Biostimulants are one of the fastest-growing parts of the agriculture input market. A lot of products are on the market worldwide and many are being aggressively marketed. They’re being touted for their soil health benefits and other traits, but often little evidence is offered. Carl Rosen, a professor and extension soil scientist with the University
Biostimulants: What’s in the box?
When it comes to biostimulants there are plenty of questions but few clear answers
Managing microbes
Taking a page from pulse production, beneficial soil microbes are under the microscope
One of the biostimulant areas receiving the most attention is soil microbes, something that already has a long history in agriculture. The most obvious example is soybean and other pulse crops that are inoculated with rhizobia to ensure they efficiently fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. It’s an area that’s growing fast thanks to advances in
Adopt, adapt, improve to help ensure crop success
Your management strategy will likely only last until your first brush with Mother Nature
Farming is all about adapting the plan of attack in the face of ever-changing conditions. The right mix of equipment and new fertilizer technologies can help when it comes to making these on-the-fly adjustments, according to two Manitoba agronomists. Brunel Sabourin, owner of Antara Agronomy Services and Taralea Simpson, of Shur-Gro Farm Services, explained how
How and why: What drove the proposed neonic ban?
There are a number of reasons a pesticide might come under review after registration
As growers still wait for the final decision on whether certain neonicotinoid seed treatments will be banned in Canada, many are still scratching their heads about how the proposed ban came about. As it happens, the re-evaluation of pesticides is a legal requirement and it was during a periodic routine re-evaluation that the Pest Management
Regulatory process improving safety
Older, less safe products have always been phased out for newer, safer ones. The latest issue with neonics is nothing new
The reality of chemical controls is always going to be that relatively speaking they’re a blunt tool. But that also means they’re going to be under scrutiny to ensure their safety. And the safety track record of these products is getting better and better by the season, according to John Gavloski, provincial entomologist. “In an
The importance of sticking to your crop’s water budget
Keep this crucial concept in mind when choosing crops to grow
A ‘perfect’ growing season would have just enough heat and moisture at the right times to make a bumper crop. The problem of course is that it rarely happens. With moisture being so critical to both short- and long-season crops, if producers had a better idea of their crop water budget going into a new
Overcoming ongoing challenges key to success
Farmer panel says finding solutions through trial and error moves operations forward
Farming is problem solving in action. There’s always a new challenge and there isn’t always a ready solution. Why it matters: Farms always have challenges to face. These farmers say they looked for permanent solutions, some of which evolved over time. What’s interesting is how every farmer chooses to deal with those challenges. At the
A risky business
Moisture extremes are just one of the realities that make farming in Manitoba a real challenge and can affect trade
In recent years grain production in Manitoba has been batted from one weather extreme to another. There have been cool, wet seasons and hot, dry seasons. And each leave effects that linger far after the last bushel is harvested that can have big and unpredictable effects like a trade crisis because of an unexpected herbicide
Turning on-farm experience into science
Collaborative models are helping farmers reduce risk and researchers more quickly establish best management practices tailored to local conditions
Combining scientific discipline with farmers’ knack for figuring things out on the fly could vastly reduce the risks associated with adopting new crops or production practices on the farm, an industry extension worker says. Daryl Domitruk, director of research and production for the Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers (MPSG), says marrying the two approaches can
What is adaptive management?
Adaptive management has probably been taking place as long as human beings have been around. Just about everyone can be given a recipe or a method to do something but often they find they need to adapt that recipe or those instructions to fit their own situation. They may have to substitute recipe ingredients they
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