It’s the very last episode of The Agronomists for the 2024 season and host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson and Ray Dowbenko to discuss the top agronomy stories of the year! On this episode, the trio talk about: Current and future uses of spraying technology in farming production; The mysterious but… Read More

Pulses, such as peas, lentils, chickpeas, and faba beans, can be an excellent addition to a crop rotation as they fix their own nitrogen and even leave some for the next crop. The crops do have serious challenges, however, including aggressive root rots and diseases that can decimate yields, especially in wetter years. To unpack… Read More

Multi-herbicide resistant weeds have been found in several Canadian and U.S. regions and the amount of ground they cover expands every year. On the list of worst offenders: kochia, wild oats, waterhemp, and Canada fleabane. Herbicides will continue to play a dominant role in weed control, but which herbicides, what type, and when is a… Read More

Being an agronomist means knowing about plants, diseases, soil, and insects, but it also requires the ability to navigate difficult conversations, earn trust, and drive change. The people part of the agronomy equation is the topic of this episode of The Agronomists. Here to talk about personality differences, clear communication, and patience with people is… Read More

One of the most powerful and inexpensive tools farmers have in the pest management toolbox is crop rotation. A well-planned rotation can add yield stability, more yield, decreased weed and insect pressure, and keep diseases in check. The question is, how do we know which crops should be in a rotation and what benefits we… Read More

Not all datasets are created equal. Without a check strip or variety to compare to, or if too complicated, or with too few replications, resulting trial numbers can be nearly meaningless when comparing one decision to another. Good data means that farmers and agronomists can choose a practice or change or hybrid with a level… Read More

There’s never a shortage of field work to be done in the fall, but fall conditions can sometimes be very unfavourable for tillage, manure, or fertilizer applications. To dig into considerations for fall field work, including compaction, nutrient losses, and cover crop success, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Curtis Cavers of AAFC, Glen Arnold… Read More

You can’t manage what you don’t measure, and if you’re not measuring grain loss out the back of the combine, you could be losing two, four and even 10 bushels an acre on the harvest pass. Recognizing that both header loss and combine loss contribute to lower yield and volunteer issues for the next season,… Read More

Determining sulphur application rates ahead of the crop can be complicated by several factors, including how much sulphur the environment will provide, if elemental forms of sulphur have been applied in the past, and how much rainfall is expected. Sulphur is an important macronutrient that’s also prone to leaching losses and not mobile in the… Read More

Sure, yield matters, but there’s more to making yield than just genetic potential, including disease resistance and adaptation. Choosing a soybean variety or canola hybrid requires balancing several demands based on a geographic area, yield potential, management options, and disease pressure. To navigate the decision, this episode of the Agronomists features Allison Bishop with BASF,… Read More