Kevin Auch’s dedication to soil conservation in southern Alberta was recognized recently with the Orville Yanke Achievement Award, presented at the Farming Smarter Conference and Trade Show in Lethbridge.
Tag Archives Soil — page 2
Farmer’s dedication to soil health recognized
Award continues Yanke conservation legacy
Regenerative agriculture called a ‘mind shift’
More producers have been adopting the practice, but economic and practical barriers remain for large-scale farms
Regenerative agriculture is the future, and it starts with a shift in how we think, says soil scientist and conservationist Ray Archuleta.
Gardeners offer soil health lessons for farmers
Can large scale farmers learn about soil management practices from urban gardeners? Kate Congreves, a University of Saskatchewan researcher who specializes in regenerative cropping systems, thinks so. “We do all this work on our large-scale field cropping systems, but I think our gardens can also tell us something about soil health and we maybe think […] Read more
Soil health focus can avoid salinity
Glacier FarmMedia – An alternative approach to soil testing could help farmers combat high soil salinity. “Soil is alive,” said Blaine Hjertaas, one of the speakers during a late 2024 soil health workshop hosted by the Assiniboine West Watershed District, with support from the ALUS Growing Roots program. Hjertaas was joined by Michael Thiele, a […] Read more
The winter freeze-up slows but doesn’t stop nitrogen losses
New research shows there are nitrogen transformations ongoing through the winter even with late applications
Glacier FarmMedia – There’s a common assumption that when winter grips the Prairies, there’s no activity in the soil. As a result, urea or ammonium-based fertilizers applied in late fall aren’t thought to emit nitrogen during winter. Reynald Lemke, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, flipped this idea on its head this year, […] Read more
Farmers encouraged to keep Senate soil study prominent
Senator Rob Black says committee will seek more details on government’s response to Critical Ground in the new year
REGINA — The senator who led the Canadian soils study says farmers have to hold the government’s feet to the fire if they want the recommendations implemented. Rob Black told a recent Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan meeting that the Senate’s agriculture committee was “less than happy” with some of the government’s response, which offered […] Read more
More than just dirt: soil takes proper spotlight
There was a time when farmers and others in the agriculture industry didn’t give soil much thought. It was often taken for granted, even though the food we produce is literally grown in the ground beneath our feet. Many who have reported on agriculture over the decades can remember when talking about farming meant talking […] Read more
VIDEO: World Soil Day celebrates critical resource
This year's theme highlights the need to measure and monitor for sustainable management
Glacier FarmMedia – December 5 marks World Soil Day, a day set aside by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to celebrate this critical resource and raise awareness of the challenges of protecting it. This year’s theme, “Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage,” underscores the importance of accurate soil data and information in understanding […] Read more
Reduce compaction with crop and path planning
Soil compaction can be a persistent challenge for farmers and, much like salinity, it starts with moisture. “When the soil is dry — we have a nice, dry fall and are doing harvest — we’re not really causing a lot of issues,” said Marla Riekman, a soil management specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. “It’s when we […] Read more
Senate soil study highlights need for research
In their Critical Ground report, senators call for the protection of soil and its designation as a national resource
Glacier FarmMedia – Under a blazing sun, Senator Rob Black shared insights from the recently released soil study entitled “Critical Ground.” “Soil is critical and essential to life; we must do all we can to preserve it,” Black stated. The senator spoke metres away from the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association’s soil pit, which […] Read more
