CNS Canada — A shortfall in production seems to have made granular ammonium sulphate, the prime fertilizer used by canola growers in Western Canada, relatively scarce just weeks away from seeding. “Last year (it was) $470 a tonne, now it’s $525 a tonne; if you can get it. Those were the words from my supplier,” […] Read more
Ammonium sulphate seen tougher to find, afford
Fungicide application offers best bang for your buck — in the right conditions
Expert says fungicides paid off big for wheat in wet conditions, but plant growth regulators and extra nitrogen weren’t worth the cost
Reading Time: 3 minutes You know the old saying: In order to make money, you’ve got to spend money. But spend it wisely, says an Alberta Agriculture research scientist. “There’s a lot of different agronomic practices out there that you can spend money on — but which ones are going to make you money?” Sheri Strydhorst asked attendees at […] Read more
The recipe has to be just right when fertilizing your crops
Phosphorus and potassium work well when placed in the seed row — but nitrogen and sulphur are mobile
Reading Time: 3 minutes Nitrogen may be the first thing producers think of when they want to bump up their yield — but don’t neglect the other nutrients. “In order to get the maximum benefit out of all of our fertilizer nutrients, we need to have a balanced supply,” said University of Saskatchewan soil scientist Jeff Schoenau, who drew […] Read more
Fertilizer prices stray away from corn influence: Analyst
CNS Canada — Foreign exports and transportation look like they could be the main issues facing the fertilizer industry in 2015. Countries such as Ukraine, Russia and Belarus are busy players on the market, with Morocco also ramping up production. As a result, more supplies of phosphates and other fertilizers are out there, according to […] Read more
Fertilizer warning: Don’t pay $12 an acre for ‘foo-foo dust’
Buyer beware, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency no longer tests fertilizers for efficacy and quality
Reading Time: 3 minutes A“streamlining” of federal oversight of fertilizers has opened the door to deceptive marketing claims and forced product testing on to farmers. “There have always been con men trying to sell you things with dubious claims. It’s just maybe easier for them now,” said Harry Brook, a crop specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “All […] Read more
Fertilizer — prepare for worst-case scenario
Post-seeding application is one option, while healthy seed and timely spraying can boost crop prospects
Reading Time: 3 minutes Prepare for the worst-case scenario, then things may not be as bad as you think.” That’s Ray Dowbenko’s advice for dealing with the tight fertilizer situation. The senior agronomist with Agrium thinks there may be shortages this spring, but not everywhere. “A lot will depend on your relationship with your retailer and your retailer’s relationships […] Read more
Water management beats precision fertilizing on irrigated land
Higher organic matter gives crops a big nitrogen boost and so it’s better to focus on water management, study finds
Reading Time: 3 minutes It seems fertilizer prescriptions matched to the needs of various areas of a field doesn’t give much of a return under irrigation. That’s the conclusion of an Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development study of responses to applying fertilizer according to the needs of the field’s soil zones. The project included dryland and irrigated fields with […] Read more
Production shortfalls and transportation woes could result in nitrogen shortage
Experts say there’s still time to close the supply gap, but farmers should be talking to their suppliers about booking their orders
Reading Time: 3 minutes Concern is mounting as transportation and production issues point to a serious shortage of nitrogen supplies this spring. “If it was April, I would be panicking,” said Brian Kenyon, director of sales and marketing with Yara Canada. However, even though nitrogen shipments to Western Canada are down by an estimated 750,000 to one million tonnes […] Read more
Agronomist says too many producers are playing ‘farm Vegas’ with inputs
Norm Flore says there’s a place for many specialty inputs but they can add to costs without generating much of a return
Reading Time: 2 minutes Producers have better odds playing the slots in Vegas than they do playing “farm Vegas” with their inputs, says agronomist Norm Flore. “Not all inputs are having the same likelihood of a return,” Flore, manager of agronomic services for Crop Production Services Canada, said in his FarmTech presentation. “At the end of the day, it’s […] Read more
In one end and out the other — feeding your horse without hurting your land
Horse owners can reduce their environmental impact — and save a bit of money — by adopting some easy feeding strategies for their horses
Reading Time: 3 minutes Some horse owners may pooh-pooh environmentally friendly feeding practices, but the risk that “road apples” pose to ground- and surface water is real, said an equine researcher from the University of Florida. “You know that what you feed in the one end will eventually come out in the back end,” Lori Warren said at the […] Read more
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