The Agronomists

Strange colours, whip tail ends, and misshapen leaves can all point to one thing: a micronutrient deficiency. While not overly common, a micronutrient deficient area of a field usually goes from not good to very bad very quickly. To unpack what micronutrient trouble to expect, how to identify different issues, and how and when to... Read More

Fall time is the right time to kill weeds, say two out of two agronomists in this fast-paced episode of The Agronomists. Listen/watch as Rob Miller, BASF, and Tammy Jones, Corteva, go tete-a-tete over the how, when, and why of fall weed control, including what to do when there’s a frost, why too much in... Read More

Drones, or UAVs, can scout fields, create maps, apply seed, and — eventually — apply pesticides. There are several ways drones are helping farmers and agronomists, but these buzzing bits of tech aren’t a necessarily a one-to-one replacement for sprayers, drills, or even satellite imagery. To discuss what is legal, what’s a good fit, and... Read More

There are several things that producers and agronomists can do to set a crop up for the best pollination possible, but there is one major factor that no one can control: the weather. In this episode of The Agronomists, not two but three guests join host Lyndsey Smith for a discussion on what can go... Read More

Straight-cutting canola without losing significant yield thanks to pod-shatter resistance traits means that farmers have a full range of options when managing canola harvest. The decision on swathing or not isn’t always an easy one, but many farmers use swathing as a harvest timing management tool. But when is the right time? What happens if... Read More

Is a healthy soil about what it has, or is, or does, or doesn’t do? There are three ways to assess soil: through its physical, chemical, and biological components. But is a healthy soil one that produces the highest yield? Or is it the one with the highest biological activity? What about organic matter, trafficability,... Read More

No ruts, no worries, right? Not so, at least not when it comes to deep compaction impacts. Air pockets and macropores in soil structure help move water down the soil profile, and where water goes, so do the nutrients. Compacted soils restrict root growth, oxygen, and nutrient and water movement, ultimately restricting yield potential. What’s... Read More

Finding a good day to spray isn’t just about wind speed or direction — temperature and relative humidity matter, too. This growing season has thrown some super challenging conditions at growers and spray operators, as hot and humid weather, excessive rain, and early growth have thrown several wrenches in the best laid plans. For this... Read More

Grasshoppers devastated many fields last year over large parts of the Prairies. Of the over 80 species of grasshoppers found on the Prairies, only four are pests — but in sufficient numbers they are a huge concern. After several years of building populations, the pest is still likely to be an issue this year but... Read More

A skilled agronomist is as much a detective as they are an agronomy expert. Recognizing signs and symptoms, asking the right background questions, and looking at a problem from all angles helps an agronomist sort out what’s going on when things go awry. For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by... Read More