The Limits of Base Saturation in Making Nutrient Recommendations
Every few years it seems base saturation rises as a winter topic as a means of making fertilizer recommendations. While base saturation has been used to determine whether a soil should be limed or not, it’s not a soil testing index, nor should be accepted broadly as an indicator for nutrient fertility. Developed for low […]
Read MoreEarly Planted Soybeans – The Debate
I have been truly amazed by how agribusiness has transitioned to hosting grower seminars and other and on-learning opportunities this winter. One excellent recent webinar I was able to join was by Maizex Seeds featuring two leading Ontario agronomists, Paul Sullivan, Sullivan Ag, and Horst Bohner, OMAFRA Soybean specialists, debating early planting of soybeans, with […]
Read MoreMaking the Most of On-Farm Trials
GPS-enabled equipment has greatly simplified the logistics for conducting on-farm trials. Farmers often rely on local agronomists to help in setting up, monitoring, harvesting, and analyzing results. They form the basis for some great discussions at winter meetings. Plots take time, and they must be set up correctly to produce meaningful results. Replication of treatments […]
Read MoreSoil Testing – Lots of Growth Opportunities
While I’m a big supporter of precision Ag as a means to collecting data for better decision making, I was reminded recently we can’t lose sight of the fundamentals like soil testing, as boring as this may sound to growers. A 2015 Olds College survey by students highlighted the need to keep soil testing front […]
Read MoreEarly Planted Soybeans – The Debate
I have been truly amazed by how agribusiness has transitioned to hosting grower seminars and other and on-learning opportunities this winter. One excellent recent webinar I was able to join was by Maizex Seeds featuring two leading Ontario agronomists, Paul Sullivan, Sullivan Ag, and Horst Bohner, OMAFRA Soybean specialists, debating early planting of soybeans, with […]
Read MoreThe Power of Soil Testing
The Power of Soil Testing Today’s high crop yields are demanding more from our soils than ever before. Modern genetics and improved crop management through practices like 4R are driving better nutrient use efficiency and returns. However, with big yields comes bigger crop removals, and basing 2021 crop needs on historical averages may not be […]
Read MoreCrop Rotations – Long term Fertility Plans
Organic Crop Rotations require Long term Fertility Plans Organic cropping systems are designed with the goal of maintaining nutrients in organic matter reservoirs and in bioavailable forms over the cropping cycle through a holistic approach. Organic growers starting out or newer agronomic advisors can gain a better understanding of fertility planning and understanding of how […]
Read MorePractical Measures of Soil Health
Practical Measures of Soil Health, How Can Crop Advisors Use the Data? Soil health is the foundation of any farm. Physical, biological and chemical soil properties all interact in influencing soil health, so measuring soil health is never related to a single measure. There’s a rapidly growing list of tests that many soil test labs […]
Read MoreHigher Yields Driving Nutrient Removal
Higher Yields Driving Nutrient Removal Budgets Since 1990, canola yields have increased by 1.38 bu./ac./yr., corn yields by 1.8 bu./ac/yr. and soybeans by more than 0.45 bu./ac./yr. Producers in southern Alberta are reporting their highest canola average yields, as are Ontario soybean growers. Agronomists and the International Plant Institute (IPNI) have warned about seeing a […]
Read MorePrecision Sampling Services
Promoting Your Precision Sampling Services Quality crop fertility recommendations start in the field with collecting quality soil samples. Getting customers to value your precision soil sampling service can be a challenge in a world when ‘quick and cheap’ drives ‘value’. Crop input manufacturers educate & demonstrate the value of a new technology through field trials. The […]
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