The Agronomists, Ep 51: The top agronomic topics of 2021

It’s time to wrap up the 2021 growing season, with a discussion on the most challenging agronomic topics of the year: from soil management, to determining yield capacity, to managing plant growth regulators.

For this special year-end edition of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Jeremy Boychyn with the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions, and RealAgriculture’s Bern Tobin and Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson.

Summary

  • Top stories from the audience? Fertilizer prices, land prices, extreme weather
  • There was a mix of great and very bad stories this year: the increased interest in soil management has been a good news story, for sure
  • Check out the Soil School Bern is talking about, here, because yes, organic matter does really matter
  • Soybeans did incredibly well in Ontario in 2021. A new record!
  • Clip #1: Test weight vs kernel weight: what makes yield?
  • Back from the clip, we learn that Wheat Pete can do quick costume changes
  • What about excess/residual N left after the drought?
  • Was Zombie Canola ever actually dead?
  • Clip #2: Ideal timing of a PGR with Jeremy Boychyn
  • Pete’s on to outfit number 3
  • Under super challenging conditions both east and west, we learned some key things about PGR use in cereals
  • Namely? There is a strong genetic component to overall performance
  • Also, PGRs are a tool, not a silver bullet
  • Finding of Palmer amaranth in Manitoba was a downer for the year. Constant vigilance!
  • Don’t let weed escapes get a free pass. Investigate
  • Huge thank you to each and every one of the people who have joined this show and made it a success. We hope you find it an engaging learning experience, and we’re always open to story ideas or questions we can cover.
  • A big thank you to all of the guests as well — we so much appreciate your time and knowledge!
  • All the best in 2022 — see you January 10!

 

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