Inputs - by Top Crop Manager

Grasshoppers, flea beetles, lygus bugs, grasshoppers, crickets – Tyler Wist has seen all of these and more in recent years. Wist, a research scientist and field crop entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Saskatoon, is the guest on this week's episode of Inputs, and unlike many, he's happy to see insects show up in field crops. In this conversation, he breaks down some of the resear...

Continuous corn has been possible the past couple decades thanks to Bt corn hybrids. But, as in many situations where there are limited options for control, the repeated use of Bt corn has allowed resistance to develop in corn rootworm populations. In a report published in late August, Tracey Baute, field crop entomologist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA),...

When you've worked so hard all year to achieve a beautiful canola crop, the last thing you need is a problem in the bin. Luckily, the Canola Council of Canada has five simple tips for keeping crops clean and ready for market. Harvest season is busy, but it's important to remember that the season doesn't end after the crop is in the bin. Ian Epp, an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Ca...

The Canola Council of Canada recently launched Canola 4R Advantage, a program designed to help growers initiate or advance nutrient stewardship and fertilizer efficiency on canola farms. Curtis Rempel, vice-president of crop production and innovation for the Canola Council of Canada, joins co-host Stefanie Croley to discuss the program and break down the benefits available to canola producers. Nev...

Biscuity, bready, toffee, a chewy mouth feel – if you appreciate these adjectives in your beer, you have malt barley to thank. This cereal is the lesser-known hero of many a craft brew, next to the punchier presence of hops.  Aaron Mills, an agronomist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Charlottetown, P.E.I., has parlayed an interest in craft beer – developed while working at a craft br...

April, May and June showers bring... bumper crops? That's the hope, especially in Manitoba, where excess rain has delayed seeding and spraying, impacted crop emergence and created high weed, disease and insect pest pressure. In this episode of Inputs, co-host Dylan Sjolie chats with entomologist John Gavloski and field crop pathologist David Kaminski, both with Manitoba Agriculture, on the challen...

It's said the first cut is the deepest – for forages, it's also the longest in terms of plant development and giving pesky insects the opportunity to snack on the growing crop. Christine O'Reilly, forage and grazing specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), discusses how the season is going so far in preparation for (or shortly after) the first cut for m...

The Canola Council of Canada is a national trade association that represents the entire canola value chain. Beyond offering canola producers across the country agronomic resources and support, the council plays an important role in market and trade. Clint Jurke, agronomy director of the Canola Council of Canada, joins co-host Dylan Sjolle on this episode of Inputs to share an early season Canadian...

When do you plant winter wheat? There may be an ideal date that comes to mind based on where you farm, but the reality is there are plenty of factors that affect when you actually get the crop in the ground, like the previous crop in rotation and when you can get it harvested, weather, soil conditions, and more. This episode of Inputs features Emma Dieleman, graduate student at the University of G...

As spring seeding gets underway in some parts of the country, our heads are filled with thoughts about what to expect this year. In this episode of Inputs, Stefanie Croley, editorial director of Top Crop Manager, is joined by Farmers Edge's Kris Kinnaird to chat about how to get a handle on all of the variables the coming season may bring, from a sustainability push and high input prices, to unpre...

Wheat stem sawfly has been a problem pest for Prairie growers for years due to a lack of effective chemical options and lifecycle adaptations of the insect. In this episode of Inputs, Dylan Sjolie, former graduate student at the University of Saskatchewan under the supervision of Dr. Meghan Vankosky and Dr. Christian Willenborg and recent co-host of Inputs, shares details of his recently defended...

Producers in Western Canada know all about canola, but as you head east, the bright yellow crop isn't as common. What’s the word on canola in Ontario? Meghan Moran, the canola and dry edible bean specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, chats with co-host Dylan Sjolie on all of the details of Ontario canola, including recent acreage, agronomy tips and what Ontar...

On a global scale, nutrient deficiency is a huge driver of yield gap in wheat production, but other factors – like access to fertilizer and weather conditions – vary depending on region. In this episode of Inputs, Aiden Sanden, a graduate student at the University of Saskatchewan under the supervision of Dr. Richard Gray, shares details of his studies on mitigating the wheat yield gap. His thesis...

Spring is quickly approaching and corn growers in Ontario are growing eager to start planting. But before you begin, consider all of the factors that go into your spring seeding plan and ensure you're setting your corn crop up for success from the get-go. In this episode of Inputs, Ben Rosser, corn specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, shares advice to help k...

Top Crop Manager has long focused on delivering third-party research results and insights to farmers across Canada – but there's so much more than we can share within our print pages. In this episode of Inputs, we introduce a new series called the Graduate Research Showcase, featuring Amanda Fedorchuk, a master's student at the University of Saskatchewan studying plant science. Amanda joins Inputs...

Keeping fertilizer in your field is an important crop management strategy, and with rising fertilizer costs, it's top of mind now more than ever. In this episode of Inputs, Nutrien's Todd Latimer shares how nitrogen loss occurs, what the risk factors are, and how N loss can be prevented. Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on  Apple Podcasts ,  Google Podcasts ,...

Peas and other pulse crops have grown in popularity over the years, but growing pulses doesn't come without challenges - like any crop, weed and disease pressure can devastate a field. But with more and more market opportunities and resources for growers, the interest - and potential - for pulse crops continues to grow. In this episode, Laura Schmidt, production specialist with Manitoba Pulse and...

Though it's often required in smaller amounts than nitrogen and potassium, phosphorus is a key element to crop nutrition and is critical to establishing good yield potential. In this episode, Alan Blaylock, senior agronomist with Nutrien, gives a primer on why phosphate is essential to crops, especially in post-drought years, and shares information on the benefits of using mono-ammonium phosphate...

First found in Canada in the early 1900s, the European corn borer (ECB) is one of the most problematic corn pests. Found wherever corn is grown, from the Prairies to the Maritimes, ECB can impact grain quality, yield and harvest. Bt corn hybrids have helped to mitigate some of these risks, but in recent years, Bt-resistant European corn borer has been found in parts of Canada. In this episode, Joc...

High temperatures and limited soil moisture in precipitation created the perfect storm for many insect pests on the Prairies this year. As John Gavloski, entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, notes in this episode, grasshoppers and flea beetles were two of the most prominent insects found in the province this year. Beneficial insects were welcomed in many fields this yea...

Proper management of phosphorus is important to not only your own fields, but also general water quality in your surrounding area. In this episode, Dr. Merrin Macrae, professor at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, shares insights from her lab work and recent research in the Lake Erie watershed, and notes that while best practices can vary based on geography, there are several options for opti...

Adding forages to your rotation can bring myriad benefits, including increased soil health and additional cash crop options. But the choices are seemingly endless. What to choose? Where to begin? In this episode, Perry Ross, forage product line representative with Nutrien Ag Solutions and Proven Seed shares the benefits of adding forages to your rotations, how to select the right crop for your nee...

Are we done talking about the great drought of 2021 yet? You probably already know the answer to that question - of course not. The effects of this past growing season's weather will last for a while, but the lessons learned are plentiful. In this episode, a harvest update and recap, our new co-host Dylan Sjølie chats with Jeremy Boychyn, agronomy research extension specialist with Alberta Wheat a...

Drought can have devastating effects on crops. Besides moisture stress, dry soil results in limited root activity, preventing roots from effectively taking up nutrients, and limited soil biological activity. In this episode of Inputs, Alan Blaylock, senior agronomist with Nutrien, shares tips and advice on recovering and adjusting fertilizer management strategies after experiencing drought conditi...

In late 2018/early 2019, Yvonne Lawley, a professor in the plant science department at the University of Manitoba, set out to learn more about what early adopters are doing with cover crops across the Prairies, as well as challenges and barriers to adopting the practice. Callum Morrison, a University of Manitoba PhD student, joined the project and brought the project's connection with farmers to t...