The Agronomists

Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops seeded at the same time (in one pass or two) that are then also harvested at the same time. The seeds are separated post-harvest, and the yield can, at times, out yield what each crop would have yielded on its own. But not all crops... Read More

There’s no data better suited to a farm than data derived FROM that farm. Designing and executing an on-farm field trial can be incredibly valuable for informing changes in production practices, but it’s key that the trial be designed to deliver solid data. To tackle what it takes to get the most out of on-farm... Read More

Soybean cyst nematode is a tiny but very destructive pest of soybean. It’s so damaging, that its presence can cause up to 25 per cent yield loss before symptoms are visible. Once SCN is in a field, it won’t ever go away — for Manitoba and points west, there’s still a chance to keep this... Read More

Wheat is a crop that sets yield potential very early in the season, so it’s imperative that the crop get off to the best start possible. Once plant stands and tillers are off to the races, splitting nitrogen can manage risk and help reach full yield potential. What’s more, late N can also bump protein... Read More

When it comes to phosphorus, having early availability close to the seed is of utmost importance to support early seedling development. Too much phosphorus too close can also cause seedling toxicity and death. What’s the right amount for starter fertilizer? There’s no one right answer, but there are several considerations for phosphorus management at seeding,... Read Mo

Nitrogen fertilizer can be lost through volatilization, leaching, or denitrification depending on conditions. Farmers can adapt application practices and timing to minimize loss, and they can choose to have nitrogen fertilizer treated with an enhanced efficiency product. For a discussion on losses, loss management, and what product to use and when, this episode of The... Read More

Clubroot is a persistent, destructive, soil-borne disease of canola that lurks in soil waiting to be carried by equipment, boots, wheels, or even wind to a new field. First found in an Alberta canola field over 20 years ago, clubroot is now found in each of the Prairie Provinces and some of the northern American... Read More

There are aspects of soil that are unchangeable — the amount of sand, silt, and clay, for example. But many other measures of soil can be nudged, either to the good or bad, when it comes to soil productivity and health. Organic matter, porosity, and bulk density are all changeable, but how do they impact... Read More

Soybean prices aren’t the shiny prize they were a year or so ago, and that has plenty of farmers sharpening the pencil on cropping plans. If input dollars are scarce (and they always are), where do you spend and where to do you save? For that conversation, when it comes to the most important pass,... Read More

Orange wheat blossom midge — or simply, the wheat midge — devastated spring wheat yields in the ’90s. Since then, wheat breeders have been working hard to build protection into wheat varieties. To help with tips to scout for the pest, why spraying is a limited option, how Field Heroes help, and what’s new in... Read More