Features Soil Top Crop Summit
Editorial: Putting your soul into your soil

A grower can do everything right in their field – plant seeds at the perfect time, be blessed with perfect weather conditions, implement an effective weed and pest management strategy and everything else that leads to high, quality yield – but without good soil health, those efforts can be all for not.

In this latest issue of Top Crop Manager West, we take a look at the importance of soil health and some of the research that goes into ensuring the soil in our western Canadian fields is providing an ideal environment for crops to thrive.

With our readers in mind, we have included a wide range of soil-health-related features in our February issue, including stories on cover crops and how they impact soil health, which micronutrients are of concern in Western Canada and a look at how reintegrating livestock systems can help improve overall soil health.

So, to quote an ancient Greek philosopher, “To be a successful farmer, one must first know the nature of the soil.”

Top Crop Summit
It’s that time of year again for Top Crop Manager’s annual event – Top Crop Summit. A year ago, I hosted by my first event in Saskatoon, and this year, I will in Saskatchewan’s capital city once again. Having put together a lineup of fantastic speakers who will offer presentations on a wide range of topics impacting the industry – drones, disease, managing drought, herbicide resistance and several other issues – I’m particularly excited for our ninth annual summit this Feb. 27-28.

In addition to wanting to hear from and learn about the issues facing Canadian farmers and agronomists, I’m perhaps even more looking forward to being at Saskatoon’s Prairieland Park for our event to again see people face-to-face, something I don’t get the opportunity to do often. Getting to see and chat with our speakers and to those of you who will be attending the summit is one of the best ways for me to learn about the industry and make valuable connections.

Admittedly, I felt like a bit of a stranger hosting last year’s summit. The event was planned and the speakers were booked long before I stepped into my current position. But this time around, having met some of our speakers already, and working with each of them to help provide attendees valuable and informative sessions with information they can take home and implement to improve their growing season, brings me a great sense of satisfaction.

As always, I welcome any feedback you might have following Top Crop Summit on how we can continue to make it better and more valuable to our attendees. So please, if you see me say hello, or reach out to me anytime.