Inputs - by Top Crop Manager

If you're growing cereals or flax this season, there are a few key diseases to watch, including Fusarium head blight, bacterial leaf streak, pasmo - among others. In this episode of Inputs, tune in to hear quick tips from Randy Kutcher, professor and plant pathologist at the University of Saskatchewan, on scouting and managing disease. Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast...

It's worth being on guard for invasive pigweeds like Palmer amaranth and waterhemp this coming season. So far, these weeds haven't been discovered in Saskatchewan or Alberta, but they've been slowly creeping up from south of the border. In this episode of Inputs, Kaitlin Berger, editor of Top Crop Manager West , speaks with Dr. Shaun Sharpe, research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada....

Earlier this year, in January 2026, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announced their decision to eliminate over 600 positions and close three research and development centres in Guelph, Ont., Quebec City, Que. and Lacombe, Alta., as well as four satellite research farms in Nappan, N.S., Scott, Sask., Indian Head, Sask. and Portage La Prairie, Man. Since the announcement there have been many...

Another busy season and harvest are under your belt, with the next growing season soon to be in sight. During the slower times between growing seasons, planning and maintenance may be top of mind – but have you thought to check in on your mental wellness too? In this episode of Inputs, Jill Filmer, editor of Top Crop Manager East , chats with Kylie Stokes, the program coordinator at AgriCare NL on...

FCC released a report on September 22 of this year entitled The $12-billion trade shift: Canada’s opportunity to diversify food exports beyond the U.S , outlining a path to reduce Canadian food and beverage exports to the U.S. to 50 per cent of 2023 levels (76 per cent). The report suggests this is possible through strengthening inter-provincial trade, leveraging existing free trade agreements, an...

The crop’s finally off the field, wrapping up another growing season. Instead of turning the page to next season, what else should happen in the field before winter hits? In this episode, Jake Munroe, soil management specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, discusses what farmers should prioritize once crops, specifically corn and soybeans, are harvested. Whether...

In addition to climate challenges, growers are facing instability around input costs and supply chain issues. Rethinking access to fertilizer could help take away some of that uncertainty and bring peace of mind. FuelPositive is bringing decentralized on-farm green ammonia technology to local farms, giving farmers control and allowing them to produce their own fertilizer. They have established the...

Camelina is an oilseed crop that originated in southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia in similar climates to the prairie provinces in Western Canada. It’s well-adapted to the southern regions of Canada because it has good drought tolerance and it’s well-adapted to the northern regions of the country because it has good frost tolerance and a short growing season.  In this episode, Christina...

The terms ‘cover crop’ and ‘service crop’ are interchangeable. Regardless of the term you use, these crops do more than just cover the soil after the main crops come off the field.  In this episode of Inputs, we’re going back to the basics – what are cover crops and what’s their purpose in a crop rotation? Kim Schneider, assistant professor at the University of Guelph, discusses the typical c...

When it comes to farm transition, don’t underestimate the soft skills. The farm’s legacy and each farm members’ personality influences business governance - and it’s important to explore both for effective transition planning and collaboration.  In this episode of Inputs, Sarah Stamp, founder of Sarah Stamp Farm Consulting, discusses the importance of understanding the various personalities i...

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and sudden death syndrome (SDS) are a duo to be reckoned with. Continuing to spread across Ontario and wreak havoc on soybean yields, this double threat causes millions of dollars in losses each year in the province. In this episode of Inputs, Dr. Owen Wally, research scientist with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada at the Harrow Research and Development Centre, discus...

Kochia and wild oat are two weeds that are top of mind for growers across the Prairies. While kochia is a relatively newer concern, it’s a highly adaptable weed that’s moving further and further north. Wild oat has been a problem for a long time and resistance continues to evolve.  In this episode of Inputs, Dr. Charles Geddes, research scientist in weed ecology with Agriculture and Agri-Food...

No one’s a fan of Aphanomyces root rot - and for good reason. In a wet year, this disease can cause significant damage in field pea and lentil crops across the Prairies. In this episode of Inputs, Dr. Michelle Hubbard, research scientist in pulse pathology with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Swift Current, Sask., shares insight from some of the latest research on Aphanomyces root rot. Sh...

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 projects relat...

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 Guelph Ridgetown Camp...

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 with growing them...

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) explains the specific w...

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 diseases like Fusariu...

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? In this episod...

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 healthy soil and...

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 measures should b...

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 cyber security capaci...

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 nutrient source coming...

Peter Sikkema has been researching the importance of weed management on soybean crops for more than three decades now. A professor of weed management for field crops at the University of Guelph, much of Sikkema’s work has been conducted in Ontario, but there are key takeaways from his research for soybean growers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. During this episode of Inputs, Sikkema, along with FMC...

Agriculture can be a contentious topic when speaking with the general public, as there is a lot of misinformation or confusion about the industry out there. But educating the public, whether on social media, at the coffee shop, or on a broader scale can be difficult when the industry is so diverse and resources aren't always easily accessible. Enter The Real Dirt on Farming, a magazine on agricult...