Research has been imperative to move the production of agriculture forward and has brought tremendous value to growers in recent decades. Today more than ever we need to be cognizant that we need to include a broader audience when thinking of the future. Not only do we need to help growers increase efficiencies and maximize production and quality on an acre, but we need to insure that there is a bigger societal influence in play. Can it create a positive impact on the environment and ultimately the consumer that we are all striving to please?
2020
Only 19% of the fields in Western Canada are being soil tested on an annual basis. Why is this number so low? Market research shows there are a few contributing factors, including the ease of conducting a soil test, the expense associated with thorough testing, a lack of time, and the difficulty of turning data into actions. Agtech is changing the paradigm of soil testing and increasing the number of samples being taken. There is now an in-field, real-time soil tester coming to the market in 2020, and it has been calibrated for Western Canadian soils. NutriScan uses proven sensor technology combined with artificial intelligence learning. NutriScan not only measures N, P and K, but also soil physical properties like pH, CEC, and organic carbon, along with intermediate nutrients (Ca, Mg and S) and the full line of micronutrients—all of this in the field in 10 minutes.
Angela is an agronomist for the Canola Council of Canada. Her main focus since joining Council in 2012 has been on the optimization of canola harvest and storage. She spends most of her free time and all of her money farming with her family in Justice, Manitoba.
Microbes, hormones, seaweeds, metabolites, enzymes, amino acids, plant extracts, humic acids… the list goes on and on in the arena of biostimulants. Your head spins when you hear all these terminologies. This anxiety is magnified when the marketing around these products has them “solving all of your cropping concerns.” This seminar will help organize and simplify the clutter in this space. You will learn why you would consider using a biostimulant, how to use one, when to use one, how to choose one over another, and ultimately what to expect from the results. Come learn how to properly use these valuable technologies and how they can integrate with your existing operation.
Late January is essentially the halfway point in the marketing year. It’s also often that ‘calm before the storm’, where markets are far enough along in the season to have a good sense of what the remainder of the crop year may look like, but also before there is an intent focus on the upcoming season. While markets ebb-and-flow through periods of action and tranquility, growers need to be thinking about grain marketing 12 months of the year. This session will provide a perspective on the final half of the current marketing year, while also outlining those critical factors to monitor when thinking about the markets for 2020/21 as well. This includes not just traditional grain market fundamentals, but the wider macroeconomic and geopolitical climate as well.
With rising international demand for malting barley and malt, Canadian farmers are in a good position to provide premium quality malting barley to the global market. But meeting the quality requirements for barley destined for the malting and brewing sectors can be tricky. Protein levels shouldn’t be too high, but also not too low; plump kernels and high test weight are important; high peeled and broken or presence of DON can disqualify barley from being selected; and barley should be stored carefully to ensure germination levels are maintained. Finally, new accepted production practices can help achieve malt quality and limit disease.
