Inputs - by Top Crop Manager

Feb 04 2025 107 ep. 23 mins 10
Inputs - by Top Crop Manager Podcast artwork

Canada's national source for leading agronomic research, crop production and technology trends.

  Business  Science
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Making the most of nitrogen

Feb 04 2025 30 mins  
Nitrogen use efficiency is an index of how well a plant is putting its nitrogen to use for higher yields. Knowing how to improve management practices surrounding nitrogen is a win for your crop and the environment. In this episode of Inputs, Dr. Kate Congreves, associate professor in the Department of Plant Sciences and Jarislowsky research chair, discussed her latest research

Expert insights on soybean weed management

Jan 20 2025 19 mins  
Soybean weed management in soybean is field-specific, and programs must be adjusted based on what's happening in each individual field. But, decades of research and trials across Ontario have shown promise in controlling different weed species and protecting soybean yields. In this episode of Inputs, Peter Sikkema, professor in weed management for field crops at University of Guelp

A look at lupins in Canada

Jan 02 2025 33 mins  
With a high protein content, lupins offer an alternative to soybeans and have grown in popularity in Europe. Researchers continue to investigate their potential across the Canadian Prairies.In this episode of Inputs, Robyne Davidson, pulse and special crops research scientist at Lakeland College in Alberta, shares her latest research focus surrounding lupins, the main challenges wi

The future of AI on the farm

Nov 14 2024 42 mins  
This marks the 100th episode of Inputs. To celebrate this milestone, we invited a special guest to join us and share his insight on a topic that’s on everyone’s mind lately: AI in agriculture. As in every other industry, AI is taking off rapidly - and agriculture is no exception. Darrell Petras, CEO of the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) expl

Suppressing Fusarium rot with cover crops?

Nov 05 2024 19 mins  
Much has been made of cover crops and their benefits over the past several years, and for good reason. While no cover crop is a quick fix or solution to all a field's problems, when treated like specialist tools and used with defined goals in mind, they can do many things, including busting up compacted soils, boosting soil organic matter, keeping weeds down – and suppressing dis

Strong start for Ontario's 2024 cereal crops

Apr 16 2024 16 mins  
Winter cereals see all four seasons in Ontario, which means a wide variety of environmental conditions can affect their growth and yield. What can growers expect after a cooler fall for planting in parts of the province and an unusually warm winter? Do typical considerations like nitrogen and sulphur application timings and pest management strategies changed in a year like this one

Maintaining healthy growing conditions during drought

Apr 02 2024 11 mins  
In March, during the first installment of our two-part series on managing drought, we chatted about what growers need to be doing right now to ensure their soil and crops have the best opportunity to thrive this coming summer.In this episode of Inputs, we expand on this topic, tapping into some of the measures farmers need to take over the course of the growing season to maintain h

Preparing now for potential drought

Mar 19 2024 16 mins  
After a winter with below-average snowfall levels, farmers in Alberta and across the Prairies need to plan now for what could be a dry growing season. In this episode of Inputs, we are joined by agronomist extension specialist Ruoxi Xia, who works with Alberta Grains. Xia shares her insights and some tips on how growers can prepare for potential drought conditions, including what m

Making cybersecurity part of your farm management plan

Mar 05 2024 20 mins  
With more and more digital agricultural tools on the farm – whether guiding or driving the tractor, tracking finances or prices, or optimizing conditions in a barn – cybersecurity management should be on your radar, no matter the size of your operation. Just like you would manage any new pest, you should add cybersecurity to your toolbox.Janos Botschner, lead investigator of cy

Making the most of your nutrients

Feb 06 2024 12 mins  
The start of the 2024 growing season is coming fast – do you have a plan for spring nutrient management?In this episode of Inputs, Chris Brown, field crop sustainability specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), discusses considerations for successful spring manure application, as well as best management practices and an alternate nutri