Drought conditions, and the odds of more to come, have some Prairie canola growers pondering when to roll the dice on seeding, if they want to do more than feed the flea beetles. Small-seeded crops, such as canola, have garnered particular concern from agronomists and producers worried about germination, given power dry topsoil across much […] Read more
Forecast, flea beetles complicate canola timing
Dry conditions make ideal seeding time difficult to peg
New at-home learning program for 4-H’ers
Reading Time: < 1 minute 4-H Canada’s newest at-home learning initiative, Dig Into Soil, gives youth the opportunity to explore the relationship between sustainable agricultural practices, soil conservation, food security and climate change, and consider the impact their own choices can have. An all-new activity kit, available online, gives 4-H’ers fun, hands-on ways to learn about the importance of healthy […] Read more
Degelman to make heavy harrows for Deere
Regina company reaches OEM agreement for new line
Major U.S. farm equipment manufacturer John Deere Co. has launched a new line of heavy harrows — and is going to Saskatchewan to get them. Regina equipment maker Degelman Industries announced Tuesday it has reached an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) agreement to provide Deere with a line of three heavy harrow models, the HH50, HH70 […] Read more
Soil scientists turned children’s authors win acclaim
Reading Time: 3 minutes Benjamin Ellert and Katelyn Lutes know a lot about soil, but knew nothing about writing children’s books. Until they wrote one. And now the two federal soil scientists can add ‘prize-winning children’s author’ to their resumés. The duo from Ag Canada’s Lethbridge research station recently won second prize in an international book contest run by […] Read more
Improving soil is a long process involving lots of trial and error
Soil health principles are well known but putting them into practice takes time and patience
Reading Time: 4 minutes Everyone is in favour of improving soil health and there are a lot of recommended practices for doing that. But it’s when the rubber meets the road that things get complicated — and change takes time and patience. That was a major theme of Alberta producer Andy Kirschenman’s virtual presentation at the recent Farm Forum […] Read more
Half the province on the dry side heading into winter
It’s a long time until spring, but soil moisture reserves are sharply lower compared to a year ago
Reading Time: < 1 minute Much of the province’s farmland is dry, according to the latest soil moisture update from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “Soil moisture reserves at freeze-up are highly variable across the province with about 50 per cent of the agricultural areas estimated to have below-average reserves at fall freeze-up,” said the Nov. 8 report. “Large areas that […] Read more
Soil testing should be a cornerstone of your farm, says agronomist
Develop management zones, consider mobile nutrients, and don’t neglect phosphorus, says Matt Gosling
Reading Time: 4 minutes When you talk to Matt Gosling about soil — even if it’s over the phone — you can picture his eyes getting wider as his voice becomes more animated. He considers soil the cornerstone of crop agriculture: A living organism that is constantly shifting, changing and moving. By that logic, then, soil testing must be […] Read more
Everyone wants healthy soil… even if they can’t define it
Different farms have different needs, but all fall under the five principles for improving soil health
Reading Time: 2 minutes Soil health has been defined as “the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living system, within ecosystem and land-use boundaries, to sustain biological productivity, maintain the quality of air and water environments, and promote plant, animal, and human health.” The challenge with this poetic definition is that, while it does describe the functional abilities […] Read more
Soil health is a whole meal deal, says researcher
The properties of healthy soils are interlinked and good management addresses all of them, says Gurbir Dhillon
Reading Time: 2 minutes Your soil is a little like a supply chain — an interconnected series of chemical, physical, and biological interactions that help make your lands productive and your crops profitable. But just one weak link in that chain can cause problems on your farm. “Soil is irreplaceable, so it has to be sustainable,” said Gurbir Dhillon, […] Read more
‘Report card’ aims to raise awareness of soil health
Handing out marks on topics such as organic matter and cover cropping is meant to raise awareness
Reading Time: 2 minutes Farmers in Western Canada received good marks for increasing organic matter in their soil but a grade of D when it comes to cover cropping. The Soil Conservation Council of Canada released its first national soil health report card this spring — the first attempt to evaluate the state of Canada’s soil since the 1980s. The grades […] Read more
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