There is such thing as too early to plant soybeans, as the crop does not fare well in cool conditions (one researcher likened it to the germinating seed having a "heart attack"). More commonly, however, we're worried about going in too late, as even the short season varieties are a tad on the long side... Read More
Category: Crop Production
Oftentimes after seeding is finished there is a push to move right into herbicide mode, but you should be getting into the habit of checking out plant stands as soon as possible. How a crop emerges and establishes tells the story of seeder settings, soil management or early insect pressure, so it is a great... Read More
As planting season winds down, the To-Do list of little fixes starts to grow. The good news is that a little extra care and attention paid to machinery and equipment now will help speed along the set up process next spring when we get to do this all over again. The planter is such an... Read More
Editor's note: This is Owen Roberts' Real Talk, Real Action column. Each week, Owen will offer his insight into how farmers and the agricultural industry can participate in the rural- and ag-related discussions going on around them. Contact Owen at owen@uoguelph.ca or on Twitter at @TheUrbanCowboy. So you’ve done your homework, tested your feed for... Read More
While winter wheat is a darn hardy crop — just 15 plants per sq. foot growing in the spring can reach a very respectable yield potential — there are times when crops just don't make it through. The southwest corner of Manitoba is reporting some winter wheat issues, and crop insurance adjusters are out evaluating... Read More
Darling Mother Nature can really be tricky at times. It's bad enough that nutrient deficiency symptoms can be subtle at best, but there are some symptoms that look like several different things. Group 2 drift injury of young plants, for example, can look very much like sulphur deficiency. Soil residual Group 2 injury may be... Read More
Rolling soybean fields at or just after planting can be most efficient, but planting conditions aren't always exactly rolling-friendly. The good news is there is still time to roll long after seeding, with one very specific no-go window. But first, do you have to roll? That's the question RealAgriculture.com put to Dennis Lange, farm production... Read More
We all know that pulling a roller behind the tractor in wet conditions is akin to rolling dough without flour, with one key difference: you likely never have to park your embarrassing, dough-covered rolling pin beside the highway for all to see. Conversely, in dry conditions, a roller can actually pulverize the soil, increasing the... Read More
The USDA reported this week that estimated corn planting progress has jumped from 28 to 71% in one week. Only two and half weeks ago, the market and farmers were slightly concerned about the snow falling in parts of the Northern Mid West. Even places like Minnesota which temporarily felt like the calendar had gone... Read More
In this riveting edition of Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down, Shaun Haney and Lyndsey Smith tackle hard-hitting news items, like the new CWB ad and whether or not it's funny and how PETA is apparently spying on ranchers, the only way they know how — with humour and sarcasm. In this segment, you'll find out why... Read More