I fear phosphate is the nutrient that is most deficient on farms across the Canadian Prairies and the northern U.S. Great Plains. It doesn’t act like nitrogen, which shows visual deficiency symptoms across the field when missed. Instead, phosphate deficiencies are more subtle and usually not noticed. In fact, I have seen what I would […] Read more
Tag Archives Precisely Agronomy
Taking fertility back to the basics for better nutrition
This is the first of five columns that will look at building yield efficiently. I continue to get calls from farmers with questions regarding fertilizers. Some of them are what I consider basic questions that I assume most producers would know, but then we all know what assume will do. So I thought I would […] Read more
Rutting and compaction are gifts that keep on giving
The weather has finally made a turn for the better. That means there will be hundreds of combines heading to the fields over the next couple of weeks. Farmers are anxious to get the remaining crops in the bins, regardless of field conditions. This opens us up to a couple of soil conditions that may […] Read more
Flooded fields following heavy rain can take toll on crops
After a number of years of generally wet conditions across the Prairies, last year provided a break with a widespread drought. This spring continued with dryness across much of the region, but recently we have moved into a “more normal” weather pattern with most of the rain falling as a result of thunderstorms. These are […] Read more
Herbicides: Carrying on during and after a drought
Herbicide carryover should always be a concern following a dry year. Throughout my career, I have seen this issue reoccur after every drought. This makes me think that 2018 could see herbicide carryover issues raise their ugly heads again. In this column I will discuss why this issue is likely to show up and explain […] Read more
Technology gains may have saved many a crop last season
We often reflect on the previous year at this time of the year and give thanks for the bounties that we have received. This is magnified with those of you who receive their livelihoods from the land. We are so at the mercy of Mother Nature. This was very evident this past year. However, the […] Read more
Fertilizing in the fall; part 2
Last week we looked at the 4Rs of nutrient management as they relate to fall nitrogen. This article will focus on “the others,” or phosphorus, potassium and sulfur. With regards to “right time,” phosphate, potash and sulfur are quite a bit less complicated than nitrogen. The good news is all three products can be applied […] Read more
Remember the 4Rs of nitrogen fertilizing in the fall
Broadcast Manitoba Sask.
I am sure I will be getting a number of calls again this year about the fall application of fertilizers, so I thought it would be a good time to look at this through the four lenses that make up the 4Rs of nutrient management. Right time Is the fall the right time? The answer […] Read more
Managing fertility after a drought
We are all aware of the impact of drought on crop yields, but what is happening in the field goes far beyond faulty plants and can last for several years, even when precipitation returns to otherwise normal levels. Drought causes several soil processes to slow down or virtually stop. The two most pronounced effects of […] Read more
Oh, ruts: tread carefully over the fields when repairing
It is no secret that discussions around what to do with ruts dominated many coffee row discussions this winter. These ruts were produced by combines and grain carts operating in wet fields last October and November. Some of them are more than 60 centimetres deep. Managing ruts this spring is required but it needs to […] Read more
