Sidebar: How to tell when salt is really hurting your fields Tuesday, August 4, 2009 What are the warning signs that salt contamination might be at work? Keith Reid, the Ontario agriculture ministry's soil fertility specialist, says the sodium portion of salt can stick to clay and therefore can build in soil and hurt its structure. An indication of buildup would be the soil falling apart and turning to mud when it rains, making it susceptible to crusting. High concentrations of salts will reduce a plant's growth because they affect the process it uses to draw water and nutrients. "In serious situations, you'll get roots that actually look like they're burned. They'll be darkened and look like somebody has held a lit match to them," he says. The same sort of effect is found when too high a rate of fertilizer is applied too close to seeds. In severe situations, there will be no growth. Agronomist Owen Gifford explains that when soil's salt level is too high, roots can't draw water and nutrients. "Even when the soil seems wet enough, the plants are wilting and dying from dehydration," he says. Reid recommends testing a soil sample for conductivity to determine the total salts. "Conductivity is the test that tells you whether it really is a salt problem," he says, pointing out that low pH "can look an awful lot like a salt injury in the field." A sodium soil test will determine whether there are structural problems in the soil and provide pointers to the source of contamination: "If it is high sodium, we don't normally apply sodium as a fertilizer, so it's coming from somewhere else." The only way to get rid of the contamination is to flush it out, say both Gifford and Reid. That means being able to get water into the soil and having a way to drain it, such as tiles. Reid says salt will eventually leach out, but that could take one or two growing seasons, depending on soil structure. But gypsum would be needed in areas showing high concentrations of the sodium portion of the salt. The material displaces sodium in the soil structure so it can be flushed away. Time won't help if the situation causing the contamination isn't addressed, he adds. Dairy: Coming soon: a standardized system for identifying foot problems in cattle Cover Story: Road Salts - the silent enemy that can stunt your crops
Sowing Solutions--Guelph’s Agri-Food Research Gets Federal Spotlight Friday, October 3, 2025 The University of Guelph welcomed two prominent federal representatives for a day of engagement and discovery on Friday, October 3rd. Dominique O’Rourke, Member of Parliament for Guelph, hosted the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, for a comprehensive tour... Read this article online
Downtown Diner Delivers a Taste of Canadian Farming to Ottawa Friday, October 3, 2025 This week, the heart of Canada’s capital was filled with the sights, sounds, and flavors of Canadian agriculture as Sparks Street played host to the Downtown Diner, a pop-up event celebrating Canadian food and the farmers who make it possible. At the center of the conversation was... Read this article online
Poll Reveals Mixed Public Sentiment on BC Ostrich Cull Decision Thursday, October 2, 2025 Farms.com poll shows divided opinions among Canadian farmers on the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the ostrich cull. A recent poll conducted on Farms.com's X account @OntAg aimed to capture Canadian farmers' views on the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the ostrich cull in British... Read this article online
Effective Strategies for Corn Soybean and Wheat Thursday, October 2, 2025 As reported on the OMAFRA website fieldcropnews.com, effective crop residue management in corn, soybean, and wheat fields is key to profitability and long-term soil health. It begins at harvest, with combines and headers set correctly to size and spread residue evenly across the... Read this article online
New Ontario agrobotics challenge seeking high school submissions Thursday, October 2, 2025 A new competition for Ontario high school students is looking for innovative ways to solve challenges in the ag sector. The AgRobotics Ontario Challenge launched at the end of September. The competition is a collaboration between the Western Fair District, the Ontario Council for... Read this article online