The 2024 planting season started out very wet in most of Ontario. It was often difficult to know whether poor-looking crops or soil conditions were caused by compaction or by rain that just kept coming. When two weeks of generally dry weather allowed most of the water to get away, widespread areas showed unmistakable signs […] Read more
Tag Archives Soil compaction
Compaction almost unavoidable during wet 2024 spring
It’s too early to fix most affected areas, best to wait until harvest
A soil health investigation
It took old and new technology to diagnose compaction as the culprit
The soil on Ken Mitchell’s alfalfa and corn fields looked good on paper but the reality was less than stellar in terms of production. The 100-acre block was the focus of the Grey County Soil and Crop Improvement Association crop tour in late July. It looked at how marrying new technology with tried-and-true soil assessment […] Read more
Making the case for low-pressure tires and waiting out the wet
Last fall’s harvest weather increased compaction risk
Signs of soil compaction are evident across Ontario this year due to persistently wet weather during the harvest and wheat planting seasons in fall 2021, crop consultant Peter Johnson told attendees of a Compaction Day on-farm demonstration in Rostock Aug. 5. Under soil conditions purposefully manipulated to mimic a wet spring, a recently harvested wheat […] Read more
Evaluating soil structure
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for the week of August 15
Many Ontario soils display a similar pattern of compaction. The secondary tillage layer – usually the top 2-4 inches – is relatively loose and friable, with mostly small, rounded aggregates, especially earlier in the season before rains reconsolidate the soil. Below this layer is usually one that is significantly denser and more poorly structured. In the second […] Read more
Three common soil compaction mistakes
Avoid these missteps to keep compaction from getting worse
Glacier FarmMedia – With the advent of mechanized agriculture, farms became a great deal more productive than they were in times past. However, the large machines that ply farmers’ fields today can be hard on the soil and cause issues with compaction. Why it matters: Soil compaction can be a serious form of soil degradation resulting […] Read more
Preventing sprayer compaction is difficult
Some compaction is inevitable, though severe damage can be mitigated
From growth stage to pest pressure, sprayers run when crops need them. This can pose a problem because ideal application timing does not necessarily coincide with dry field conditions. Some level of compaction is almost invariably the result, and while steps can be taken to minimize negative impacts, there are few affordable solutions to sprayer-induced […] Read more
How to prevent compaction at harvest
Limiting damage starts with decisions when combines go into fields
Field activity makes soil compaction worse. That’s just the nature of the work. But there are methods to reduce it, in favourable and unfavourable conditions. Why it matters: Ways to reduce soil compaction vary, depending on soil type, field conditions, equipment capability, operation style, and other factors. For Alex Barrie, a Bowmanville-area farmer and soil […] Read more
How low can you go when it comes to tire pressure?
Tires can take lower pressure, but using low pressure to reduce compaction depends on farmer comfort level
The impact of farm equipment causing soil compaction is primarily a function of soil moisture at the time of traffic combined with the total weight, axle load and tire pressure of the implement. By lowering tire pressure, we reduce the impact of soil compaction up to a point, which is a function of the ability […] Read more
Strategies for reducing compaction from wheel traffic
Ontario Field Crop Report for the week of September 9
Farm show season is upon us! As we admire the many types and sizes of farm equipment, most of us would rather ignore the elephant in the room; a lot of new farm machinery is simply too heavy to drive across the field without risking deep, potentially permanent, subsoil compaction. Deep compaction is almost entirely […] Read more
Has the time come for integrated tillage management?
Understanding bulk density for compaction prevention
Tillage has its benefits, but the list of drawbacks to soil health is long. This poses a question: Like Integrated Pest Management, is it time for Integrated Tillage Management? The question was posed by Aaron Breimer, manager for Veritas Farm Management, during a presentation at Elgin Compaction Day on Aug. 8. For him, taking an […] Read more
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