FS Agronomy Subscription
Conquering Winter Crops
Together, with Western Ag Innovations, Farming Smarter tested the mettle of various winter crops in southern Alberta. Our Custom Research and Agronomy Research teams planted 34 varieties of eight crops in Lethbridge, Bow Island, and Enchant. We collected six site years of data in this one year trial, with 3 irrigated and 3 dryland sites.
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Intercrop for Healthy Soils – Soil Savvy
Intercropping provides many benefits to a field and farmer. Throughout the growing season, it works as a weed suppression tool, having the weeds compete against two crops instead of one, reducing the need for chemical inputs while promoting yield. Furthermore, it can create a more biodiverse environment that is hostile to pest threats and reduces
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Expanding Corn Agronomy
Expanding Corn Agronomy Since 2015, Farming Smarter proved that it’s possible to add corn as a forage crop for livestock and it offers some benefits for cattle and producers. The nutritional value of the crop makes it a great forage crop especially compared to forage cereals. We conducted projects focused on corn agronomy in southern
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Cover Crop Choices – Soil Savvy
Cover crops are an effective way to improve soil structure and health, while providing extra benefits. Not only do they reintroduce nutrients, like nitrogen, into the soil and add organic matter, cover crops reduce the risk of soil erosion while providing a natural form of weed control. Adopting cover crops may lead to increased yields
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Growing Regional Knowledge on Garden Pea Varieties
Farming Smarter, together with Nortera Foods, investigated the viability of garden pea varieties this year! Our goal was to provide the processor and their growers with regional data on several pea varieties so they can make informed decisions on what they grow. We grew nearly 20 varieties of garden peas for this study, with a
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Cover Up Your Soil – Soil Savvy
Healthy soil is a trademark for sustainable agriculture. Building soil structure and increasing organic matter content in the soil are two of the best ways to develop great soil health. Issues derived from poor soil health compound with each other, deteriorating the soil’s quality at an exponential rate. In southern Alberta, we are familiar with
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Pushing Barley to the Limit
We pushed barley to its limit this year! And we’ll do it again (two more times)! In partnership with Lakeland College and SARDA Ag Research, this three year study aims to develop regional data for barley growers who hope to maximize their yields with minimal risk of lodging. The Maximizing Barley Yield While Minimizing Lodging
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Cover Crop Production Ramps Up Across Prairies
For the past four years, Farming Smarter has researched the viability of cover crop production in southern Alberta. This study, led by Dr. Yvonne Lawley from the University of Manitoba, includes site locations across the Prairies and aims to answer a litany of cover crop questions; can cover crops grow reliably in the Prairies, if
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Stimulating Study Wraps Up
Our Biostimulants project is wrapping up its final year! Subscribers will soon be able to read the final report on the efficacy of marketplace crop treatments as studied by our Agronomy team. The final report will release in early 2023. The biostimulants project goal was to evaluate which marketplace products were worth their salt and
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