Thank Heaven the Border is Closed! Part 1
Even though the Canada - United States border is closed to most travel, we will [...]
Even though the Canada - United States border is closed to most travel, we will [...]
Slake, Infiltration and Bulk Density (BD) are 3 tests that are fairly easy to do on the farm with a few simple tools.
One of the biggest challenge’s producers face with growing crops at or near the 49th parallel is generally they only get one shot at growing our best crops. We have to maximize the use of limited sun and moisture to get our crops to maturity in a 3-4 month span. It does not give a lot of time to make corrective actions like reseeding or topdressing nutrients when needed.
To find out which direction we should be headed in terms of soil health we should look back to how it was.
Wouldn't it be great if all the inputs, machinery and/or farming practices that promise to grow you an extra 2-5 bu were true and reliable? It would be easy to spend your way to a bumper crop. 2 bushels here, 3 bushels there... done deal! Unfortunately, it is not a compounding effect.... it's probably easier to spend your way broke than into prosperity.
I have worked with operations both big and small, with different management structures and business philosophies. The one thing they all had in common? They all sought the help of professionals.
Last week we looked at the important role of soil carbon in plant growth and soi [...]
Farm managers today face increasingly difficult decisions as operations grow and margins tighten. Knowing your numbers helps you make better decisions that ultimately reduce the stress and fear of making a costly mistake.
Many practices, such as reduced tillage, increased residue coverage and improved crop rotations, have been incorporated in the last fifty years that have lowered the loss of carbon, and farmers need to continue this trend to encourage healthy and resilient soils.
Things aren’t always what they seem in agronomy as in engineering. There are many causes and effects. Only with experience can you learn to look through the noise.