Inputs - by Top Crop Manager

Sulfur comes in two different forms: elemental sulfur and sulfate (most commonly found in ammonium sulfate). But which one is the best choice for your crop? The overall goal is to apply nutrients at the time the plant is taking them up to maximize production and minimize loss, so timing and crop uptake are two main factors to consider when making this decision.  Learn more about sulfur and Sm...

Often called "the hidden yield robber," soybean cyst nematode is hard to see, but it can have devastating effects on a soybean crop. An integrated management approach, including the use of resistant varieties, is necessary. But as fall approaches, it's important to scout your fields and sample your fields for SCN. In this episode, Albert Tenuta, field crop pathologist with the Ontario Ministry of...

Winter barley may not be a new crop for Ontario growers, but a combination of factors is making the cereal crop an attractive option to include in rotation. Top Crop Manager associate editor Alex Barnard chats with Joanna Follings, cereals specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), about winter barley's benefits and challenges, and considerations to make...

Crop conditions on the Prairies are extremely hot and dry, which is changing crop outlooks and plans created at seeding. Combined with the severe livestock feed shortage developing, affected producers might be considering converting some poorer-performing grains, pulses or oilseeds to greenfeed or silage. David Van Deynze, chief product officer with the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (...

In what's already been a tough year due to extreme drought in Western Canada, and excess rain in many parts of Ontario, minimizing losses during harvest is more important than ever. In this episode of Inputs, Lorne Grieger, business development representative at the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) shares insights on minimizing harvest through combine adjustments, referencing a rece...

Harvest is a time of short timelines and quick turnarounds at the mercy of the weather and crop readiness. It's hard to find the time to get everything done, let alone sleeping and eating, which can lead to rushed decisions and increased risk. This episode features Rob Gobeil, agricultural health and safety specialist with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association. He discusses the factors that...

Using winter wheat in rotation can be beneficial to Ontario producers – besides revitalizing soil and disrupting pest cycles, manure can be applied after winter wheat harvest and before planting a cover crop. In this episode, Christine Brown, field crop sustainability specialist at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shares tips for fall manure application after winter whea...

You've collected your farm data through the season – but as harvest approaches, how can you ensure you're set up for success? Good data in is good data out, and in this episode, Chapin Bell, Climate Business Manager for FieldView in Manitoba and southern Saskatchewan, breaks down how you can put your data to work at harvest time. Bell shares pre-harvest best practices, like ensuring your apps and...

We’re well into the growing season at this point. This episode aims to provide an update on how canola and soybeans on the Prairies are handling the challenges of this specific year – namely, the heat and drought conditions. Top Crop Manager associate editor Alex Barnard speaks with Ian Epp, Saskatchewan agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada, and Laura Schmidt, production specialis...

Here’s the good news about wireworms: of the more than 300 species found on the Prairies, only four or five cause trouble for agricultural production. The bad news? This patchy pest can create serious trouble in fields – but also completely ignore neighbouring areas, making it a constant battle to scout and track wireworm populations. Research on wireworm management and thresholds is a little thin...

Technology has come a long way since its first uses in agriculture, and advancements are continually made. While traditional pen-and-paper tracking methods are still effective, digital tools provide opportunities for collaboration between all involved on the farm, from the key decision-makers to agronomists and consultants, and everyone in between. And, with more and more time spent planning, revi...

Herbicide resistance: it's a major concern in Canada, with the list of resistant weeds growing. Where it exists, waterhemp is one of the biggest concerns, given its ability to rapidly evolve resistance and current four-way resistant populations. In this episode,  Top Crop Manager associate editor Alex Barnard chats with Peter Sikkema and Kim Brown-Livingston about multiple-resistant waterhemp...

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are a useful tool in preventing crop lodging, but the decision to use a PGR is far more complex than the desired outcome would imply. In this episode, Top Crop Manager associate editor Alex Barnard chats PGRs with Sheri Strydhorst, agronomy research specialist with the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions, and Joanna Follings, cereals specialist with the Ontario Mini...

As soon as conditions are just right, farmers across Canada are antsy to begin their spring seeding. In some parts of the country, #plant21 is already well underway by mid-late April, with other areas getting off to a slower start. No matter what your progress is, this episode of Inputs is packed with tips and reminders from two experts to help you kick off the spring season. First up is Ben Rosse...

The Top Crop Summit, held virtually on Feb. 23 and 23, looked much different in 2021 than it had in years past. Through our virtual format, the Summit brought together experts, farmers, consultants and other industry members to share research updates and agronomic advice in advance of the 2021 growing season. In this episode, editorial director Stefanie Croley introduces snippets of two pre-record...

The world of agriculture technology is changing, and there's no time to be left behind. In this episode, Andrew Olliver, chair of the Agriculture Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF) joins ag editor Bree Rody to discuss the advances in ISOBUS technology, and how the AEF is working to solve compatibility issues and help growers become more knowledgable about their ag tech. This episode is sponsore...

While fall is the most ideal time for soil sampling, spring sampling often needs to happen. In this episode, John Heard, soil fertility specialist with Manitoba Agriculture chats with ag editor Bree Rody about how to approach spring soil sampling, best practices for sampling and getting your soil in top shape as spring seeding approaches. Never miss an episode by Never miss an episode by subscribi...

Recently, sulphur has become a more frequent addition to nutrient management plans. A decline in soil test sulphur means farmers should plan to manage the nutrient just as they would with phosphorus or potassium. In this episode, Cristie Preston, PhD, senior agronomist with Nutrien, discusses why sulphur deficiency is more widespread than in the past, how to recognize the symptoms and application...

The 2020 season threw some curve balls at soybean growers in Manitoba: a slow, cold start, precipitation extremes, and an early killing frost. In this episode, Top Crop Manager associate editor Alex Barnard discusses the challenges and outcomes of the soybean season with Laura Schmidt, production specialist with Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers. Never miss an episode by subscribing to Input...

The 2019 growing season presented some challenges to Ontario cereal growers, but 2020 conditions were a welcome change for most producers across the province. In this episode, Joanna Follings, the cereals specialists for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, recaps the 2020 Ontario winter wheat and spring cereals season, and shares details about new data for growers to use i...

In agriculture, you often hear about the importance of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). These macronutrients are essential for crop health. In excessive amounts or uneven ratios, they can also be harmful. But what about sulphur (S)? Jeff Schoenau, professor of soil science at the University of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture chair of soil nutrient management. H...

Fall soil management is important, and applying sulphur and other fertilizers in the fall can be beneficial to crops. But there are specific conditions to be mindful of in order to ensure the benefits outweigh the risks. In this episode, Cristie Preston, PhD, agronomist with Nutrien, shares recommendations for fall-applied fertilizer and how to mitigate the risks associated with applying sulphur i...

Yield maps, moisture maps, combine speed – collecting this harvest data can be helpful, but how do we put it into play? Lydia Parker, field product specialist with Climate FieldView, shares tips on preparing for harvest and how to use harvest data to your advantage throughout the entire growing season, from seeding to post-harvest. Never miss an episode by subscribing to Inputs on  Apple Podc...

Cover crops are widely seen as a beneficial practice, with effects like improved soil health, weed management and erosion protection. They also require a little planning and knowledge to be successful. Kris McNaughton is a research technician at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus. She discusses the importance of forethought: termination of a cover crop, the crops that preceded and will fol...

There are so many variables in a cropping season, and when it comes to your inputs, a precision application can be beneficial in more ways than one. As Andria Karstens, field product specialist for Western Canada with Climate FieldView, explains in this episode, crop scripting and targeted applications can answer lots of the common questions that growers ask every year and streamline your process...