Back to Basics: Improving Soil and Creating Opportunities for a Healthy Food System

Apr 19, 2024

Dr. Lord Abbey, Associate Professor in the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences at Dalhousie University and Bioenterprise SIAC Advisor, speaks about soil health, compost, and creating pathways for Canadian immigrants interested in agriculture.

By Tabitha Caswell for Bioenterprise

In the evolution of Canadian agriculture, few stories are as compelling as that of Dr. Lord Abbey. He’s traversed the globe from Ghana to Canada and beyond to witness its diverse landscapes firsthand. Marked by an insatiable curiosity, Dr. Abbey’s path reflects a relentless pursuit of knowledge and innovation, an unyielding resilience, and a commitment to fostering collaborative partnerships.

Here, serving as a member of the Science and Innovation Advisory Committee (SIAC) with Bioenterprise and Associate Professor in the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences at Dalhousie University, Dr. Abbey offers insight on topics that are far-reaching but close to his heart.

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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.