Modern technologies open an exciting challenge for today’s farmers. Data is being collected across every acre for every operation. Using your data and committing to SMART goals now can result in increased profits. I wrote a couple of columns last year around this time about planning for last year’s crop. They involved preparing a cost […] Read more
Tag Archives Precisely Agronomy — page 2
Watch for crop damage when using residual controls
I am sometimes asked to look at cereal crops in the spring that have been seeded on fields treated with burn-off herbicides containing residual products such as florasulam and metsulfuron. These products are often added to a glyphosate product to improve control of dandelions, narrow-leafed hawk’s beard and wild buckwheat and provide up to three […] Read more
Many tools available to help with soil sampling for seeding
I have to apologize for the length of time between columns this year. I have had some health issues but am now on the road to recovery so hopefully you can expect more regular articles in the future. I have, over the years, written a number of pieces on the importance of soil testing. In […] Read more
How to evaluate frost damage on various crops
Temperatures dipped below -4 C at various weather station locations in Western Canada last week. We shouldn’t be surprised because the average first killing frost occurs in the second week of September for most of the Prairies. Many crops will have missed most of the damage, but some will still be in the susceptible stage. […] Read more
Factors to weigh when debating whether to bale straw
Every drought, livestock operators increase their interest in buying, or harvesting and feeding straw. For grain producers, collecting straw means an additional harvest from otherwise droughty crops. This brings up questions: What is the value of the straw? What nutrients are removed with the straw? Is all straw the same? Will baling and removing the […] Read more
Risks and benefits of early seeding
Crops can tolerate spring frost better than early fall frost. To offset the cold stress associated with early seeding, follow these best management practices:
Weather changes at this time of year make it difficult to predict when growers will be on the land. Growers are starting to seed as I write this in mid-April, and in the extreme south of Alberta, they have already wrapped up. I checked soil temperatures April 20 and found that they are already starting […] Read more
Don’t believe hype unless it’s backed by facts
I had never realized until this winter’s farm shows that there were so many ways to optimize, synergize, maximize, energize and revitalize my soil. Those seemed to be the buzz words at many of the booths I visited. However, I was also disturbed that the companies promoting these products were unable to show me data […] Read more
Is data the next disruptive force in the world food supply?
This is the first of a two-part column that deals with data use in agriculture. The second part will appear next week. Disruptive technology is a buzzword that is frequently thrown around in the high tech world these days. It is technology that helps create a new market and eventually disrupts an existing market, displacing […] Read more
Variable rate fungicide effective in some cases
Many growers have asked me lately about variable rate fungicide applications. They want to know how much it will save them compared to single rates of application. It has been an interesting topic because growers are trying to make the most from their input dollars. One of the key things that growers need to know […] Read more
