When it comes to plant roots and residue that help control erosion and contribute to soil health, soybeans always get a failing grade. But with advances in drone technology, the future will bring more opportunity for timely fall seeding of cover crops to better manage the poor contribution the oilseed crop makes to soil organic… Read More

Stripe rust has been confirmed in the Ontario winter wheat crop. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness plant pathologist Albert Tenuta shared the news at the Ridgetown agribusiness breakfast meeting this week. The disease can cause up to 50 per cent yield loss if not managed properly. It was confirmed after samples collected by… Read More

Soybeans pack plenty of yield punch. Georgia grower Alex Harrell offered proof of that again in 2024 when he smashed his previous yield record with a new harvest benchmark — a whopping 218 bushels per acre. Yield contests show the genetic potential of soybeans, but what’s a realistic goal for growers as they continue to… Read More

Tar spot was first confirmed in Ontario at Ridgetown in the southwest corner of the province in 2020. Since then, the corn leaf disease has spread across Ontario, pushing east past Toronto and into Quebec. Many Ontario farmers experienced the yield robber in their fields for the first time in 2024 and the disease is… Read More

The Ontario government is increasing annual funding for its Risk Management Program (RMP) from $150 million to $250 million, following an announcement at Eden, Ont. on Tuesday by Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, Rob Flack. “Our government promised farmers we would continue to expand and enhance RMP, and with this historic investment, we have… Read More

Those healthy looking soybeans may be hiding a hunger for nitrogen that could deliver higher yields. The oilseed’s nitrogen needs have been much studied over the years with researchers generally agreeing higher rates of nitrogen don’t pay, but that may not be the case when growers push for higher yields. On this episode of the… Read More

When growers discover soybean cyst nematode (SCN) in their fields, sudden death syndrome (SDS) may not be far behind. Those nematodes act as an enabler for SDS by creating an entry point for the disease pathogen to enter roots and infect the plant. That’s why it’s important for growers to employ an integrated management program… Read More

Field research shows that the best time to tackle tar spot with a fungicide is the VT/RI stage of corn development — when the tassel is visible and silks are emerging. That’s the case again this year, says Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness plant pathologist Albert Tenuta. He’s been testing fungicide treatments to… Read More

Potassium deficiency can cost soybean growers as much as five to seven bushels per acre if the levels of the key nutrient sink below critical values. If farm fields show a deficit, how much potash should be broadcast to maintain yield? Is that rate safe for the plant and economical for the grower? Those are… Read More