Soil testing window closing with winter temperatures

Apr 13, 2018

With extended winter conditions across the prairies, the window for spring soil testing may become even shorter.

Soil testing is recommended to determine what nutrient levels are in the ground for the crop.

Most farmers do their soil tests in the fall, but some take samples again to double-check those results before seeding.

Allie Noble, an Agricultural Extension Spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, says those doing spring soil tests should get out right when the ground has started to thaw out.

"For spring seeded fields it's best to do your testing just once the soil has thawed," she said. "It's not entirely based on how warm the soils are."

Noble says even though there may not be a lot of time to get a soil test done this spring, it’s still something to consider.

"Because it was a dry year last year there is potential that there was some nutrients that were not used or lost," she said. "A spring soil test should be helpful to determine what was left behind from last year's crop and the only way to know for sure is doing a soil test."

Source : Discoverestevan

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.