Do bacteria have tastes and preferences? In this week’s edition of Growing Possibilities, we answer the question: Why do different legumes need different inoculants? While bacteria can’t make conscious decisions, like humans, they do experience biochemical attraction. Plants release compounds called flavonoids to attract rhizobia (bacteria) and provoke their root colonization. Flavonoids are like a […]
Read More
Fall is upon us, once crops come off the field farmers need to make informed decisions about what tillage method to use. In this week’s edition of Growing Possibilities, we ask: what is the effect of tillage on soil microbes? The short answer is that microbes tend to do better when the soil is left […]
Read More
As fall approaches, and harvest begins, farmers are already starting to think about next year’s fertilizer plan. Today’s farmers are choosing sustainable solutions like crop residue decomposition to maintain nutrient-rich soil. But when does crop residue have value? Crop residue becomes valuable when it is broken down through mechanical and chemical processes. Making it into […]
Read More
In this week’s edition of Growing Possibilities: Demand for organic food is on the rise, but as with many products in 2022, supply chain issues are leading to shortages, and shortages mean higher prices. Is increased organic demand enough to convince farmers that organic farming is worth it, or will it remain a niche market? […]
Read More
Reading time 4 minutes In this week’s edition of Growing Possibilities, we will be taking a closer look at the signs of Nitrogen (N) loss, how to remedy N-deficient soils, and proactive measures you can take to prevent the loss of N. In the last blog post, we discussed how N is critical for plant […]
Read More
Farmers have been put through the ringer this year with a seemingly unending winter and now constant rain. By now, flooding and oversaturated fields may have introduced a new contender to the ring: nitrogen deficiency. In this week’s edition of Growing Possibilities, we will discuss the four main processes in which nitrogen (N) is […]
Read More
Summertime is here! As the season progresses, planted crops are germinating, or have already emerged and are advancing through their stages. On top of the ever-changing weather we’ve had this year, farmers have another problem – pests. Pesky bugs like flea beetles, aphids, grasshoppers, and many more are chewing through your crops. Many of you […]
Read More
In our last blog post, we discussed the importance of soil microflora and how it is affected by flooding and stagnant water in your fields. As certain areas may still be experiencing flooding, some of you might be wondering, how can you manage your field for seeding after it was heavily flood damaged? In […]
Read More
Some areas of Canada, like us here in Manitoba, have experienced increased flooding this year due to late snowstorms, intense periods of rain, and warmer temperatures quickly melting the existing snow. Understandably, you might be concerned about the impact of flooding on the stability of your soil’s microbial health. Will these extreme conditions negatively affect […]
Read More
Spring is finally here and it’s time for us to stop hibernating and start seeding! Unfortunately, as we come out of our holes to embrace the warmth of spring, so do the pests. There are all kinds of pests ready to try and damage crop production, but thankfully farmers have pesticides to fight back. But […]
Read More