France’s ban on neonicitinoids and subsequent collapse of its sugar beet sector is an example of a failed policy driven by ideology, says Stuart Smyth, associate professor and chair of Agri-Food Innovation and Sustainability Enhancement at the University of Saskatchewan.

Will war open Europe to biotechnology?

Severe supply disruptions have prompted some member states to consider wider acceptance of GM crops

Last month, 1400 tonnes of grain was dumped from a freight train onto the trackside in Brittany, France.  Forcing the train to stop before an improvised cinderblock barrier, activists from […] Read more




“There is normally a relationship to yield, but it’s not necessarily linear. Yield is a product of spatial times temporal variability.” – Jonathan Zettler.

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 […] Read more





Investing in details can guide fertilizer decisions

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 […] Read more


Wheat researcher Dennis Pennington says growers should establish “green area index” canopy growth targets to generate a canopy that maximizes light interception and radiation use efficiency.

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 […] Read more

Highly variable weather patterns are an element of climate change. Those plus Ontario’s already variable growing conditions show 
the need for resilient hybrids is even greater.

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.  […] Read more