19 It’s Farming. And It’s Better. Better Farming | January 2024 Looking at potassium, two per cent were in the very low range, 13 per cent in the low range and 50 per cent in the medium range. Chris commented that “generally speaking, we are seeing a downward trend in soil test levels. Some of it can be attributed to higher fertilizer costs, as growers look at only applying crop (nutrient) removal. The challenge is that we are attaining consistently higher yields, with improved genetics and cropping practices, which is potentially taking out more nutrients than once thought.” If we look at crop removal rates, OMAFRA would suggest the following for corn and soybean removal rates per bushel. One can simply do the math to see crop removal rates comparing yields from today and yields from 25+ years ago to see that we need to ensure we are feeding our crop to maintain high yield levels. In my area, soybean yields were up five to 10 bushels and corn 20 to 30 bushels in 2023 compared to the prior year – and as much as 10 to 15 for soybeans and 30 to 40 for corn over a five to 10-year period. CROP FERTILITY PROGRAMS Leslie Stewart photo Crop P205 K20 Corn .37-.44 4.6-5.2 Soybeans .8-.88 1.38-.14 Genetic yield gain and management practices have led to higher yields over years. Mental Health Training for the Agriculture Community AgricultureWellnessOntario.ca Individuals Sign up for one of our monthly virtual workshops today! Open to producers, agriculture professionals and community members. Groups Request a private training for your board, staff or membership. For teams and groups of 5-30 people. In the Know is a free workshop tailored to the agriculture community that increases understanding of mental health and wellness, normalizes conversations about mental health and reduces stigma.
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