More
Kochia is a big concern for farmers across the Prairies, primarily because it’s a tough weed to kill, and the population is rife with herbicide resistance. Most farmers are aware of Group 2 resistance — which is old news — but newer Group 9 resistance is cropping up, which further complicates control of this prolific… Read More
Collaboration is key when it comes to getting things done; when you have two organizations working towards one goal, that’s even better. Lethbridge College and Farming Smarter have announced they’ve signed a 15-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work together on a variety of projects. The agreement will mean the two sides will examine opportunities… Read More
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
The battle against weeds puts farmer against nature’s innate ability to adapt and overcome. The advent of herbicides tipped the odds in farmers’ favour for a time, but only until several weed species developed — and continue to develop — resistance. Dr. Hugh Beckie, a former weed scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, is now… Read More
Weed control is often focused first on out-competing the pest. Some escape, of course, so “control” shifts to decreasing the weed seed bank. There are limited ways to eliminate those weeds with mature seeds at harvest, but recent work in Australia and here in Canada is focused on destroying weeds at the combine. According to… Read More
Vital crop nutrients act differently in the root zone. Some, such as nitrogen, move easily with soil water, but others, such as phosphorus, hardly move at all, requiring that plants grow to seek out the nutrients. With the rise of no-till, crop residue builds up on the soil surface — a good thing for many… Read More