How can you build soil organic matter? How long does it take and what’s the impact on yield? University of Guelph researcher Laura Van Eerd and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) soil management specialist Anne Verhallen tackle these questions in this 2021 Ontario Diagnostic Days video report. The researchers visit Van Eerd’s… Read More

Welcome to this Tuesday edition of RealAg Radio, guest hosted by Lyndsey Smith. You’ll hear from: Pekka Pesonen of Copa-Cogeca, representing European farmers and agri-cooperatives. He talks with Kelvin Heppner about the E.U.’s Farm to Fork Strategy; A clip from last night’s episode of The Agronomists, featuring Laura Van Eerd and Scott Gillespie; Danny Ottenbreit… Read More

It’s time to talk soil health, nutrient management, and more on Day 5 of Ontario Diagnostic Days! The annual Ontario field crop diagnostic days held at Ridgetown, Elora, and Winchester are again virtual in 2021. Cover crops, soil compaction, topsoil sampling and soybean fertility are the focus of this episode. We’ll kick it off with cover… Read More

What does it take to be a soil champion? If you’re Laura Van Eerd, professor at University of Guelph, Ridgetown campus, it means being curious about soil biology and crop production and constantly fascinated about what we have yet to learn about nutrient cycles, microbes, and more. Van Eerd considers herself lucky to be able… Read More

The winners of the 2021 Soil Champion award from Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) have been announced. Henry Denotter, grain farmer from Essex county, receives the award in the producer category. Dr. Laura Van Eerd, professor at University of Guelph, Ridgetown campus, receives the research and extension win. The annual award recognizes leaders… Read More

Many farmers understand the benefits cover crops can bring to their operation. From reduced soil erosion to improved soil structure, nutrient recycling, moisture retention and much more – the list of benefits is long and impressive. But how do cover crops impact yield? Do all these benefits add up to higher production and a better… Read More