Jake Kraayenbrink is passionate about soil health — so much so that he’s spent the better part of the past 15 years developing an innovative tire deflation system that helps farmers reduce soil compaction risks from heavy equipment. It’s on the market today in Canada, Europe, the U.K. and New Zealand under the AgriBrink brand. […] Read more
Tag Archives soil health — page 6
Passion for soil health drives Ontario innovator
On-farm innovation award winner has developed not one but two useful systems to help farmers
Multi-million-dollar fund greenlights soil health projects
Eight projects to push soil health practices will get funding for the next five years
Eight soil health projects across Canada will be getting a multi-million-dollar boost in private funding over the next five years. The Weston Family Foundation — the philanthropic arm of the Weston business empire — has slated $10 million for those eight projects through the organization’s soil health initiative, it was announced Feb. 13. The initiative […] Read more
The premise and promise of biological crop inputs
What’s relevant and what’s not in this fledgling branch of agri-food
The search for alternatives to traditional agriculture inputs has greater urgency as commodities like fertilizer increase in price and decrease in availability. It’s not that nitrogen-use efficiency or the activity of mycorrhizal fungi was less of a concern years ago. But the list of products that can enhance soil health and potentially boost yield has […] Read more
How to grow better wheat
Participants in 2022 YEN competition share their strategies
There’s more than one way to grow high-yielding wheat, but focusing on soil health and measuring the impact of different practices are places to start. Those are two things that grain producers Norm Lamothe and Andy Timmerman of Cavan and Stratford, as well as Jeffery Krohn from Elkton, Michigan, say have helped improve their wheat […] Read more
Canada moves to develop sustainable agriculture strategy
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture will co-chair the committee
Glacier FarmMedia – Work has begun on a national strategy to position Canadian agriculture as a world leader in sustainability. Federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced Dec. 12 the launch of online consultations and an advisory committee to develop the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy. This was formerly referred to as the Green Agricultural Plan. The Canadian […] Read more
Quinlan Farms wins Essex conservation award
Award given for investments in soil and water health, production diversity
The Essex Soil and Crop Improvement Association (ESCIA) and Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) recently bestowed the 2022 Conservation Farm of the Year Award to Quinlan Farms, a mixed crop, poultry and sheep business in central Essex. Granted annually to a farm within Essex County that displays conservation-minded management practices, Quinlan Farms received the award […] Read more
Soil tech firms allow sensors to work together
Ceres Imaging and Soiltech Wireless say the recent agreement allows their technology to validate each other in the field
Glacier FarmMedia – Ceres Imaging and Soiltech Wireless have an agreement that enables the two systems to work together. Soiltech Wireless offers a cellular-based wireless sensor and Ceres Imaging uses in-field sensors, advanced analytics and high-resolution imagery to provide a macro-level look at crops. Ehsan Soltan of Soiltech Wireless said the company’s wireless sensor monitors […] Read more
Feds open up consultations for sustainable ag strategy
Producer groups to have reps on advisory committee
The federal government has enlisted farm groups on the ground floor of consultations toward development of a long-term strategy to “amplify” the adoption and use of sustainable practices in agriculture over the next year. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Dec. 12 announced the launch of public consultations on strategy development, running from now through March […] Read more
Farmers at the forefront of reducing GHG emissions
Sequestering carbon the best way to reduce emissions, according to new report
Adjustments to agriculture practices can play a significant role in attaining Canada’s lower carbon emissions commitment, according to a recently released report from Value Change Management International (VCMI). The report, entitled Low Carbon Food Production, suggests commercial benefits and opportunities are possible if businesses are willing to adapt to and profit from environmental initiatives. “Because […] Read more
Should soil organic matter be a factor in insurance premiums?
Research has found higher organic matter reduces drought impact
Glacier FarmMedia – Farmers may one day see lower crop insurance premiums if they have high levels of organic matter in their soil. A study by the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) found that farms with higher soil organic matter have better yields and lower crop insurance claims. In the region between Edmonton and Red Deer, AFSC […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
