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Tag Archives Soil

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 […] Read more

Opinion: Soil matters. Charting a path forward
Action is needed to preserve and improve soil health, but it must be strategic
The following is an excerpt from a statement made by the author to the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry (Status on Soil Health in Canada) meeting, Sept. 22. […] Read more

Soil moisture more critical than rainfall to estimate climate impact
Science Notes: Evaporation, infiltration and runoff can result in dramatic differences
You don’t need a PhD in agriculture to know that water is critical to crop production. But for years, people like Jonathan Proctor, who has a PhD in Agriculture and […] Read more

Making money through better soil and water management
Living Labs event features Kingsville-area farmer’s winning strategies
The heavy clay soils that characterize Henry Denotter’s farm can be hard to work with. But from a tillage perspective at least, he doesn’t have to work them too often. […] Read more

A new test for nitrogen on the horizon
New test being developed aims to better identify plant-available nitrogen
Research completed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and University of Guelph researchers indicates that Ontario corn producers may soon have a more reliable tool for nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate […] Read more

Soil freeze and thaw spike nitrous oxide emissions
Science Notes: Computer simulation aims to determine hotspots
Nitrous oxide (N2O) may be much less abundant in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO2), but it is 300 times more potent. University of Illinois and University of Minnesota have […] Read more

Calculating soil health returns
Greenbelt report highlights costs and returns of soil-supporting management practices
Short term costs for long term gains – that’s what a Greenbelt Foundation report says farmers need to consider when it comes to building soil health. Released in early 2022, […] Read more

Strip till a matter of helping the soil and lowering costs
Adoption rate is slow, but tools are available for growers to learn more
Twenty years ago, growers were less likely to adopt strip till on their farms, primarily because the practice lacked an immediate payback with higher yields. It didn’t help that early […] 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 […] 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, […] Read more