The Agronomists: Recent Episodes
RealAgriculture
There are several things that producers and agronomists can do to set a crop up for the best pollination possible, but there is one major factor that no one can control: the weather. In this episode of The Agronomists, not two but three guests join host Lyndsey Smith for a discussion on what can go... Read More
Straight-cutting canola without losing significant yield thanks to pod-shatter resistance traits means that farmers have a full range of options when managing canola harvest. The decision on swathing or not isn’t always an easy one, but many farmers use swathing as a harvest timing management tool. But when is the right time? What happens if... Read More
Is a healthy soil about what it has, or is, or does, or doesn’t do? There are three ways to assess soil: through its physical, chemical, and biological components. But is a healthy soil one that produces the highest yield? Or is it the one with the highest biological activity? What about organic matter, trafficability,... Read More
No ruts, no worries, right? Not so, at least not when it comes to deep compaction impacts. Air pockets and macropores in soil structure help move water down the soil profile, and where water goes, so do the nutrients. Compacted soils restrict root growth, oxygen, and nutrient and water movement, ultimately restricting yield potential. What’s... Read More
Finding a good day to spray isn’t just about wind speed or direction — temperature and relative humidity matter, too. This growing season has thrown some super challenging conditions at growers and spray operators, as hot and humid weather, excessive rain, and early growth have thrown several wrenches in the best laid plans. For this... Read More
Grasshoppers devastated many fields last year over large parts of the Prairies. Of the over 80 species of grasshoppers found on the Prairies, only four are pests — but in sufficient numbers they are a huge concern. After several years of building populations, the pest is still likely to be an issue this year but... Read More
A skilled agronomist is as much a detective as they are an agronomy expert. Recognizing signs and symptoms, asking the right background questions, and looking at a problem from all angles helps an agronomist sort out what’s going on when things go awry. For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by... Read More
In an ideal growing season, corn goes in to fit soil, with a strong starter fertilizer package, and a plan for a top-dress pass. In reality, the ’24 season in Ontario has started out as anything but ideal. A very early warm up has led to well advanced weeds, smeared in corn, and excessive water,... Read More
Sclerotinia is one of the most challenging diseases for growers to manage in canola, and in soybeans, where it appears in the form of white mould. In both crops, field history and moisture are two key drivers of the disease. Hit play and watch/listen to this episode on sclerotinia and white mould featuring Chris Manchur... Read More
A plant growth regulator (PGR) can play a key role in helping growers manage the impact of lodging in spring and winter wheat crops. But growers have plenty of management decisions to consider to effectively use a PGR to reduce lodging, increase harvestability and protect and increase grain yield. Reducing lodging starts with selecting a... Read More
Even a small field has variability from one end to the next. With more variability or larger fields comes the opportunity to vary input levels to better match the yield potential of each unique part of the field. Deciding on how many zones to split a field into and what the deciding factor for each... Read More
Legumes, such as alfalfa, trefoil, and sainfoin, are a great feed source, are excellent for soil health and play a role in sequestering carbon in the soil. According to emerging research by Dr. Bart Lardner, legumes in the bovine diet also lowers methane emissions, one of the components being measured in an on-going research project... Read More
A non-winter for much of Ontario and a milder-than-average early spring for parts of Western Canada has got farmers and entomologists on high alert. Parts of Ontario are as much as two or three weeks ahead of the 10-year average for growing degree accumulation, and because insect development is driven by heat, those first crops... Read More
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 More
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
For years, even decades, one crop’s boost in productivity because of following a different crop was put down as the “rotation effect.” As we begin to unravel what the rotation effect actually is, it’s clear that rooting depth and type, root exudates, and microbial population shifts all play a role in contributing to the bigger... Read More
Biological products, such as inoculants for pulses and soybeans, have been around a very long time, but the ever-expanding world of biological products now means that growers have options for hundreds of products that are supposed to do everything from stimulating root growth, to helping plants recover from hail, to fixing nitrogen. To help evaluate... Read More
Cover crops are not magic. It’s important to first understand the goal of using a cover crop and then measuring up each species and season to see if it’s a match. Farmers from east to west are using cover crops to accomplish several things: reducing erosion, cycling nutrients, fixing nitrogen, and fighting weeds, but that... Read More
Canola is an elastic, amazingly resilient plant, but it starts as a very tiny seed and emerges under threat of certain death by very hungry flea beetles. Setting up this crop for great yield is the typical combination of establishment, nutrition, and crop protection, but in this episode of The Agronomists, we dig in to... Read More
What drives maximum corn yield? We kick off a new season of The Agronomists talking about the king of them all — corn. To tackle the topics of hybrid selection, the planting pass, disease considerations, and fertility, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Paul Sullivan of Sullivan Agro, Mark Foster of Jockbrae Farms, and Nicole... Read More
It’s time to wrap up this season of The Agronomists, tackling the top agronomy lessons of the year. From extreme dryness in parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan, to a mixed season in Manitoba, and a dry-to-very-wet season in Ontario, we’ve got three agronomists to unpack the worst and the wins of 2023. For this episode... Read More
Dealing with herbicide resistant weeds or trying to control weeds without access to certain herbicides really equates to the same thing — finding alternative means to control weeds. For attendees at Agritechnica, that meant a focus on iron, from inter-row and around the plant cultivation, to precision tillage, but also into the spot-spray realm. To... Read More
The topic of tile drainage can get a little controversial — moving water has always been. When digging in to the ins and outs of tile drainage, however, it’s clear that at least some of the sticking points are based on myths. To get the real talk on tile, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by... Read More
Once nitrogen fertilizer lands on or in soil it may be at risk of loss — through leaching, volatilization, or denitrification. Management choices can minimize losses, through split-application, deep banding, or choice of product, but adding an enhanced efficiency fertilizer product can guard against loss, too. How the products work, when to use which, and... Read More
Small variances add up when it comes to data — a few percentage point difference could mean choosing the wrong variety or leaving huge bushels on the table. But what makes for strong data and why does it matter so much? From trial designs and reps, to site selection, and the importance of calibrating equipment,... Read More
Like the Christmas decorations coming out at Costco, it feels like the variety and hybrid line-up decision keeps moving earlier and earlier each year. For some farmers, early decisions are vital in order to secure the exact variety, treatment, and trait package, but that decision is sometimes made before the current-year’s data is compiled. To... Read More
Every fall, farmers race against Mother Nature to bring in the harvest; nearly as often equipment sizes increase, putting significant pressure on soil and causing compaction. To navigate the risk of compaction at harvest — and at planting! — this episode of The Agronomists features Nick Dubuc, farmer and ag engineer, and Marla Riekman of... Read More
It pays to spray — but does it pay to spot spray? On this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Tom Wolf of AgriMetrix and Sprayers 101, and Saskatchewan farmer Carl deConinck Smith for a discussion on spot spraying — where it fits best, when in the year, and how to... Read More
On this episode of The Agronomists, two entomologists and a real-live insect join voice-less host Lyndsey Smith to cover so many of the pest problems that popped up on the Prairies this growing season. James Tansey, of Saskatchewan Agriculture, and Tyler Wist, of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, cover the grasshopper lifecycle and threats for ’24,... Read More
UAVs, or drones, have evolved past aerial imagery and are quickly becoming a useful tool in the early fly-on of seed into standing crops. This is pretty new territory for many, so to unpack what to consider and how successful a drone can be as a seeder, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Reuben Stone... Read More
Fall soil sampling is an integral part of planning nutrient application rates for the following crop. Knowing where to sample, how early is too early and why, and what to do about results is the topic of this episode of The Agronomists! Focusing on fall sampling of phosphorus and nitrogen, host Lyndsey Smith is joined... Read More
Pre-harvest is an excellent time to scout soybean and canola for various disease levels and to assess how the season has gone. There’s also plenty to be learned at harvest and even after harvest, depending on what you’re looking for. To tackle the stories stems tell and what to do about it, host Lyndsey Smith... Read More
Weed control for the following season really starts in the fall, and, at times, even before harvest starts. Targeting certain weeds in the fall can mean achieving excellent control for the year ahead. To tackle fall weed tips, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Patty Soloducha, of ADAMA Canada, Rob Miller, with BASF on this... Read More
And just like that, we’re onto the last episode of The Agronomists for the month of August. Time flies when we’re having fun, hopefully you all are, too! For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Brunel Sabourin of Antara Agronomy, and Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson of RealAgriculture, to discuss when... Read More
Sharing is caring, except for when it comes to crop diseases. Many of the diseases that impact corn have in fact been shared through spores in the wind at some point, but most have become endemic to the corn producing regions of Canada. For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by... Read More
It’s that time of the week — time to catch up on the latest and greatest in agronomy. Host Lyndsey Smith looks forward to this topic every year, as she gets to talk forages! For this episode of The Agronomists, Smith is joined by Dan Undersander, professor emeritus from the University of Wisconsin, and Christine... Read More
Insect problems often come in cycles, waves, and even by stiff breezes. Knowing which pests are carried in, purposefully march in, or overwinter is key to determining when in the year to begin scouting and where to look. From sticky traps to sweep nets, the insect population in any crop is staggering. But not all... Read More
Sclerotinia is predictably unpredictable. Always lurking but not always a problem, so making the call to protect canola flowers can be a tough one in dry years. To talk sclerotinia (also known as white mould of soybean and dry beans) prevention and management, special guest host Kelvin Heppner is joined by Jeanette Gaultier of BASF,... Read More
Zappers, seed grinders, and robots, oh my! What’s the latest in weed control technology? For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Chuck Baresich, of Haggerty AgRobotics, and Kim Brown Livingston, of Manitoba Agriculture, to discuss the trouble with problem weeds and the new (old?) ways to deal with them. From... Read More
Volunteer corn or canola aren’t just a plant out of place — both can eat yield and quality, depending on the following crop,. Managing volunteers benefits from several layers of cultural practices, such as harvest settings and row spacing, and a well thought-out herbicide strategy. To delve into the challenge of volunteers, this episode of... Read More
Dealing with emergence emergencies in the corn and soybean crop? This episode of The Agronomists may pique your interest. Host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Bob Thirlwall, of Bayer CropScience, and Johanna Lindeboom of Clark Agri-Service, to dig in to crusting issues, cold injury symptoms, side-wall issues, and planting depth problems. This episode of the... Read More
Determining rust risk, telling tan spot from septoria, and identifying a bacterial infection are all key to keeping the cereal crop’s solar panels (leaves!) clean and in top form. For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by plant pathologists Holly Derksen, with UPL, and Dr. Kelly Turkington, with Agriculture and Agri-Food... Read More
It’s corn! And it’s time to discuss in-crop nitrogen management of corn on this episode of the The Agronomists. Host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Jason DeBruin, of Corteva AgriScience, based at Iowa, and Peter Johnson, of RealAgriculture, to discuss nitrogen management, minimizing loss, when the crop needs the N. They cover when N needs... Read More
It’s time to talk fusarium control — by zeroing in on an upright, narrow target. Achieving excellent coverage of a wheat head is a huge challenge, so to talk about better control and spray technology, this episode of the Agronomists brings together Dr. Dave Hooker, with the University of Guelph-Ridgetown, and Dr. Tom Wolf of... Read More
Tonight’s episode of The Agronomists is dedicated to those rotten… you guessed it… root rots. Identification, rotation impacts, scouting tips, and likely culprits for canola, corn, and soybeans — host Lyndsey Smith covers it all. Joining her is Clint Jurke, of the Canola Council of Canada, and Alison Robertson, of Iowa State University. This episode... Read More
When it comes to soybean fertility, there are many different pieces of the puzzle we could look at. Tonight’s episode of The Agronomists focuses particularly on P and K management. Do starter and pop-up fertilizers make a significant impact on soybean performance compared to just broadcasting the crops’ nutrient needs? When do we soil test... Read More
Early season weed control, tank mix tips, troublesome weeds, and a whole lot more are the focus on this episode of The Agronomists. Host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Mike Cowbrough of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), and Tammy Jones, of Corteva Agriscience. This episode of the Agronomists is brought... Read More
Residue management, seeing rates, dates, other establishment factors in the early season, and a whole lot more are the focus on this episode of The Agronomists. Host Lyndsey Smith is joined by certified wheat gurus Phil Needham, of Needham Ag Technologies, and Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson, RealAgriculture’s resident agronomist. The focus for this episode is... Read More
Because biological crop products are neither fertilizer nor pesticide, there’s no requirement for efficacy proof before a product is released for commercial sales. So long as it doesn’t cause harm to the crop or pose an environmental risk, these biostimulants, stress supporters, and nutrient enhancers are largely sold on a buyer beware market. But that’s... Read More
There are several pest species of aphids that attack crops in Canada. Some species are very host-specific, such as the soybean aphid, but others can be found on several plant hosts. Aphids are known to be able to build numbers incredibly rapidly and so require careful scouting during the growing season. To unpack what we... Read More
Before we head into the field, there’s plenty of things to consider, however, once we do finally get in the field (which, for many across Canada seems to be a ways away, yet), that planting pass is crucial. Tonight’s focus is on corn — and getting that crop established to the best of our abilities.... Read More
Canola seeds are tiny but mighty. They can also be fraught with mighty problems — from high seed mortality, to early insect pressure, heat blast, disease struggles, and more. And yet, somehow this yellow crop overcomes all of that and delivers on yield. How can we set the crop up for success, despite the pressures?... Read More
There are two key messages from this episode of The Agronomists: avoiding compaction and minimizing topsoil movement is well worth the planning and effort, because the alternative results in significant yield loss and is expensive to fix. To dig in (!) to the topic, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by guests Dr. Jeff Schoenau, from... Read More
A Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) isn’t a yield contest, per se, instead it’s a field-scale learning experience for growers looking to take yield to the next level. In Ontario, the Great Lakes YEN is entering its third year, and has attracted more growers each year. Farmers who participate in the network also tend to sign... Read More
The end goal of using cover crops varies from farm to farm, but if using cover crops, there’s always one thing to consider: how and when to terminate the crop for maximum benefit and minimum headache. To tackle the topic of spring management and termination of cover crops, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Ontario... Read More
Nitrogen can’t have all the fun — sometimes we need to bring in the lesser-knowns of the NPKS party. For this episode of The Agronomists, we dive in to the world of sulphur: why crops need it, why farmers have to add it, and how to diagnose and correct a deficiency. Our experts are Colin... Read More
Canola has the toughest start of any crop in Western Canada, if only because it’s the preferred food of striped and crucifer flea beetles that lie in wait for the first sign of green each spring. Flea beetle pressure has become so heavy that seed treatments and a foliar spray can, at times, not be... Read More
If soybeans need a cozy warm seedbed to get rolling, tillage is a must, right? Well, no and no. Emerging research suggests that cool soil isn’t nearly the detriment to soybean growth once thought, which also means working an entire field for spring “warm up” isn’t required either. To dig in to managing residue ahead... Read More
The advent of herbicide-resistant weeds was bad enough, but the expansion of type, area, and mode-of-action resistance has left nearly no field untouched across the all regions of Canada. What can we do and how did we get here? To tackle that question, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Dr. Charles Geddes, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada... Read More
Soil is alive and full of billions (yes billions) of fungi, bacteria, protozoa and more, performing key soil functions such as nutrient cycling, creating pores, and adding stability to soil structure. But how much do we understand of our soils? And can we take steps to love these good bugs and get rid of the... Read More
Welcome back to The Agronomists! We’re kicking off 2023 with a focus on profitability. Is top yield the driver, or is long-term thinking a better bet for profit planning? Joining host Lyndsey Smith to dig in to this topic is Chad Anderson, of Anderson Agronomy Services, and Edgar Hammermeister, Saskatchewan farmer and agrologist with Western... Read More
Get ready for our year-end wrap-up of The Agronomists! For this episode, host Lyndsey Smith asks the panelists from across Canada what the top weather, disease, insect, and weed challenge were for the 2022 growing season. To cover everything from flea beetles, surprising yields, and noxious weeds, our special guests are Jeremy Boychyn of Alberta... Read More
Those looking for a challenge need to look no further than trying to grow the best crop of dry edible beans. Whether in Manitoba, Ontario, or further afield, dry beans offer a real possibility of tidy profit, but the crop is most certainly not for the faint of heart. To get through some of the... Read More
A soil with excellent structure will allow healthy root development, have good water infiltration, and support equipment, but compaction and tillage can destroy structure and create root-zone challenges. Controlled traffic farming — where tire tracks of all implements are focused on the same route — is one way to decrease tillage and overall compaction. What... Read More
Chasing yield goals usually starts with a favourite or promising new hybrid or variety, but navigating the sea of options for corn and canola can especially be overwhelming. To help navigate the decision-making process on variety or hybrid selection, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Ian Epp with the Canola Council of Canada, and Marty... Read More
Managing nitrogen fertilizer is a balancing of economic considerations, yield goals, and environmental implications. With both increased fertilizer prices and scrutiny on N fertilizer emissions, this episode of The Agronomists tackles the loss pathways and management tools required to minimize them. Our experts for this conversation are John Heard of Manitoba Agriculture, Peter Johnson of... Read More
There are so many insects in the world that most of them likely haven’t been described yet. From some of the more common insects, such as the flea beetle, to a lesser-known such as a the beet webworm, this episode of The Agronomists tackles as much as we can in an hours’ time. Host Lyndsey... Read More
When it comes to weed control, we can’t always wait for the next thing in the pipeline, we need to manage what we have. Which sometimes means getting creative. For this edition of the Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Jeanette Gaultier, of BASF, and Rob Bahry, of ADAMA Canada, to discuss clever chemistry... Read More
It’s time for the second Ontario Diagnostic Day episode of The Agronomists! For this episode, guest host Bernard Tobin (with a great hat) guides guests Horst Bohner and Albert Tenuta, both with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) on an exploration of soybean seed quality and corn leaf diseases. This episode... Read More
Technology is continuously changing, and along with that is how we implement said technology on farms. For this edition of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Garth Donald of Decisive Farming, and Caleb Niemeyer of Woodrill Ltd, to discuss variable rate applications for seed and fertilizer. This episode of The Agronomists is brought... Read More
Yield is built from the soil up, so root development and healthy growing conditions down below are key to top yields. For this edition of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Dr. Mario Tenuta, of the University of Manitoba, and Dr. Dave Hooker, of the University of Guelph – Ridgetown Campus, to discuss... Read More
Every field tells a story, and not just through the yield monitor. From final plant stand figures, to disease pressures, to weed spectrums and control windows, harvest and post-harvest scouting can offer so much information about what to do next year or the next time a field sees this crop again. To dive in to... Read More
Using best management practices (BMPs) with fertilizer management is all about making sure the nutrient is available to the plant while minimizing movement out or off the field, via air, water, or soil movement. To tackle what a fall-focused BMP might look like for phosphorus and nitrogen, host of The Agronomists, Lyndsey Smith, is joined... Read More
Fall weed control isn’t just something to consider in the depths of the fall, it’s something to consider now, in the final days of summer. The key takeaway is not one solution, but a whole myriad of things, through integrated pest management (IPM). Joining host Lyndsey Smith to discuss the topic is Jason Voogt, of... Read More
When talking soybean harvest losses, all the focus is on the header. But for canola, losses add up at the header and through the combine. Understanding how to manage those losses is a mix of agronomy, mechanical know-how, and patience. To break down the process, this episode of The Agronomists features Mike Staton, soybean expert... Read More
Spring planted canola is a dominant crop in Western Canada, but for Ontario farmers, the better option is winter canola. Still a minority crop, winter canola is gaining attention in the province, especially since the introduction of a new variety, Mercedes. What does it take to grow this brassica, starting in the fall? There are... Read More
Adding a winter cereal in the rotation can have beneficial impacts on everything from spring planting workloads, to harvest, to soil health and ground-nesting birds. But having success with winter cereals and winter wheat requires a little planning and some winter luck. To delve in to stubble choice, seeding timing, seeds per acre, fertility and... Read More
There are two main insect pests of wheat that keep breeders busy: the wheat stem sawfly and the wheat midge. There is resistance to each and effective predators of each, but the insects still manage to eat a significant amount of wheat yield each year. To unpack how these two pests cut yield, quality, or... Read More
The canola crop is marching towards harvest, and that means it’s time to start the game day decision: is it ready to swath or do you let it stand? To tackle that question, we go to Doug Moisey, with Corteva, and Shawn Senko, of the Canola Council of Canada. From gauging seed colour change, to... Read More
Host Lyndsey Smith is tackling gibberella and tar spot management in this episode of The Agronomists, with guests Ken Currah of BASF and Greg Stopps of Corteva. This episode of The Agronomists is brought to you by ADAMA Canada, the Mind. Your Farm Business podcast, and the Wheat School! Don’t forget to apply for your... Read More
Guest host Kara Oosterhuis is tackling irrigation management in this episode of The Agronomists, with guests Catherine Kerkhoff of Hytech Production, and Len Hingley of Alberta Agriculture, Forestry & Rural Economic Development. This episode of The Agronomists is brought to you by ADAMA Canada, the Mind Your Farm Business podcast, and our July 19th webinar... Read More
White mould of soybeans, dry beans and sunflowers is the same disease as sclerotinia of canola and sunflowers. What’s more, it’s a disease that can infect a multitude of broadleaf weeds, too. The endemic nature of it and soil survivability of the pathogen make it a tough disease to keep on top of. To tackle... Read More
How do we increase our diversity with the same amount of land? One consideration is relay or intercropping. Although they are often used in the same discussions, it’s important to remember they are two different things. Leading us through tonight’s episode of The Agronomists is host Lyndsey Smith, and guests Greg Vermeersch of VanMeer Farms,... Read More
Nutrient deficiencies don’t always follow the textbook examples — sometimes a crop short of nutrients can look okay, but be behind in maturity, patchy, or show signs of poor reproductive performance. To dig in to common — and less common! — nutrient deficiencies, we go to newly minted soil nutrient specialist with the Ontario Ministry... Read More
It’s time to talk about one of host Lyndsey Smith’s favourite topics on The Agronomists. What is it, you ask? If you guessed forages, you would be correct! Today’s show, featuring Christine O’Reilly, grazing and forage specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), and Andre Bonneau, range management specialist with... Read More
We’re back with another episode of The Agronomists, and as always, we’re excited to be here. Today’s show — hosted by Lyndsey Smith — features Greg Stewart of Maizex Seeds and Elizabeth Karpinchick of Tone Ag. The trio discusses in-crop N applications in the corn crop (and more). The Agronomists is brought to you by... Read More
When we think of a wet year, we think of disease. Throw in a cereal crop, and what’s the disease we think of? Fusarium head blight or FHB. Here to teach us all about FHB management including control timing on this episode of The Agronomists is Dr. Kelly Turkington, plant pathologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food... Read More
After a week off for Victoria Day (and host Lyndsey Smith busy caring for lambs), we’re back! This episode of The Agronomists — brought to you by the Pest & Predators podcast, RealAg Radio, and ADAMA Canada — features Dr. Dave Hooker, associate professor at the University of Guelph-Ridgetown, and Laura Schmidt, production specialist with... Read More
Welcome to another episode of The Agronomists! For this episode, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Warren Ward with the Canola Council of Canada, and RealAgriculture resident agronomist, Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson. The topic of discussion today is starter fertilizer — of course with some other colourful tidbits thrown in there as well. The story... Read More
On this episode of The Agronomists we’ve brought in two guests who know all there is to know about the pesky pests that seem to inevitably find their way into your crops. We are talking about the infamous wireworm, flea beetles that can wreak havoc on canola crops, and cutworms that, let’s face it, are... Read More
There are so many pearls of wisdom in this episode of The Agronomists, such as, sometimes old science is good science; compaction is all bad; and not all manure is created equal. But how should you pay for manure — by the pit or by the load? How much is it worth? Is fall-applied with... Read More
Biology is forever adapting — to tillage, to cropping systems, and to selection pressure of herbicide applications. The advent of herbicide resistance has created a huge challenge for farmers across North America. Some of the worst weeds include kochia, fleabane, wild oats, waterhemp, and Palmer amaranth. Managing these weeds and delaying more resistance requires a... Read More
Here’s to hoping everyone had a great Easter weekend! We are excited to be back with another episode of The Agronomists. We’re hitting the ground running with this week’s topic: nitrogen management. More specifically, this episode is focused on managing N losses and products that potentially help reduce some of those losses. This week’s panel... Read More
When it comes to insect pests, most of us feel quite strongly about them. Wireworms are no different; they are an insect we love to hate. To talk about all things wireworms, we go to our experts, and this time, we have three! Join in for the fun and informative session on all things wireworms... Read More
It’s too early to call time of death on any wheat crop just yet…mostly. The trouble is that wheat, like all crops, is rather valuable right now, and if there’s crop forwarded contracted, it’s important to make sure there’s enough to deliver. But how do you make the call on what’s enough of a crop... Read More
Soybeans are a handy crop in rotation, as it fixes its own nitrogen, through N-fixing nodules on its roots. But soybeans still need a full compliment of other macro and micronutrients to reach maximum yields. To discuss identifying, correcting, and avoiding micronutrient deficiencies, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by guests Aaron Stevanus of the Mosaic... Read More
Planning for great corn yields begins the year before, by assessing how well the planned plant population translated to actual cobs per acre. That’s key information that informs THIS year — how well did you do on the planting pass, setting up the corn crop for success? Is picket-fence the goal, or is it a... Read More
There’s a certain number of acres that switch from one crop to another every spring, but #plant22 could be unlike any other, given the global uncertainty, sky-high crop prices, input supply chain disruptions, and pricey fertilizer. A last minute cropping change requires a bit of homework, however. To tackle what’s at issue, we go to... Read More
It’s entirely possible that while herbicide supplies will be tight for #plant22, there will be enough to go around. That said, at least two popular herbicides — glyphosate and glufosinate — will be somewhat limited. What does that mean for herbicide plan B or C? Will tight supplies of some of the more popular actives... Read More
When it comes to applying nitrogen fertilizer, agronomists have to help determine the right rate, right placement, the right time, and the rate form of N to protect the environment and feed the crop. The backdrop to those decisions include the farm setup, soil test results, yield goals, and product availability. There’s also that key... Read More
Ruts are compaction we can see, but what about the yield-robbing compaction you don’t see? What can we do to prevent compaction, and how do we manage already-compacted ground? For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by compaction action gurus Jodi Dejong-Hughes, extension specialist with the University of Minnesota, and Ian McDonald, crop... Read More
Host Lyndsey Smith and guests George Lazarovits of A&L Biologicals and Jon Treloar of Novozymes BioAg, discuss the evolution of biological products, what exists now, what’s working, what’s in the pipeline, any cautions around using biological products, and where they have made a significant difference in cropping systems. Catch a new episode of The Agronomists... Read More
Building organic matter is a complicated and sometimes slow process, but you can’t build soil organic matter without carbon and biological activity. There’s some research out there to suggest that adding commercial nitrogen fertilizer to cropping systems burns through organic matter — but field level research doesn’t show the same results. What’s happening? First time... Read More
There are significant differences between what is available in Canada and the U.S. when it comes to adjuvant additions to the spray tank. But that’s not to say there aren’t options for Canadian farmers — there are — and knowing what’s available, how they work, and when to use them is key to getting the... Read More
If you change how you deliver seed to the ground, what else has to change? From fertilizer planning, to seeding rate, to weed control, the planter vs. seeder decision isn’t as easy as which unit does the most consistent job. To explore considerations for canola and soybeans, and to kick off the 2022 season of... Read More
It’s time to wrap up the 2021 growing season, with a discussion on the most challenging agronomic topics of the year: from soil management, to determining yield capacity, to managing plant growth regulators. For this special year-end edition of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Jeremy Boychyn with the Alberta Wheat and Barley... Read More
Every selection tool shifts the weed spectrum, and that includes farmer-controlled decisions such as tillage, crop rotation, and seeding rate. It also includes non-farmer controlled selection tools, such as wet or dry weather cycles. To unpack what we can learn from shifting weed patterns, we go to Mike Cowbrough, weed specialist with the Ontario Ministry... Read More
There are plenty of things farmers can add to soil other than a commercial fertilizer to add carbon and feed microbes. Increasingly, there are products that promise increased nutrient availability or even nitrogen-fixation for non-legumes. Whether or not the products work as they should and determining the best situation to use them is yet to... Read More
Fall seeding of spring cereals may sound like a wild idea — and it is — but research out of Western Canada is trying it for durum. Meanwhile in Ontario, a new seeding trial could help farmers decide if it’s time to upgrade the drill. For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Agriculture... Read More
If one crop is good, two could be better. Intercropping and relay cropping is gaining momentum in Ontario and Western Canada, in an effort to maximize yield, decrease fertilizer use, and possibly reduce herbicide and fungicide passes. To explore what the science tells us, we go to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researchers Eric Page at... Read More
We’re not about to let some technical difficulties keep us from having The Agronomists go live! In this episode, storm-stayed Tom Wolf and mall-Santa-ready Jason Deveau join host Shaun Haney for an engaging conversation about new sprayer technology, the rate of commercialization, and strategies for effective product application in the face of possible shortages in-season.... Read More
Phosphorus is a key nutrient for crop production, and requires careful management to ensure there’s enough P to feed a growing crop, but not so much that the nutrient moves off the field in run-off or soil movement. For what makes phosphorus management different versus say, nitrogen, we go to experts Dr. Merrin Macrae, professor... Read More
It’s time for a fun — ok, they are all fun, but even more fun than usual — episode of The Agronomists. It’s time for a free-for-all, featuring questions from you, the audience! Tonight’s episode is fuelled by host Lyndsey Smith, and guests Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson, RealAgriculture’s resident agronomist, and Jeremy Boychyn, agronomy research... Read More
Using cover crops in a grain rotation can help achieve several goals: decreased soil erosion, decreased loss of nutrients off the field, increased weed suppression, and more. The research suggests that incorporating cover crops in to a grain farm increases crop yield, too. To discover how the tool can be used — yes, even in... Read More
From simply leaving a check strip to replicated trials, field-level data collection and analysis can be overwhelming. For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Jenn Sabourin of Manitoba-based Antara Agronomy, and Aaron Breimer of Deveron, based near Chatham, Ontario. The three talk about field trial set up, data collection, and... Read More
Let’s face it, variety selection can be a pretty daunting task. What specific traits do you focus on? How many should you grow? Do we focus purely on yield? We’ve got a full lineup to help us navigate through the ins and outs of choosing a variety for 2022: Nate Ort of the Canola Council... Read More
Only about one of every four farm fields is soil tested each year. If that sounds accurate for your situation, this may be the year to change that statistic. For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Jason Voogt of Field 2 Field Agronomy, and Jack Payne of South Country Co-op,... Read More
Farmers and agronomists across Ontario are struggling with a few pest and agronomic challenges right now. From decreased corn stalk integrity, to western bean cutworm, and on to lodged or early death in beans, a relatively good year is still throwing some curve balls. For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined... Read More
It’s evolving into a rather odd year for pre-harvest weed control in parts of Western Canada as a return of some moisture has meant sprouting swaths, and monster weeds. In Ontario, an accelerated season means plenty of farmers are making the dry-down decision on edible beans this week. From pre-harvest weed control, to swapping to... Read More
Grain storage, when done right and with proper conditions, could be a boring topic. However, we are dealing with the environment here, and well, you know how unpredictable that can be. To help us navigate through the topic of safe grain storage is Lorne Grieger of the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI), and Shawn Senko of... Read More
We’re painting this episode of The Agronomists red — for red clover! On this episode, Dr. Dave Hooker, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, and Dan Petker, farmer and red clover grower extraordinaire from Port Rowan, Ont., join host Shaun Haney for a thorough discussion on being successful with cover crops, not just red clover. SUMMARY... Read More
Extremely dry conditions in Western Canada have challenged growers at every turn. Now, assessing soil nutrient levels and preparing for next year’s crop is proving difficult, as excessively dry conditions challenge nutrient cycling and mineralization and soil sampling. In the east, a relatively early wheat harvest offers opportunity for cover crops and plenty of time... Read More
There are plenty of buzzwords in farming and agriculture. More than just a word, however, is soil resiliency: what does it mean to have “resilient” soil? For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Anne Verhallen and Marla Riekman to discuss what makes a healthy soil, what makes up soil quality... Read More
Ontario farmers are well into wheat harvest now, though rain is holding things up, while the west eyes an approaching harvest few are looking forward to. As we shift to thinking about harvest, it also means it’s time to think about setting up for success for next year, and that starts at the combine. Joining... Read More
A tissue test can give you a snapshot into what’s happening in a plant as far as nutrient uptake is concerned. The test doesn’t necessarily predict an issue, and not all results are actionable; that’s left many agronomists wondering how best to use tissue tests in conjunction with soil tests, zone mapping, and fertility planning.... Read More
Soybeans are beginning to flower and corn is waist high in parts of Ontario, and it’s not even July. Crop staging, lush and humid canopies, and field history all play a key role in disease development and suppression, and our guests for this episode stress the importance of genetic selection and scouting as the first... Read More
Surprise! Shaun Haney is hosting this episode after Lyndsey’s internet decided to give up the ghost. On this episode of The Agronomists, Haney is joined by Steph Berlett with Brussels Agromart, Ont., and Jennifer Otani with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Beaverlodge, Alta., to talk about current insect issues, integrated pest management, scouting tips, and... Read More
The winter wheat in Ontario is ready to be staged for fusarium head blight (FHB), and with such an impactful disease, we figured it was important to bring some guests on to talk about it! Taking us on this journey with host Lyndsey Smith is Joanna Follings, cereal specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,... Read More
After a week away, we’re glad to be back! This episode of The Agronomists focuses on something we don’t always talk about: forage! Host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Christine O’Reilly, forage specialist with Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), and Peter Johnson’s alter ego: Peter “Wheatgrass” Johnson. Catch a new episode... Read More
From fleabane, to wild oats, to kochia and Palmer amaranth, which weed is the toughest to kill on the farm? For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Mike Cowbrough, weed specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Tammy Jones, technical sales agronomist with Corteva AgriScience, to... Read More
See and spray technology, recirculating booms, and pineapples — that’s just a few of the topics discussed in this episode of The Agronomists. To tackle what’s new in sprayer tech and how to do the best job spraying, there are no better experts to ask than our guests than Jason Deveau and Tom Wolf of... Read More
Whether you are in a dry or wet part of the country, we are all asking the same thing: how deep do I seed my crop? Do I chase the moisture? How deep is too deep? If I seed in the dust, will the bins really bust? All of these questions, and more, are answered... Read More
The right source, right rate, right time, right place for nutrients adds up to more efficient use of fertilizer dollars, and keeps nutrients in the fields and out of our water and air. On this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Don Flaten, recently retired professor of soil fertility at University of Manitoba,... Read More
We’re likely biased, but entomology might be the most fascinating aspect of agronomy. To celebrate our tiny friends in the field — beneficial insects — this episode of The Agronomists features not two but three guests: Meghan Vankosky and Tyler Wist, both of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and John Gavloski with Manitoba Agriculture and Resource... Read More
Monday really is all things agronomy here at RealAgriculture! Thanks for coming along for the ride. On tonight’s primetime episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by guests Ken Currah of BASF, and Greg Stewart of Maizex Seeds. The trio tackle many of the key issues that are required to get the corn... Read More
Losing nitrogen fertilizer is costly to the bottom line, and to our environment. Managing losses starts with identifying how N is lost, where it is most vulnerable to loss, and using the technology we have to minimize those losses. For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Ray Dowbenko and Peter... Read More
It’s been a challenging year on many fronts, but here we are, yet again, gearing up for the new season. And that’s exciting! Rootworm, western bean cutworm, and flea beetles are just a few of the insects that are on the watch list for Tracey Baute, field crop entomologist with OMAFRA. James Tansey, entomologist with... Read More
As we gear up for what could be an early seeding season in some areas of the Prairies, there’s still time to fine-tune the canola seeding and establishment strategy for the year ahead. On this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Autumn Barnes with the Canola Council of Canada, and Stacie... Read More
Start clean, stay clean is the motto when it comes to weed control. Super dry conditions, however, can throw a wrench in the best laid plans, as soil-applied herbicides may be less effective and timing a first pass is tricker as weeds are slow to emerge. To discuss per-emerge and early season weed control on... Read More
Planters may get all the attention, but drills needs some love, too. For this episode of The Agronomists, host Shaun Haney is joined by two powerhouses in the small grains realm — RealAgriculture’s own Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson, and drill expert Phil Needham of Needham Ag Technologies. Tune in below for an epic discussion on... Read More
Achieving a perfect planting pass requires fine-tuning equipment, fit soil, and patience. To discuss how to get there, The Agronomists’ host Shaun Haney is joined by Dale Cowan, senior agronomist for AGRIS Co-op, and Matt Chapple, market development agronomist for PRIDE Seeds. The trio tackle set up, down force, soil conditions, monitoring and so much more.... Read More
If you’re looking at the price of fertilizer and growing conditions and wondering if it’s the year to either pull rates back or put the hammer down, this episode of The Agronomists is for you. Host Lyndsey Smith is joined by John Heard, soil fertility specialist with Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, and Steph Berlett,... Read More
For this episode of The Agronomists, we’re hanging in Alberta with two crop experts. Yes, it’s cold. It’s dark. But we’re going to have fun! From seed to seedling, the early window of crop establishment is your one chance to set up the crop for success. Joining host Lyndsey Smith for this discussion are Kelly... Read More
If you’re not putting some starter fertilizer down at seeding and planting, you could be leaving yield potential on the table. But there are risks to seed-placed fertility, and just how much is too much depends on several factors including soil type, fertilizer type, crop species and more. For this episode focused on all things... Read More
Two provinces and thousands of kilometres apart, farmers Dean Toews and Mark Brock run surprisingly similar strip-tillage systems. The benefits are similar too, even with substantially different soil types and weather conditions, as these farmers share on this episode of The Agronomists. From lessons learned, to equipment choices and fertility management, learn more about the... Read More
How early is really early when it comes to seeding? For this episode of The Agronomists, Brian Beres, research scientist at AAFC Lethbridge, and RealAgriculture’s Peter Johnson weigh in. Does it pay to deviate from the seeding date prescriptions? Watch below on your own time, and don’t miss a new episode of The Agronomists every... Read More
Clean fields and fit soil will kick the soybean crop off to a strong start, but there’s so much more to big yields than warm soil. In this episode of The Agronomists we go to Ontario’s soybean specialist Horst Bohner and Manitoba’s pulse specialist Dennis Lange to hone in on three major factors that determine... Read More
You sent some soil samples away, whether it was from your own farm or on behalf of a farmer, and now you have the results. How do you begin to fully understand the results? What you do with the results can make or break some (expensive!) decisions. For this episode of The Agronomists, Ryan Benjamins... Read More
The future of agronomy is likely even more tech-heavy than it is now, but that’s not to say that robots, drones, and sensors will replace human intelligence, experience, and judgement. To tackle what the next 10 years in scouting and agronomy might look like, we go to Peter Johnson, RealAg’s resident agronomist, and Rob Saik,... Read More
Herbicide resistant weeds lurk on millions of acres of Canadian farm land. There’s no one way to manage resistant weeds or to delay resistance, but there are plenty of little hammers to use. That’s the subject of this episode of The Agronomists! Join host Shaun Haney in discussion with Breanne Tidemann, research scientist at AAFC... Read More
Adjusting management or adopting new products or varieties carries some risk, but that risk can be managed with an on-farm evaluation. Setting up on-farm trials, however, can be simple and straight forward — or so complicated it’s hard to know if you really learned anything at all. To navigate on-farm trial pitfalls and successes, this... Read More
You may not swap out wheat and barley varieties as often as some other crops, but making the right selection for a new variety is the most important one when it comes to achieving profitable yield levels. For this episode of The Agronomists, RealAg’s Peter Johnson and Jeremy Boychyn, with Alberta’s Wheat and Barely Commissions,... Read More
If you’re not tracking your hours running vs. hours spraying, you might be losing out on a valuable productivity bump that requires only a few tweaks. As our guests for this episode of The Agronomists share below, gaining minutes at filling, or in turn arounds, or clean out, adds up to hours in productivity. Join... Read More
RealAgriculture is pleased to announce that we are now able to offer CCA CEU credits for The Agronomists! The Agronomists is an hour-long livestream event that airs every Monday night at 8pm E/6pm M on RealAgriculture’s social media channels — YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch. It features host Shaun Haney in conversation with a rotating... Read More
Some call it stinky, others call it the smell of money, but whatever your thoughts on manure may be, we also know it’s a valuable soil amendment and nutrient source. It’s also a rather tricky one, as manure is highly variable, and requires specific handling to make the most of it. For this episode of... Read More
Nitrogen use drives growth and crop yield — it’s also expensive and prone to being lost from the soil. There’s so many combinations of the right rate, place, form, and time, that nitrogen management is always a hot topic for discussion. This episode of The Agronomists features Greg Stewart, lead agronomist of Maizex Seeds, and... Read More
It’s time for our premiere episode of The Agronomists! This hour long, prime-time live show will run every Monday evening and be full of commentary, insight, and likely a few laughs. For this first episode, we kick things off with Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson, RealAgriculture agronomist, and Marla Riekman, soil specialist with Manitoba Agriculture and... Read More