Reading Time: 5 minutes We all know that canola likes a good shot of nitrogen. Unfortunately, that includes canola volunteers, and a study says you may be better off to starve them and let your soybeans compete on their own. Charles Geddes, research scientist of weed ecology and cropping systems at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge Research and Development […] Read more
When less is more in weed control
A study shows that soybean yields decline as soil nitrogen increases
Cover crop opportunity leads to higher ground
Technically, it’s called vertical integration. Instead, says Joseph Gardiner, think of it as using your experience as a farmer to get to the top first
Reading Time: 13 minutes This is a story in two halves. First, Joseph Gardiner got passionate about regenerative agriculture. Then, he and his three partners got equally passionate about building a vertically integrated business that would grow and succeed by helping regenerative ag grow and succeed too. Maybe that sounds too simple, in which case we’re all in for […] Read more
Multi-million-dollar fund greenlights soil health projects
Eight projects to push soil health practices will get funding for the next five years
Reading Time: 2 minutes Eight soil health projects across Canada will be getting a multi-million-dollar boost in private funding over the next five years. The Weston Family Foundation — the philanthropic arm of the Weston business empire — has slated $10 million for those eight projects through the organization’s soil health initiative, it was announced Feb. 13. The initiative […] Read more
An alternative cover crop for soybeans
Broadcast rye provides more management options and improves soil health
Reading Time: 5 minutes Agriculture has its share of innovators who set their own pace and adopt practices that initially have others shaking their heads. But then the new practice works, and they’re happy to share their experiences. That applies to Reuben Stone. Operating a farm value-added business near Cobden, Ont., Stone grows several specialty crops, including Daikon radish, […] Read more
German seed company buys Prairie forage seed firm
DSV to take up full control of Northstar Seed
Reading Time: 2 minutes A Prairie company producing and selling forage, turf and grass seed for international and domestic markets is set to be an early foothold for a German seed firm in North America. DSV (Deutsche Saatveredelung) announced last week it has reached a deal in early April to buy up all shares of Northstar Seed, which is […] Read more
U.S. aims to double cover crop planting to address climate change
Farmers in 11 states to be eligible for program
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — The United States aims to double the country’s cover crop plantings to 30 million acres by 2030 under a new Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation program launched on Monday. The agency’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will spend US$38 million to help farmers in 11 states plant crops at a time […] Read more
How about a ‘nutty’ alternative crop?
Buckwheat is garnering attention as much more than ‘just’ a cover crop
Reading Time: 5 minutes Some growers opt for their region’s top crops. It only makes sense, after all, to reduce your risks by effectively pooling everyone’s combined experience. Others, though, look for ways to be different. They want to boost their margins, and they feel they need to be entrepreneurial if they’re going to move the yardsticks. For those […] Read more
U.S. farm co-op CHS to pay members to enrol in Bayer carbon farming program
Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters – Agricultural seeds and chemicals supplier Bayer AG is expanding its carbon farming program to members of U.S. farm cooperative CHS Inc, boosting incentives for members to participate in the program, the companies said on Wednesday. The agreement will make it easier for CHS’s 75,000 farmer-members to enrol in Bayer’s Carbon Program, an early […] Read more
Crunching the numbers on cover crops
The economics can be a challenge, but passionate farmers believe the longer you stick with covers, the more they’ll pay
Reading Time: 6 minutes In the past five to 10 years, few topics have been as polarizing as cover crops. Advocates praise their benefits. Detractors cast doubts. And in the midst of it all, there’s a flood of technological change, whether that’s something simple, like switching from red clover to a different species like oats, or whether it’s going […] Read more
A cover crop ‘failure,’ but the story doesn’t end there
Black medic is a soil improver, and can be a good fit in situations where nitrogen is limited
Reading Time: 3 minutes A cover crop that self-seeds year after year, grows whenever environmental conditions are right and doesn’t compete with principal crops. Sounds like a dream, but it exists: it’s called black medic. It’s been planted in Western Canada since the 1990s, but it’s not widely used, and in fact “it’s kind of a failure,” says Martin […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
