While fall is the most ideal time for soil sampling, spring sampling often needs to happen. In this episode, John Heard, soil fertility specialist with Manitoba Agriculture chats with ag editor Bree Rody about how to approach spring soil sampling, best practices for sampling and getting your soil in top shape as spring seeding approaches. Never miss an episode by Never miss an episode by subscribing to Inputs on https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/inputs-by-top-crop-manager/id1494756804 (Apple Podcasts), https://open.spotify.com/show/0VU7HhyqQJPs3XEGMDLWhm (Spotify), https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vaW5wdXRzLWJ5LXRvcC1jcm9wLW1hLw?hl=en-CA (Google Podcasts) or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Recently, sulphur has become a more frequent addition to nutrient management plans. A decline in soil test sulphur means farmers should plan to manage the nutrient just as they would with phosphorus or potassium. In this episode, Cristie Preston, PhD, senior agronomist with Nutrien, discusses why sulphur deficiency is more widespread than in the past, how to recognize the symptoms and application recommendations. Sponsored by https://smartnutritionmst.com/ (Smart Nutrition MAP + MST).

The 2020 season threw some curve balls at soybean growers in Manitoba: a slow, cold start, precipitation extremes, and an early killing frost. In this episode, Top Crop Manager associate editor Alex Barnard discusses the challenges and outcomes of the soybean season with Laura Schmidt, production specialist with Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers. Never miss an episode by subscribing to Inputs on https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/inputs-by-top-crop-manager/id1494756804 (Apple Podcasts), https://open.spotify.com/show/0VU7HhyqQJPs3XEGMDLWhm (Spotify), https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vaW5wdXRzLWJ5LXRvcC1jcm9wLW1hLw?hl=en-CA (Google Podcasts) or wherever you listen to podcasts. Sponsored by http://nutrien-ekonomics.com/ (Nutrien eKonomics). Show notes:https://www.manitobapulse.ca/ (Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers) https://www.manitobapulse.ca/production/variety-evaluation-guide/ (2020 Pulse and Soybean Variety Guide) https://www.manitobapulse.ca/production/the-bean-report/ (The Bean Report), MPSG's biweekly newsletter https://www.manitobapulse.ca/production/production-resources/ (Production resources) https://www.manitobapulse.ca/on-farm-network/ (On-Farm Network) https://twitter.com/MbPulseGrowers (MPSG on Twitter)

The 2019 growing season presented some challenges to Ontario cereal growers, but 2020 conditions were a welcome change for most producers across the province. In this episode, Joanna Follings, the cereals specialists for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, recaps the 2020 Ontario winter wheat and spring cereals season, and shares details about new data for growers to use in the coming years. Check out the Ontario Cereal Crops Committee 2020 cereal reports https://www.gocereals.ca/ (here), and stay tuned for more data on spring cereals. Never miss an episode by subscribing to Inputs on https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/inputs-by-top-crop-manager/id1494756804 (Apple Podcasts), https://open.spotify.com/show/0VU7HhyqQJPs3XEGMDLWhm (Spotify), https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vaW5wdXRzLWJ5LXRvcC1jcm9wLW1hLw?hl=en-CA (Google Podcasts) or wherever you listen to podcasts.

In agriculture, you often hear about the importance of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). These macronutrients are essential for crop health. In excessive amounts or uneven ratios, they can also be harmful. But what about sulphur (S)? Jeff Schoenau, professor of soil science at the University of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture chair of soil nutrient management. He explains sulphur's role as a macronutrient in plant and soil health and the main things growers should know about S. Never miss an episode by subscribing to Inputs on https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/inputs-by-top-crop-manager/id1494756804 (Apple Podcasts), https://open.spotify.com/show/0VU7HhyqQJPs3XEGMDLWhm (Spotify), https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vaW5wdXRzLWJ5LXRvcC1jcm9wLW1hLw?hl=en-CA (Google Podcasts) or wherever you listen to podcasts. Sponsored by https://smartnutritionmst.com/ (Nutrien Smart Nutrition).

Fall soil management is important, and applying sulphur and other fertilizers in the fall can be beneficial to crops. But there are specific conditions to be mindful of in order to ensure the benefits outweigh the risks. In this episode, Cristie Preston, PhD, agronomist with Nutrien, shares recommendations for fall-applied fertilizer and how to mitigate the risks associated with applying sulphur in the fall. Never miss an episode by subscribing to Inputs on https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/inputs-by-top-crop-manager/id1494756804 (Apple Podcasts), https://open.spotify.com/show/0VU7HhyqQJPs3XEGMDLWhm (Spotify), https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vaW5wdXRzLWJ5LXRvcC1jcm9wLW1hLw?hl=en-CA (Google Podcasts) or wherever you listen to podcasts. Sponsored by Nutrien Smart Nutrition.

Yield maps, moisture maps, combine speed – collecting this harvest data can be helpful, but how do we put it into play? Lydia Parker, field product specialist with Climate FieldView, shares tips on preparing for harvest and how to use harvest data to your advantage throughout the entire growing season, from seeding to post-harvest. Never miss an episode by subscribing to Inputs on https://annex.omeclk.com/portal/wts/uemcnr%7CgwfaqzN-cAh0a2Drd-b (Apple Podcasts), https://annex.omeclk.com/portal/wts/uemcnr%7CgwfaqzN-cAh0q2Drd-b (Spotify), https://annex.omeclk.com/portal/wts/uemcnr%7CgwfaqzN-cAh062Drd-b (Google Podcasts) or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Cover crops are widely seen as a beneficial practice, with effects like improved soil health, weed management and erosion protection. They also require a little planning and knowledge to be successful. Kris McNaughton is a research technician at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus. She discusses the importance of forethought: termination of a cover crop, the crops that preceded and will follow in that field, and how herbicide use can affect the cover crop. Yvonne Lawley, a professor in the plant science department at the University of Manitoba, and Callum Morrison, a University of Manitoba PhD student, discuss a cover crop survey they conducted in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta in 2019 and the importance of considering the realities of your farm when deciding on cover crops. Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/inputs-by-top-crop-manager/id1494756804 (Apple Podcasts), https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vaW5wdXRzLWJ5LXRvcC1jcm9wLW1hLw?hl=en-CA (Google Podcasts), https://open.spotify.com/show/0VU7HhyqQJPs3XEGMDLWhm (Spotify), or wherever you listen to podcasts. Show notes"https://www.topcropmanager.com/webinars/what-to-consider-when-looking-at-cover-crops/ (What to consider when looking at cover crops)," a webinar from April 2020 led by Anne Verhallen, OMAFRA horticultural soil management specialist. http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/pub75/pub75A/pub75Atoc.htm (OMAFRA Publication 75A, Guide to Weed Control: Field Crops) http://mccc.msu.edu/ (Midwest Cover Crop Council) http://mccc.msu.edu/selector-tool/ (Cover crop selector tool) https://ag.purdue.edu/agry/dtc/Pages/CCFG.aspx (Midwest Cover Crops Field Guide) (and http://mccc.msu.edu/midwest-cover-crops-field-guide-mobile-app/ (the mobile app version)) https://www.sare.org/publications/covercrops/covercrops.pdf (Managing Cover Crops Profitably), published by the USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/climatechange/?cid=stelprdb1077238 (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) website for cover crops and and soil health) https://www.ndsu.edu/soilhealth/ (North Dakota State University (NDSU) soil health website) https://www.ndsu.edu/soilhealth/?page_id=4061 (Soil Sense podcast) Abbey Wick on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ndsusoilhealth?lang=en (@NDSUsoilhealth) On Twitter: https://twitter.com/YvonneLawley_UM (@YvonneLawley_UM) https://twitter.com/CallumMorrisons (@CallumMorrisons) https://twitter.com/Anne_Verhallen (@Anne_Verhallen) https://twitter.com/drobinridgetown (@drobinridgetown)

There are so many variables in a cropping season, and when it comes to your inputs, a precision application can be beneficial in more ways than one. As Andria Karstens, field product specialist for Western Canada with Climate FieldView, explains in this episode, crop scripting and targeted applications can answer lots of the common questions that growers ask every year and streamline your process from one year to the next. Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/inputs-by-top-crop-manager/id1494756804 (Apple Podcasts), https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vaW5wdXRzLWJ5LXRvcC1jcm9wLW1hLw?hl=en-CA (Google Podcasts), https://open.spotify.com/show/0VU7HhyqQJPs3XEGMDLWhm (Spotify), or wherever you listen to podcasts. Sponsored by Climate FieldView.

While there are indicators that help predict disease prevalence in a growing season, the many factors that influence crop disease risk and severity keep farmers, agronomists and pathologists on their toes. 2020 has been a wet year for many on the Prairies, but this has less of an effect on crop disease than you may expect, according to Kelly Turkington, a plant pathologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lacombe, Alta. Turkington explains why infection levels vary by year, a variety of management methods, and the importance of pathologists in determining disease prevalence and severity. Never miss an episode of Inputs by subscribing to the podcast on https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/inputs-by-top-crop-manager/id1494756804 (Apple Podcasts), https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vaW5wdXRzLWJ5LXRvcC1jcm9wLW1hLw?hl=en-CA (Google Podcasts), https://open.spotify.com/show/0VU7HhyqQJPs3XEGMDLWhm (Spotify), or wherever you listen to podcasts.