Inputs - by Top Crop Manager

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-recorded interviews, available to Top Crop Summit attendees on-demand. First, Robyne Bowness Davidson, pulse research scientist at Lakeland College in Lacombe, Alta., gives a pulse crop update for Western Canada, with acreage and demand insights for field pea, lentil, faba bean and more. Then, you'll hear a portion of ag editor Bree Rody's interview with Albert Tenuta, field crop plant pathologist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs based out of the University of Guelph in Ridgetown, Ont. Albert shared an update on the threat of tar spot to Canadian corn crops.

To hear more from Robyne, Albert and several other esteemed speakers, visit TopCropSummit.com to register and access the event recordings, and stay tuned for our digital edition wrapping up the Summit.

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Show notes:

• Tar spot monitoring at ipmPIPE
• FieldCropNews.com
• Crop Protection Network
• Albert Tenuta on Twitter: @AlbertTenuta
• Robyne Bowness Davidson on Twitter: @PulseChickAB

Opinions expressed in this recording are not necessarily those of the editor, publisher or brand team. No liability is assumed for errors or omissions. Podcast recordings do not imply any endorsement of the products or services advertised within a recording.

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 sponsored by the Agriculture Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF).

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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.

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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 recommendations.

Sponsored by Smart Nutrition MAP + MST.

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.

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Sponsored by Nutrien eKonomics.

• Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers
• 2020 Pulse and Soybean Variety Guide
• The Bean Report, MPSG's biweekly newsletter
• Production resources
• On-Farm Network
• MPSG on Twitter

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 in the coming years.

Check out the Ontario Cereal Crops Committee 2020 cereal reports here, and stay tuned for more data on spring cereals.

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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. He explains sulphur's role as a macronutrient in plant and soil health and the main things growers should know about S.

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Sponsored by Nutrien Smart Nutrition.

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 in the fall.

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Sponsored by Nutrien Smart Nutrition.

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.

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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 follow in that field, and how herbicide use can affect the cover crop.

Yvonne Lawley, a professor in the plant science department at the University of Manitoba, and Callum Morrison, a University of Manitoba PhD student, discuss a cover crop survey they conducted in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta in 2019 and the importance of considering the realities of your farm when deciding on cover crops.

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• "What to consider when looking at cover crops," a webinar from April 2020 led by Anne Verhallen, OMAFRA horticultural soil management specialist.
• OMAFRA Publication 75A, Guide to Weed Control: Field Crops
• Midwest Cover Crop Council
• Cover crop selector tool
• Midwest Cover Crops Field Guide (and the mobile app version)
• Managing Cover Crops Profitably, published by the USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) website for cover crops and and soil health
• North Dakota State University (NDSU) soil health website
• Soil Sense podcast
• Abbey Wick on Twitter: @NDSUsoilhealth
• On Twitter:
• @YvonneLawley_UM
• @CallumMorrisons
• @Anne_Verhallen
• @drobinridgetown