The Agronomists RealAgriculture

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

In an ideal growing season, corn goes in to fit soil, with a strong starter fertilizer package, and a plan for a top-dress pass. In reality, the ’24 season in Ontario has started out as anything but ideal. A very early warm up has led to well advanced weeds, smeared in corn, and excessive water,... Read More