Want to save on potassium and phosphorus fertilizer this year? A joint Ontario agriculture department and University of Guelph analysis from 2015 highlights how growers who meet certain soil fertility thresholds can reduce expensive inputs without incurring notable reductions in yield. Why it matters: Lowering input costs by reducing fertilizer can be done without generating […] Read more
Critical to account for greater nutrient removal from crops
Adequate baseline P and K levels bring savings opportunities, little yield impact, when fertilizer is expensive
Moisture, fertility drive planter development with more precision
Clean Seed and Precision Planting reps discuss new tools and challenges
Even weight distribution, greater row down pressure, on-the-go population control — each is a focus for developers of modern planting technology. With sky-high fertilizer prices and variable growing conditions, equipment companies say systems that deliver more precise fertility and moisture management are key. In a spring 2022 interview, Shawn Livingston, Eastern Canada regional manager for […] Read more
Soil testing complexity increasing
The future of soil testing includes better imaging, health indicators, and cost effectiveness
The days of single-sample field soil analysis are fading. What’s needed, say soil experts, are analysis tools that provide accurate representations of different management zones. Speaking at the recent Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario (IFAO) conference, Jonathan Zettler, agronomist and founder of Fieldwalker Agronomy Ltd., said soil testing tools should also be all-encompassing – that […] Read more
Grain growers share the best equipment changes they’ve made on-farm
Three farmers reveal top agronomic and efficiency improvements on their operations at IFAO conference
There’s always room for improvement when it comes to equipment design and setup, according to grain growers Warren Schneckenburger, Mark Burnham, and Chuck Baresich. Speaking during the 2022 Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario conference IFAO), each panelist detailed what large overhauls and small tweaks have made the most significant differences on their respective farms. Why […] Read more
Time to rethink equipment parts and service
Farmers may have to learn to live with greater parts scarcity
When the pandemic really started to bite in 2020, Mark Brock, a Perth County grain grower, did a risk assessment on his farm. He and his colleagues highlighted a lack of backup inputs and machinery parts as major vulnerabilities. In response, they increased stocks of both vital components. Parts inventory went from $20,000 or $30,000 […] Read more
Comment: Protests could be a PR disaster for rural Canada
Urban Canadians, policy makers should take rural Canada seriously, but discussion has to be reasonable
There are cultural and political divisions between Canada’s rural and urban populations at the best of times, but the past 12 to 24 months have not been the best of times. Though the border and Ottawa protests are now over, the fallout from the events has the potential to reinforce divisions with rebar and concrete. […] Read more
Investing in details can guide fertilizer decisions
Soil tests are a baseline, but there are other options on which to judge best use of expensive fertilizer
For those who want to reduce fertilizer costs, certified crop adviser and Renfrew County farmer Jennifer Doelman has some tips. Fertilizer availability has fluctuated in recent months, she notes. Staff shortages and other factors have also contributed to disruptions within normal supply channels. With limited capacity and high demand, suppliers might have to prioritize regular […] Read more
Many factors involved in mastering precision wheat
Planting, application and equipment considerations affect process
Seed uniformity, spacing, depth, row width and other factors contribute to wheat canopy structure and yield. Dennis Pennington, wheat researcher and extension specialist with Michigan State University, says management practices and technologies designed to optimize planting offer growers significant opportunity. The main goal is to generate a canopy that maximizes light interception and radiation use […] Read more
Resilience in variable conditions critical for Ontario corn hybrids
Claims suggesting better management and climate change are the main drivers of higher corn yields are, if true, likely only relevant in ideal conditions
A recent study published by University of Lincoln Nebraska (ULN) researchers suggests today’s high corn yields are a direct result of better management and changes in, rather than improved genetics. Not everyone is convinced. According to Liz Lee, professor of plant breeding and genetics at the University of Guelph, the lack of stresses considered, time […] Read more
Farm outlook 2022: A look ahead
Supply chains, crop prices and their impact on feed prompt a need to manage farm financial risk
Will the zaniness of 2020 and 2021 be repeated in the coming year? The uncertainty of the past couple of years makes annual predications tough. According to Farm Credit Canada’s economics team, Canada’s agriculture sector has a lot going for it despite known and yet-to-be realized challenges. Here are some of their ag predictions for […] Read more
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