Winter cereals see all four seasons in Ontario, which means a wide variety of environmental conditions can affect their growth and yield. What can growers expect after a cooler fall for planting in parts of the province and an unusually warm winter? Do typical considerations like nitrogen and sulphur application timings and pest management strategies changed in a year like this one?

In this episode of Inputs, Joanna Follings, cereals specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), gives an overview of fall 2023 planting conditions for winter cereals, including what effects the warmer than average winter might have, an update on spring cereals planting, and some tips for nutrient applications and pest and disease management.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

• Field Crop News for in-season updates agronomic information
• Wheat Ag Pest Monitor for stripe rust tracking and more

Support for this episode provided by Gowan Canada.

In March, during the first installment of our two-part series on managing drought, we chatted about what growers need to be doing right now to ensure their soil and crops have the best opportunity to thrive this coming summer.

In this episode of Inputs, we expand on this topic, tapping into some of the measures farmers need to take over the course of the growing season to maintain healthy soil and crops. Dustin Farr is an instructor in the ag management program at Olds College of Agriculture and Technology, and he shares some of his insights into improving soil health and water retention, as well as how farmers can conserve a healthy growing environment during dry conditions.

In mid-September, thousands of Ontario aggies descend on Woodstock, Ont., annually for Canada's Outdoor Farm Show (COFS) to see the latest (and biggest) equipment and machinery, innovations and technology. One of the elements that the pandemic put into perspective was the value of conversations held at events like this – whether at a booth, watching a demonstration, or in the beer tent, having a casual chat is a great way to learn what other people in agriculture are thinking, considering, or trying.

In this episode of Inputs, Top Crop Manager East editor Alex Barnard spoke with:

• Peggy Brekveld, president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture alumni, about how the conversations and concerns brought up at a show can influence future policy discussions;
• Ian Virtue, marketing and communications co-ordinator with the Ontario Soil Network and Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario (IFAO), about his recent switch from the world of finance to agriculture, what motivated his decision, and what he's learned so far; and
• Dean Anderson, strategic advisor, agriculture, with Workplace Safety and Prevention Services, about tips on how to stay safe – and keep those around you safe – during the hectic harvest season.

 Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Support for this episode provided by Gowan Canada.

With harvest on the horizon, the performance of this year’s crop will set the stage for what’s required next year. Robert Mullen, director of agronomy sales for Nutrien, joins us on this episode of Inputs: the podcast by Top Crop Manager, to discuss post harvest best practices, from soil sampling to nutrient management.

Ontario saw poor winter wheat survival in 2019, in part because of wet weather in the fall and spring. To avoid a repeat season, growers are exploring how to ensure their crop gets off to a good start. In this episode, Joanna Follings discusses some of the risks of planting early, ideal seeding rate and depth, along with some input considerations for a good winter wheat crop.

Busy harvesting and planning for next season, September is a hectic time for farmers in Western Canada. This past year proved to be a challenging one for growers in the Prairies – whether it was dealing with fluctuating weather patterns, trying to maintain soil health for next spring or keeping machinery clean and working efficiently, growers have a lot on their plate right now.

In this episode of Inputs, Carmen Prang, an agronomy extension specialist with the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, talks about some best practices when it comes to harvesting wheat in Western Canada, as well as some tips on how set yourself up for success next spring.

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According to surveys conducted between 2015 and 2017, 48 to 99 per cent of lentil and pea fields in Saskatchewan had moderate to severe root rot; heavily infested fields in Saskatchewan and Alberta reported complete yield losses. There are few tools to combat root rots available – long crop rotations or lowering the pathogen load in a field through control options applied to other crops in rotation are the most common ones to combat Aphanomyces euteiches and Fusarium avenaceum – two soil-borne root rots found across the Prairies – respectively.

In January, Sabine Banniza, a professor in the University of Saskatchewan's College of Agriculture and Bioresources, received funding from Saskatchewan's Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) and the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Association for a four-year project to develop a multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) lentil population that aims to have resistance to A. euteiches and F. avenaceum.

In this episode of Inputs, Banniza speaks with Top Crop Manager East editor Alex Barnard about the goals and intended methods of the MAGIC lentil project, lentil breeding and resistance genes in general, and the particular challenges created by A. euteiches and F. avenaceum.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Support for this episode provided by Gowan Canada.

Keeping nitrogen where you want it is most beneficial for your crop, the environment and your wallet. Enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizers, or EENFs, are meant to do exactly that. But the different functions and varieties available can make it daunting to know what's the right choice.

Cheyne Ogilvie, an agrologist who recently completed her graduate studies at the University of Saskatchewan, spoke with Inputs co-host Dylan Sjølie about EENFs and her research on them. In this episode, she discusses what EENFs are and how the different varieties function, 4R nutrient management, and her graduate research on whether EENFs could reduce nitrous oxide emissions – specifically, in irrigated spring wheat in central Saskatchewan.

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• You can find Cheyne on Twitter at @cheyne_ogilvie
• Her thesis can be found here.

Support for this episode provided by Gowan Canada.

They may be hard to see, but don’t make the mistake of neglecting these tiny, green pests until it’s too late! Aphids can cause damage to several crops, particularly when high numbers descend on your field, as can lygus bugs, which can wreak havoc even in lower quantities.

In this episode of Inputs, John Gavloski, an entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture, and Rachel Evans, technical sales manager for the eastern Prairies with FMC Canada, talk about how to control aphids and lygus bugs, as well as what growers can expect this coming season.

Corn can be susceptible to several different pests throughout the growing season, and for farmers, understanding which BT traits they are using in their fields is vital for a successful control management strategy.

In this episode of Inputs, research scientist for field crop pest management at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown campus Jocelyn Smith discusses the various pests that can impact corn growers in Ontario and Eastern Canada, as well as what farmers can do to mitigate the threat and help advance ongoing research.

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Support for this episode provided by FMC Canada.

Grasshoppers can make farmers a little jumpy this time of year, particularly when the weather is hot and dry. But, there are ways to manage these pests and keep their numbers under control.

 In this episode of Inputs, James Tansey, and entomologist with the Government of Saskatchewan, and Rachel Evans, technical sales manager for the eastern Prairies with FMC Canada, share their insights into what regions could see high numbers of grasshoppers this year, how to implement an ideal integrated pest management strategy and what growers can expect when using products that help mitigate these resilient insects. 

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Herbicide resistance is an industry-wide problem, which means everyone has a part to play in preventing or slowing the development of resistance. In this episode, Dale Ziprick, a product manager with Gowan Canada, discusses the benefits of herbicides old and new, slowing the development of glyphosate resistance in wild oat in Canada, and the importance of layering or rotating herbicides. 

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Support for this episode provided by Gowan Canada.

The recent snowfall might have put a damper on planting fervour, but we're closing in on the right time to put crops in the ground for 2023. But taking a little time to prepare what you can while you can will save time and headaches down the line, and starting clean can help set you up for success.

In this episode of Inputs, co-host Dylan Sjolie speaks with Ian Epp, an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada and active farmer, about preparing for the 2023 growing season. They discuss the lingering effects of the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons on the Prairies, what the new regulations for lambda-cyhalothrin mean for canola growers, and the early season pests and diseases producers should watch for.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

• Contact Ian at eppi@canolacouncil.org or find your regional CCC agronomy specialist
• The Canola Encyclopedia
• Sign up for weekly Canola Watch emails

Support for this episode provided by Gowan Canada.

It's officially spring, which means planting time is fast approaching. What should Ontario corn growers keep in mind as they prepare for the 2023 growing season?

In this episode of Inputs, Ben Rosser, corn specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), recaps the 2022 corn season, shares some things to watch for in the coming season, and discusses a corn strip-till fertility trial going on at the University of Guelph.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

• Visit gocorn.net for hybrid info, seasonal summaries, interactive tools and more.
• FieldCropNews.com posts helpful articles throughout the growing season.

Support for this episode provided by Gowan.

After a winter with below-average snowfall levels, farmers in Alberta and across the Prairies need to plan now for what could be a dry growing season. In this episode of Inputs, we are joined by agronomist extension specialist Ruoxi Xia, who works with Alberta Grains. Xia shares her insights and some tips on how growers can prepare for potential drought conditions, including what measures should be taken right now, which crops are more susceptible to dry conditions, what resources are available to farmers and much more.

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Support for this episode provided by Gowan Canada.

Insect pests are a fact of life each season; the big question is which ones are going to pose a greater problem than others. While it's not possible to know everything before the growing season kicks off in earnest, there are factors already at play which can provide some indication of what to watch for.

In this episode, Eastern editor Alex Barnard chats with Tracey Baute, field crop entomologist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, discuss top insect pests from 2022, pests to watch for in 2023, and what to know about the loss of products containing lambda-cyhalothrin.

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Show notes

• Field Crop News: Field crop pest management in the absence of Matador, Silencer, Voliam Xpress and Endigo in 2023
• Podcast: Managing Bt-resistant corn rootworm

Support for this episode provided by Gowan. 

Looking to spice up or lengthen your rotation? For the past five years, the Diverse Field Crops Cluster (DFCC) has been working to make the decision to include special crops in your operation easier.

Led by Ag-West Bio and with funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) program and industry partners, the DFCC is supporting research and development of flax, camelina, canaryseed, sunflower, hemp, quinoa and mustard.

In this episode of Inputs, Eastern editor Alex Barnard is joined by:

• Carol Ann Patterson, DFCC project manager;
• Rick Mitzel, DFCC's mustard crop sector member and executive director of SaskMustard;
• Carlene Sarvas, DFCC's camelina crop sector member and camelina production lead at Smart Earth Camelina; and
• Jeff Kostuik, DFCC's hemp crop sector member and general manager of Verve Seeds.

The five discuss the purpose of DFCC, three of the seven crops included in the cluster, and what the project has achieved so far.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

• Diverse Field Crops Cluster website
• Mustard
• SaskMustard website
• Mustard production manual
• Cory Jacob, Saskatchewan oilseed specialist
• Camelina
• Smart Earth Camelina website
• Hemp
• Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance website
• Hemp production eGuide

Support for this episode provided by Nutrien eKonomics and Farm Credit Canada (FCC).

Pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV), first identified in Canadian field pea breeding lines in 1974, is an economically damaging pathogen affecting pulse crops, including field pea, lentils and fababeans. Its symptoms on pulses include mosaicked leaves, delayed or uneven crop maturation, and various forms of seed and pod deformation. 

Dr. Sean Prager, entomologist and associate professor in the department of plant sciences at the University of Saskatchewan. Prager runs a lab that focuses (mainly) on insect ecology and management, and is involved with a project looking at pea aphids as a vector of infection for PSbMV.

In this episode, Prager speaks with Inputs co-host Dylan Sjolie about what PSbMV is and how to recognize it in pulse crops, management options, and the recently funded PSbMV project with which he's involved. 

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

• You can reach Prager on Twitter at @USaskEnt or via email at sean.prager@usask.ca
• Learn more about Prager's research at Prager Lab
• More information on project objectives can be found here: Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund

Support for this episode provided by AGI.

The Living Laboratories initiative, introduced by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in 2018 and implemented in several provincially organized labs in the intervening years, has been reframing the relationship between research and innovation. A collaborative effort between producers, industry groups and researchers, Living Labs projects examine practices in the field and emphasize evolution over replicability.

Tracey Ryan, applied research co-ordinator with the Ontario Soil and Crops Improvement Association (OSCIA) and co-lead of Living Lab-Ontario, discusses the six current projects taking place in Ontario, the learning curve involved in getting the moving pieces to work together, and the future of Living Lab-Ontario. 

 Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Show notes

• OSCIA: Living Lab-Ontario
• Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario (IFAO)
• Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO)
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada: Living Labs initiative
• Top Crop Manager: An innovative approach to advancing innovation

Support for this episode provided by Nutrien Smart Nutrition and Farm Management Canada (FMC).

Insect pests are a fact of life in agriculture. Having an idea of what coming in the season ahead is just one of the benefits of tracking what's in your fields and knowing what's happening in the fields a town – or a province – over. Thanks to a group of entomologists and ag collaborators, the Prairies are being kept well-informed.

In this episode of Inputs, co-host Dylan Sjolie speaks with Meghan Vankosky, an agricultural entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Saskatoon Research and Development Centre and co-chair of the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network (PPMN). She discusses the PPMN – what it is, how it came to be, and what insects it mainly monitors – as well as insect trends observed on the Prairies in 2022 and what the population maps indicate is likely to happen in 2023.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

• Meghan can be reached on Twitter (@vanbugsky) and by email at meghanvankosky@agr.gc.ca 
• Prairie Pest Monitoring Network: https://prairiepest.ca/
• Saskatchewan producers can sign up to participate in pest surveys at saskatchewan.ca/pest-monitoring 

Support for this episode provided by FCC Next-Gen.

What information do canola growers need to improve their crop? The Manitoba Canola Growers Association set out to answer this question in 2022 through a survey and coordinating trials led by research manager Sonia Wilson.

Wilson joins co-host Dylan Sjolie in this episode to share details about her goals and position within the association, and insights about the trials conducted in 2022. With three different trials in 12 site locations, the Manitoba Canola Growers Association compiled data, now available on their website, to help canola growers in the province make better decisions.  

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Show notes:

• Visit the Manitoba Canola Growers Association on Twitter @CanolaGrowers
• View more information and results from the Canola On-Farm Research Program
• Reach Sonia via email

Farming is an innovative business, and managing resistance is one area where that shines especially bright. Many farmers who deal with resistance – whether herbicide-resistant weeds, insecticide-resistant insects, or fungicide-resistant diseases – have developed some method of coping that works for them – and might for others. But aside from the local coffee shop or deep-diving on Twitter, how do you share those tips and compare notes with other resistance-managing farmers?

Jennifer Hubert, executive director of plant biotechnology with CropLife Canada and head of Manage Resistance Now, is looking for on-farm, resistance management success stories with the recently launched Pest Management Challenge. From rotating crops or chemistries to unique, complex strategies, all forms of resistance management great and small are welcome in the challenge.

In this episode of Inputs, Hubert discusses Manage Resistance Now, the importance of maintaining the tools we currently have, and the goals of the challenge – one of which is to create a peer-to-peer information-sharing hub.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

• Manage Resistance Now
• The Pest Management Challenge
• Economic gains from resistance management (factsheet)

Support for this episode provided by Nutrien ESN and Farm Management Canada.

Plot2Farm looks to ask agronomic questions and conduct discussions about best management practices with the goal of helping farmers make better decisions. The project, led by the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions and co-ordinated by Jeremy Boychyn, agronomy research extension specialist, is a producer-driven program with the framework and support for producers to conduct their own research programs that can be easily implemented on farms throughout the province.

In this episode, co-host Dylan Sjolie learns more about the program from Jeremy Boychyn, who also shares highlights from some of the trials conducted to date.

Learn more about Plot2Farm here and follow Jeremy on Twitter @BoychynJeremy

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

It's the most wonderful time of the year – to look back on the previous season and start planning (or finish planting) for next year! Given some challenging conditions during fall 2021 and summer 2022, how did the winter and spring cereal crops fare?

In this episode of Inputs, Sophie Krolikowski, acting cereals specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), discusses the 2022 season, starting with planting in fall 2021, how winter cereals planting has gone so far for the 2023 growing season, and some upcoming events and initiatives farmers can participate in.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

• Field Crop News
• OMAFRA Publication 811: Agronomy Guide for Field Crops
• Ontario Cereal Crops Committee
• Resistant Wild Oat Action Committee (through the Canadian Weed Science Society)
• Great Lakes YEN (yield enhancement network)
• Ontario Agriculture Conference (formerly SWAC)

Support for this episode provided by Gowan and Farm Credit Canada.

Palmer amaranth is a term that makes farmers and agronomists shudder a little each time it's mentioned. Native to the United States, it's an invasive weed that has been on the radar in Canada for several years due to its ability to develop herbicide resistance so quickly. As Kim Brown-Livingston states, it grows quickly and causes incredible economic damage, making it a super (concerning) weed.

In this episode, Brown-Livingston, provincial weed specialist with Manitoba Agriculture and Rural Development, chats with co-host Dylan Sjolie about Palmer amaranth. With recent findings of the weed in Manitoba, Brown-Livingston shares details about Palmer amaranth, and what to do if it shows up in your field.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Show notes:

• International Herbicide-Resistant Weed Database
• Contact Kim Brown-Livingston via email or on Twitter @storytimewitkim

With more and more digital agricultural tools on the farm – whether guiding or driving the tractor, tracking finances or prices, or optimizing conditions in a barn – cybersecurity management should be on your radar, no matter the size of your operation. Just like you would manage any new pest, you should add cybersecurity to your toolbox.

Janos Botschner, lead investigator of cyber security capacity in Canadian agriculture with the Community Safety Knowledge Alliance (CSKA), wants to ensure Canada's farmers are informed and prepared for cyber threats. In this episode of Inputs, he discusses the current risk situation, the bad actors at play, and some approaches to cyber preparedness and resilience (as well as resources available) that farmers should keep in mind.

 Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Support for this episode provided by Gowan Canada.

Soils at Guelph wants to get the science-backed, sustainable word out about soil health. Led by the ag research power trio of Kari Dunfield, Laura Van Eerd and Claudia Wagner-Riddle as co-executive directors, it serves as a multidisciplinary, collaborative knowledge hub for researchers and industry stakeholders to bring together their expertise and questions about soil.

In this episode of Inputs, Heather White, knowledge mobilization and communications co-ordinator at Soils at Guelph, discusses what the initiative is, the collaborative nature of the work conducted through Soils at Guelph, and opportunities for grower involvement.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Show notes

• Soils at Guelph is on the web and on Twitter @SoilsAtGuelph
• Cooking with Covers: A three-part video mini-series on cover crops put together by White's predecessor;
• The Soil Your Undies program;
• Have a soil question? Want to get involved? Reach out to the Soils at Guelph team at soils@uoguelph.ca.

Support for this episode provided by Nutrien eKonomics and Corteva.

Pulse crops have made waves in Western Canada in recent years, and for good reason – they're high in protein and pull their weight in a rotation by fixing nitrogen. Like any crop, there are agronomic challenges, but there's growing potential.

In this episode, Robyne Davidson, pulse crop specialist and research scientist at Lakeland College in Lacombe, Alta., shares agronomic insights about how well pulse crops performed in the province this season, and gives updates on the research pipeline.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Show notes:

• Have questions about pulse crops? Reach out to Robyne via email or on Twitter @PulseChickAB

Grasshoppers, flea beetles, lygus bugs, grasshoppers, crickets – Tyler Wist has seen all of these and more in recent years. Wist, a research scientist and field crop entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Saskatoon, is the guest on this week's episode of Inputs, and unlike many, he's happy to see insects show up in field crops. In this conversation, he breaks down some of the research in his pipeline, his observations from the 2022 season, and chats about Field Heroes, the program that supports beneficial insects and pollinators.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Show notes:

• Find Tyler Wist on Twitter: @TylerWist1
• Check out the Field Heroes website or Twitter to learn more about beneficial insects

Support for this episode provided by Smart Nutrition MAP + MST and Corteva.

Continuous corn has been possible the past couple decades thanks to Bt corn hybrids. But, as in many situations where there are limited options for control, the repeated use of Bt corn has allowed resistance to develop in corn rootworm populations. In a report published in late August, Tracey Baute, field crop entomologist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), stated that cases of corn rootworm resistance to Bt rootworm (Bt-RW) hybrids have cropped up in fields of continuous corn in new counties. 

Corn is used by many livestock farmers as feed due to its abundance and nutritional content. So, what can we do? In this episode of Inputs, Baute discusses how Bt corn hybrids have worked to manage corn rootworm so far, how resistance has developed and what it means for corn growers going forward.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

• OMAFRA's Field Crop News recently discussed strategies for dealing with resistant rootworm populations;
• Alternative forages to silage corn (compiled by OMAFRA forage and grazing specialist Christine O'Reilly;
• Baute references a massive windstorm in Iowa – this was the August 2020 Iowa derecho.

Support for this episode provided by Dekalb and FCC AgExpert.

When you've worked so hard all year to achieve a beautiful canola crop, the last thing you need is a problem in the bin. Luckily, the Canola Council of Canada has five simple tips for keeping crops clean and ready for market. Harvest season is busy, but it's important to remember that the season doesn't end after the crop is in the bin.

Ian Epp, an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada and active farmer, joins Stefanie Croley to review recommendations from Keep it Clean and share practical advice to help finish your season off on a great note.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Show notes:

• Visit KeepitClean.ca to review the 5 Simple Tips to keep your crop ready for market.

The Canola Council of Canada recently launched Canola 4R Advantage, a program designed to help growers initiate or advance nutrient stewardship and fertilizer efficiency on canola farms. Curtis Rempel, vice-president of crop production and innovation for the Canola Council of Canada, joins co-host Stefanie Croley to discuss the program and break down the benefits available to canola producers.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Show notes:

• Find out more about the Canola 4R Advantage program here.

Biscuity, bready, toffee, a chewy mouth feel – if you appreciate these adjectives in your beer, you have malt barley to thank. This cereal is the lesser-known hero of many a craft brew, next to the punchier presence of hops. 

Aaron Mills, an agronomist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Charlottetown, P.E.I., has parlayed an interest in craft beer – developed while working at a craft brewery in the Annapolis Valley – into a search for barley varieties suited for growing conditions in Atlantic Canada. In this episode of Inputs, Mills and Alex Barnard, editor of Top Crop Manager East, discuss how craft beer has informed his research, what he looks for in a malt barley variety for the East Coast, and the challenges of growing the crop in Maritime conditions.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

• The Jason mentioned in this episode is Jason McCallum, a research scientist with AAFC-Charlottetown who collaborates with Mills on Maritime hops and barley research.

April, May and June showers bring... bumper crops? That's the hope, especially in Manitoba, where excess rain has delayed seeding and spraying, impacted crop emergence and created high weed, disease and insect pest pressure. In this episode of Inputs, co-host Dylan Sjolie chats with entomologist John Gavloski and field crop pathologist David Kaminski, both with Manitoba Agriculture, on the challenges producers are facing in the province. Gavloski and Kaminski share insight on how precipitation affects the development of plant diseases and insects, as well as advice and predictions for the remainder of the season.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Show notes:

• Manitoba Agriculture releases a weekly crop report with regional information for producers.
• Manitoba Crop Pest Updates are released regularly through the growing season.
• Fusarium head blight risk maps are updated daily through the season.

It's said the first cut is the deepest – for forages, it's also the longest in terms of plant development and giving pesky insects the opportunity to snack on the growing crop.

Christine O'Reilly, forage and grazing specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), discusses how the season is going so far in preparation for (or shortly after) the first cut for many forage farmers, as well as scouting and management tips for alfalfa weevil and potato leafhopper, the two major insect pests with which Ontario forage growers must contend.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Show notes

• fieldcropnews.com
• Ontario Crop Protection Hub
• Publication 811, OMAFRA's Agronomy Guide for Field Crops
• May 2022 Ontario forage report
• Potato leafhopper in alfalfa
• Alfalfa weevil

This episode is sponsored by Ag Direct Hail Insurance.

The Canola Council of Canada is a national trade association that represents the entire canola value chain. Beyond offering canola producers across the country agronomic resources and support, the council plays an important role in market and trade.

Clint Jurke, agronomy director of the Canola Council of Canada, joins co-host Dylan Sjolle on this episode of Inputs to share an early season Canadian canola update, hinting at upcoming trends and sharing resources for canola growers as the season progresses.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Show notes:

• Reach Clint Jurke via e-mail
• Subscribe to Canola Watch
• Learn more about Canola Week
• Use the Canola Calculator tool

Sponsored by Farm Credit Canada.

The start of the 2024 growing season is coming fast – do you have a plan for spring nutrient management?

In this episode of Inputs, Chris Brown, field crop sustainability specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), discusses considerations for successful spring manure application, as well as best management practices and an alternate nutrient source coming from urban areas.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

• AgriSuite
• Organic Amendment Decision Support Tool

Support for this episode provided by Smart Nutrition MAP + MST.

When do you plant winter wheat? There may be an ideal date that comes to mind based on where you farm, but the reality is there are plenty of factors that affect when you actually get the crop in the ground, like the previous crop in rotation and when you can get it harvested, weather, soil conditions, and more.

This episode of Inputs features Emma Dieleman, graduate student at the University of Guelph's Ridgetown Campus conducting her research under the supervision of Drs. Dave Hooker and Josh Nasielski. She is looking at the effects of different winter wheat planting dates and the use of harvest desiccants on soybeans when they precede winter wheat in rotation, and discusses why this research is timely, her results so far, and what she's seen from this year's winter wheat crop already.

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Sponsored by Ag Direct Hail Insurance.

As spring seeding gets underway in some parts of the country, our heads are filled with thoughts about what to expect this year. In this episode of Inputs, Stefanie Croley, editorial director of Top Crop Manager, is joined by Farmers Edge's Kris Kinnaird to chat about how to get a handle on all of the variables the coming season may bring, from a sustainability push and high input prices, to unpredictable weather and technology advancements.

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Sponsored by Farmers Edge.

Opinions expressed in this recording are not necessarily those of the editor, publisher or brand team. No liability is assumed for errors or omissions. Podcast recordings do not imply any endorsement of the products or services advertised within a recording.

Wheat stem sawfly has been a problem pest for Prairie growers for years due to a lack of effective chemical options and lifecycle adaptations of the insect.

In this episode of Inputs, Dylan Sjolie, former graduate student at the University of Saskatchewan under the supervision of Dr. Meghan Vankosky and Dr. Christian Willenborg and recent co-host of Inputs, shares details of his recently defended thesis research on population dynamics of wheat stem sawfly. His thesis work looked at the pest's larval mortality factors on the Canadian Prairies and how early season temperatures affected the adult portion of the lifecycles of both wheat stem sawfly and its parasitoid, Bracon cephi. 

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Sponsored by Gowan.

Opinions expressed in this recording are not necessarily those of the editor, publisher or brand team. No liability is assumed for errors or omissions. Podcast recordings do not imply any endorsement of the products or services advertised within a recording.

Producers in Western Canada know all about canola, but as you head east, the bright yellow crop isn't as common. What’s the word on canola in Ontario? Meghan Moran, the canola and dry edible bean specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, chats with co-host Dylan Sjolie on all of the details of Ontario canola, including recent acreage, agronomy tips and what Ontario canola growers need to know for this season. Meghan shares insights on proper seeding depth, nutrient application, diseases to watch for, insects to keep an eye on and much more.

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Show notes

• Reach out to Meghan via email at meghan.moran@ontario.ca
• Find Meghan on Twitter @MegnMoran

On a global scale, nutrient deficiency is a huge driver of yield gap in wheat production, but other factors – like access to fertilizer and weather conditions – vary depending on region.

In this episode of Inputs, Aiden Sanden, a graduate student at the University of Saskatchewan under the supervision of Dr. Richard Gray, shares details of his studies on mitigating the wheat yield gap. His thesis work aims to determine what the economic optimal allocation of nitrogen fertilizer use is in wheat production. How does the optimal level of nitrogen relate to what producers are actually using, and how does it relate to the yield gap?

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Show notes:

• Reach out to Aiden Sanden for more information: aiden.sanden@gmail.com
• Hear more on the wheat yield gap from Aiden and other researchers by watching the recorded Top Crop Summit presentation.

Spring is quickly approaching and corn growers in Ontario are growing eager to start planting. But before you begin, consider all of the factors that go into your spring seeding plan and ensure you're setting your corn crop up for success from the get-go. In this episode of Inputs, Ben Rosser, corn specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, shares advice to help kick off your corn season, from planting dates and soil moisture to navigating a spring frost.

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Show notes:

• Visit gocorn.net for seasonal summaries, interactive tools and more.
• FieldCropNews.com posts helpful articles throughout the growing season.

Top Crop Manager has long focused on delivering third-party research results and insights to farmers across Canada – but there's so much more than we can share within our print pages. In this episode of Inputs, we introduce a new series called the Graduate Research Showcase, featuring Amanda Fedorchuk, a master's student at the University of Saskatchewan studying plant science.

Amanda joins Inputs host Dylan Sjolie to share methodologies and results from her thesis work aiming to boost weed control in faba bean using several integrated weed management techniques. As Amanda notes, combining residual herbicides with several cultural options increases the overall competitive ability of the crop against herbicide-resistant weeds, while extending the life of the herbicides.

Show notes: 

• Contact Amanda via email at amanda.fedorchuk@usask.ca with questions about her research. 

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Sponsored by ESN Smart Nitrogen.

Keeping fertilizer in your field is an important crop management strategy, and with rising fertilizer costs, it's top of mind now more than ever. In this episode of Inputs, Nutrien's Todd Latimer shares how nitrogen loss occurs, what the risk factors are, and how N loss can be prevented.

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Sponsored by Nutrien ESN.

Peas and other pulse crops have grown in popularity over the years, but growing pulses doesn't come without challenges - like any crop, weed and disease pressure can devastate a field. But with more and more market opportunities and resources for growers, the interest - and potential - for pulse crops continues to grow.

In this episode, Laura Schmidt, production specialist with Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers, shares an update on pulse crops and resources for growers in the province.

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Show notes:

• Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers
• Manitoba Crop Diagnostic Services

Sponsored by Nutrien Smart Nutrition.

Though it's often required in smaller amounts than nitrogen and potassium, phosphorus is a key element to crop nutrition and is critical to establishing good yield potential.

In this episode, Alan Blaylock, senior agronomist with Nutrien, gives a primer on why phosphate is essential to crops, especially in post-drought years, and shares information on the benefits of using mono-ammonium phosphate in combination with micronized sulfur.

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Sponsored by Smart Nutrition MAP + MST.

Peter Sikkema has been researching the importance of weed management on soybean crops for more than three decades now. A professor of weed management for field crops at the University of Guelph, much of Sikkema’s work has been conducted in Ontario, but there are key takeaways from his research for soybean growers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

During this episode of Inputs, Sikkema, along with FMC Canada’s technical sales manager for the Eastern Prairies region, Rachel Evans, talk about several issues facing soybean growers when it comes implementing a quality weed management strategy. Sikkema and Evans discuss the impact of weed interference, factors that influence yield loss due to weed interference, how farmers can minimize losses, as well as other findings from Sikkema’s research and related work done in Manitoba.

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First found in Canada in the early 1900s, the European corn borer (ECB) is one of the most problematic corn pests. Found wherever corn is grown, from the Prairies to the Maritimes, ECB can impact grain quality, yield and harvest. Bt corn hybrids have helped to mitigate some of these risks, but in recent years, Bt-resistant European corn borer has been found in parts of Canada.

In this episode, Jocelyn Smith from the University of Guelph's Ridgetown Campus shares insights and updates on Bt-resistant European corn borer and some best management practices for corn growers.

Show notes

• Canadian Corn Pest Coalition
• Addressing Bt-resistant corn rootworm
• Dr. Jocelyn Smith on Twitter
• Dr. Jocelyn Smith - University of Guelph (Ridgetown Campus)

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High temperatures and limited soil moisture in precipitation created the perfect storm for many insect pests on the Prairies this year. As John Gavloski, entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, notes in this episode, grasshoppers and flea beetles were two of the most prominent insects found in the province this year. Beneficial insects were welcomed in many fields this year, but there were some unpleasant surprises as well.

Show notes:

• Twitter: @Johnthebugguy
• E-mail: John.Gavloski@gov.mb.ca 
• MB Insect page
• Summary of insects in Manitoba crops in 2021

Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Sponsored by Gowan.