Inputs - by Top Crop Manager

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 unpredictable weather and technology advancements.

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Sponsored by Farmers Edge.

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.

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 thesis research on population dynamics of wheat stem sawfly. His thesis work looked at the pest's larval mortality factors on the Canadian Prairies and how early season temperatures affected the adult portion of the lifecycles of both wheat stem sawfly and its parasitoid, Bracon cephi. 

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Sponsored by Gowan.

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.

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 Ontario canola growers need to know for this season. Meghan shares insights on proper seeding depth, nutrient application, diseases to watch for, insects to keep an eye on and much more.

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Show notes

• Reach out to Meghan via email at [email protected]
• Find Meghan on Twitter @MegnMoran

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 work aims to determine what the economic optimal allocation of nitrogen fertilizer use is in wheat production. How does the optimal level of nitrogen relate to what producers are actually using, and how does it relate to the yield gap?

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Show notes:

• Reach out to Aiden Sanden for more information: [email protected]
• Hear more on the wheat yield gap from Aiden and other researchers by watching the recorded Top Crop Summit presentation.

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 kick off your corn season, from planting dates and soil moisture to navigating a spring frost.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Show notes:

• Visit gocorn.net for seasonal summaries, interactive tools and more.
• FieldCropNews.com posts helpful articles throughout the growing season.

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 host Dylan Sjolie to share methodologies and results from her thesis work aiming to boost weed control in faba bean using several integrated weed management techniques. As Amanda notes, combining residual herbicides with several cultural options increases the overall competitive ability of the crop against herbicide-resistant weeds, while extending the life of the herbicides.

Show notes: 

• Contact Amanda via email at [email protected] with questions about her research. 

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Sponsored by ESN Smart Nitrogen.

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.

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Sponsored by Nutrien ESN.

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 Soybean Growers, shares an update on pulse crops and resources for growers in the province.

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Show notes:

• Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers
• Manitoba Crop Diagnostic Services

Sponsored by Nutrien Smart Nutrition.

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 in combination with micronized sulfur.

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Sponsored by Smart Nutrition MAP + MST.

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, Jocelyn Smith from the University of Guelph's Ridgetown Campus shares insights and updates on Bt-resistant European corn borer and some best management practices for corn growers.

Show notes

• Canadian Corn Pest Coalition
• Addressing Bt-resistant corn rootworm
• Dr. Jocelyn Smith on Twitter
• Dr. Jocelyn Smith - University of Guelph (Ridgetown Campus)

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.