topcropmanager.com
September 2026
WESTERN EDITION
WEED CONTROL + POST-HARVEST POSTER EFFICIENCY + ENHANCED FERTILIZER GUIDE
Do enhanced
BARLEY management practices pay? Exploring higher N rates, PGRs and fungicides | 8
12 | Field pea response to phosphate 18 | Pinpointing pest populations 22 | Soil moisture and nitrogen
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September 2026
September 2026 Vol. 52, No. 6 topcropmanager.com
KNOW. GROW.
CORN
12
6 Coming in 2027: New corn varieties New options are available.
FERTILITY AND NUTRIENTS
8 Enhanced barley management
Higher N rates, PGRs and fungicides.
12 Field pea response to phosphate Placement and response.
22 Soil moisture and nitrogen Reducing uncertainty.
18
22
TECHNOLOGY
18 Pinpointing pest populations Autonomous insect monitoring.
SOYBEAN
24 On the watch: Soybean varieties in 2027 Sort through varieties.
AGRONOMY UPDATE
26 Reducing phosphorus runoff
ON THE WEB
THREE CROPS IN TWO YEARS
Is it possible to squeeze more productivity out of the typically short Prairie cropping season? That’s what a team of researchers from the University of Saskatchewan have explored.
ON THE COVER: Research on new malt and feed barley varieties found few responses to enhanced management. Photo courtesy of Praveen Sapkota.
Readers will find numerous references to pesticide and fertility applications, methods, timing and rates in the pages of Top Crop Manager. We encourage growers to check product registration status and consult with provincial recommendations and product labels for complete instructions.
FROM THE EDITOR by Kaitlin Berger
TOPCROPMANAGER.COM September 2026 | Volume 52 | Number 6
When It Rains, It Pours I knew we’d gotten a record-breaking amount of rain in the region where I live in Alberta in June, but it really hit home when a friend took my husband and me up in his single-engine Piper Cherokee in early July. The landscape looked dramatically different from the air. What used to be swamps had turned into lakes – and what used to be cropland had turned into puddles. I had already been shocked to see what the snowmelt had accomplished earlier in the year, after the spring thaw, when we had wandered down to our fishing hole in the North Saskatchewan River. What used to be a steep hike down to a flat, grassy riverbank had turned into a muddy slide down to an eroded shoreline, with cracks in the dirt that could swallow a 6-foot human with ease. As with almost everything in agriculture, including rain, we don’t want too little or too much. But when we do have heavy, consistent rainfall in a single growing season, it’s worth paying attention to how it affects nutrient availability. It turns out research is being done on how various levels of soil moisture influence nitrogen transformation rates. One of the goals of the research is to provide growers with a tool that uses information about soil moisture to help them decide when to make a nitrogen (N) application. You can read about it in this issue (page 22). With the geopolitical dynamics in Russia and the Middle East, there’s additional pressure to protect fertilizer investments – and the more information, the better. Between the covers of the September issue, you’ll also find an article on research exploring higher N rates in barley (page 8), and how phosphorus (P) fertility and phosphate fertilizer placement affects field pea yield (page 12). Don’t forget that spring thaw. The agronomy column covers the reduction of phosphorus surface runoff in snowmelt (page 26). I think it’s safe to say soil is at the heart of everything we do in agriculture. We’re all familiar with the 4Rs of nutrient management by now, but there’s a lot more to say when it comes down to adopting those nitty-gritty management practices that will allow us to not only make the most of our fertilizer investments, but also ensure we’re building up the soil for future generations.
With almost everything in agriculture... we don’t want too little or too much.
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5
CORN
Coming in 2027: New corn varieties New options are available for corn growers next year. BY KAITLIN BERGER
T
op Crop Manager has compiled a list of corn varieties coming in 2027 to make selection easier. All information comes from the respective seed companies.
BAYER
DKC075-70RIB has a 2125 CHU (75 RM) rating. It comes with a well-balanced agronomic package, including excellent yield potential, emergence and seedling vigour. It’s a medium height hybrid with very strong stalk and root strength, and very strong drought, cold and heat tolerance. DKC075-70RIB utilizes VT Double PRO RIB Complete Technology with two modes of action for above-ground stalk and ear protection from European corn borer, corn earworm and fall armyworm.
DLF
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
6
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Photo courtesy of Kaitlin Berger.
DLF 2016VT2P RIB (Roundup Ready, GENVT2P) is a hybrid at 1925 CHU with high yield potential, excellent grain quality and an attractive fall appearance. DLF 2248RR (Roundup Ready) is a hybrid at 2100 CHU widely adapted to east and west with very good emergence and seedling vigour. DLF 2341RR (Roundup Ready) is a 2200 CHU hybrid, a good silage option. It’s a flint hybrid with slow drydown, but high yield potential. It’s also available in a GENVT2P technology version. DLF 2342VT2P RIB (Roundup Ready, GENVT2P) is a 2225 CHU hybrid that is a good silage option. It is a flint hybrid with slow drydown, but high yield potential. It is also available in a RR2 technology version. DLF 2355RR (Roundup Ready) is a 2275 CHU medium-tall flint hybrid that makes a great dual-purpose option. It is a flint hybrid with slow drydown that is also available in a GENVT2P technology version. DLF 2356VT2P RIB (Roundup Ready, GENVT2P) is a 2300 CHU medium-tall flint hybrid that makes a great dual-purpose option. Its flint kernel expression has slow drydown and exhibits excellent test weight. It is also available in a RR2 technology version. ABOVE Know your options for corn hybrids. September 2026
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7
FERTILITY AND NUTRIENTS
Do enhanced barley management practices pay? BY BRUCE BARKER
A
s new malt and feed varieties enter the market, producers want to know whether higher nitrogen (N) rates, plant growth regulators (PGRs), and fungicides can deliver enough additional yield and quality to justify their cost. A two-year Saskatchewan study funded by SaskBarley looked at two malt varieties – AAC Prairie and CDC Churchill – and two feed varieties – CDC Durango and AB Wrangler – to see how they respond to enhanced barley management practices. “These varieties are very new and are anticipated to become popular in the future. If they do indeed become popular, we will hopefully have data to advise farmers when they are currently growing these varieties and not after they’ve moved on to other varieties,” says Mike Hall, research manager (retired) at the East Central Research Foundation (ECRF) at Yorkton, Sask. Trials were conducted during 2024 and 2025 at Agriculture Applied Research Management (Agri-ARM) sites located at Indian Head, Melfort, Scott, Swift Current and Yorkton, Sask. Each variety was tested under standard and enhanced N rates, with and without a PGR, and with and without fungicide. The objective was to generate management information before these newer varieties become widely adopted by growers. “We understand from European reports that there can be varietal differences in response to PGRs, and we know from some recent research that varieties of other crops can respond differently to enhanced management practices such as increased N, fungicide, and PGR,” says Mitchell Japp, research and extension manager at SaskBarley. “We wanted barley farmers who grow these new varieties to have an agronomic package that they can adopt as they start.” The standard and enhanced N rates varied by location depending on yield 8
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potential for the area. Group 1 low yield potential was at Swift Current with rates compared at 100 versus 125 lb N/ac (112 kg to 140 kg N/ha) of soil plus added N. Group 2 had mid-range yield potential at Indian Head and Scott with rates of 120 versus 150 lb N/ac (134 to 168 kg/ha) of soil plus added N. Group 3 had high yield potential at Yorkton and Melfort with rates compared at 130 versus 162 lb N/ac (146 to 181 kg/ha) of soil plus added N. The PGR applied was Moddus (trinexapac-ethyl) at GS30-32 (stem elongation). The fungicide applied was Trivapro applied at flag-leaf timing.
REDUCING LODGING WITH PGRS
Across both years, Moddus consistently shortened crops. In 2024, PGR reduced height significantly at all sites. In 2025, reductions were seen at most locations except drought-stressed Scott and Swift Current. Overall, lodging was significantly reduced at all siteyears except Swift Current (2024 and 2025), Indian Head (2025), and Yorkton (2025). Swift Current had drought in both years, so the crop was short and not prone to lodging. However, there were a few variety interactions. Lodging was significantly reduced by PGR for all varieties except CDC Durango at Melfort in 2024, which didn’t lodge with or without PGR. At Melfort in 2025, PGR significantly reduced lodging for AB Wrangler, which only has fair resistance to lodging. Lodging was also significantly reduced for AAC Prairie and CDC Churchill, but to a lesser extent. Again, CDC Durango was unaffected by PGR application. At Yorkton in 2024, PGR greatly reduced lodging for September 2026
Photo courtesy of Praveen Sapkota.
Exploring higher N rates, PGRs and fungicides.
LEFT Research on new malt and feed barley varieties found few responses to enhanced management. AAC Prairie and CDC Churchill and had more modest effect on CDC Durango. The very good resistance for CDC Durango was expected, but Wrangler seems to be resisting lodging better than anticipated at this site year, says Hall. Yorkton 2024 was the only site where yield was increased by PGR. The yield increase was 11.4 per cent or 12.6 bu/ac (0.677 t/ha) with a corresponding drop in grain protein of 0.94 per cent through yield dilution. Application of a PGR at Swift Current in 2025 resulted in a yield decline. This yield reduction was only significant for AAC Prairie and CDC Churchill. Hall says the reason for the difference was unclear. However, he points out that Swift Current (2025) was an unusual site with unusual results. The year started out dry, then precipitation was received in late summer, resulting in secondary growth providing the majority of the yield, with much of the first growth lost to shattering. Overall, if plants were drought stressed, the application of PGR tended to reduce yield, test weight, kernel plumpness and thousand kernel weight (TKW).
FEW FUNGICIDE RESPONSES
Leaf disease levels were generally low at most sites, resulting in only a few site-year responses to fungicide application. In 2024 at Yorkton, fungicide application increased yield by 14.8 per cent or 14 bu/ac (0.753 t/ha) – attributed to a decrease in leaf diseases. Melfort (2024) also saw a five-bushel (0.269 t/ha) yield increase of four per cent despite low disease ratings. At Swift Current (2025), the malt variety yields of AAC Prairie and CDC Churchill were significantly increased by fungicide. These yield increases under low disease pressure may have occurred because of the health claim by Syngenta that Trivapro fungicide can improve water use efficiency. Test weight occasionally increased with fungicide application, but grain protein was largely unaffected.
COMBINED PGR AND FUNGICIDE EFFECTS
The only site to see a yield response was at Yorkton in 2024. The combined PGR and fungicide resulted in a yield increase of 27 bu/ac (1.452 t/ha) or 28
“We know from some recent research that varieties of other crops can respond differently to enhanced management practices such as increased N, fungicide, and PGR…” topcropmanager.com
per cent. The combination was additive as the yield increase from PGR alone was 11.4 per cent and fungicide alone was 14.8 per cent (combined 26.2 per cent). The yield response aligns with the reduction in leaf disease and lodging observed at this site. The large yield increase significantly reduced grain protein by 1.9 per cent through dilution. The other site-years did not show a significant yield response to the combined application.
NITROGEN RATE RESPONSES
Enhancing N rate did not significantly increase yield at any location in 2024 except Melfort, where the yield was significantly increased by 3.3 per cent. In 2025, enhancing N rate increased yield at Yorkton by 22 per cent but significantly decreased yield at Swift Current in 2025. Again, results from Swift Current should be “taken with a grain of salt” as the regrowth largely constituted the yield. Varieties did not significantly differ in their yield response to enhanced N except Swift Current (2025) where only the malt varieties suffered yield losses. Enhancing N rate increased grain protein at all siteyears except Swift Current in both years. The effects of enhancing N on seed quality parameters such as test weight, kernel plumpness and TKW were infrequent and inconsistent. Yield and grain protein response didn’t usually differ between varieties with increasing N rates. Hall says N still needs to be managed based on different risk tolerances for excessive protein between malt and feed barley. The research study provides a few key takeaways that growers can use when growing malt or feed barley, including the importance of using PGRs when lodging risk is high in high-yield environments and with varieties with lower lodging resistance. Avoid PGR use in drought conditions as they may cause yield losses, and would be uneconomical anyway. In areas with higher disease risk, a fungicide application can provide a yield benefit. The 2024 Yorkton results demonstrate clear value in higher-risk seasons. Stacking inputs pays in the right conditions. The 28 per cent yield jump from PGR plus fungicide at Yorkton (2024) highlights additive benefits when lodging and disease pressures align. Nitrogen rate decisions should include soil tests and be based on yield targets for the end-use markets. Enhanced rates can drive yields under optimum moisture conditions, but can elevate protein under drier conditions — a critical consideration for malt barley contracts. “Overall, we did not see a lot of differences between varieties in the study,” says Japp, “but varieties with better stem strength did not respond as consistently to PGR application.” TOP CROP MANAGER WEST
9
CORN
Coming in 2027: New corn varieties | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
MAIZEX
MZ 236 is a conventional hybrid with 2525 CHUs (83 RM). Its early flowering promotes movement north of zone, and it offers strong yield potential in low-yielding environments. MZ 2422PWE is a PowerCore Enlist hybrid with 2550 CHUs (84 RM) and high yield potential. It features open husks that aid grain drydown, as well as extended stay-green for added yield. It is also a dual-purpose hybrid suitable for grain or silage. MS 7760DBR is a silage-specific VT Double PRO hybrid with 2175 CHUs to silage (74 RM) and industry-leading tonnage for its maturity. It offers aboveground insect protection and solid agronomics that promote yield. MZ 2784SMX is a SmartStax hybrid with 2500 CHUs to silage (87 RM), as a dual-purpose grain/silage hybrid. It offers above- and below-ground insect protection, strong leaf-disease tolerance that promotes silage quality, and very good stress tolerance for tough acres. MZ 3220SSP is a SmartStax PRO hybrid with 2650 CHUs to silage (89 RM), as a dual-purpose grain/silage hybrid. It offers leading tonnage and advanced below-ground insect protection for positioning on cornafter-corn fields. MS 9410PWE is a silage-specific PowerCore Enlist hybrid with 2700 CHUs to silage (91 RM). It is a tall, robust plant type with strong seedling vigour for tough soils and strong agronomics that promote harvest ease. MZ 3751SSP is a SmartStax PRO hybrid with 2775 CHUs to silage (94 RM), as a dual-purpose grain/silage hybrid. It offers stable performance across yield environments and advanced below-ground insect protection for positioning on corn-after-corn fields. It is ideal for high-starch rations.
NORTHSTAR GENETICS
NS 269 offers high yield potential for an ultra-early season (RM 69 day) grain corn hybrid. With a very good test weight and an excellent drydown, it is a good choice for Manitoba growers looking to maximize performance in shorter growing seasons. 942S (RM 89) and 948S (RM 91) are full floury leafy corn silage hybrids offering good starch digestibility and tonnage and long chopping windows. The result is high-quality feed that supports animal performance while providing greater harvest flexibility. 942S builds on the proven performance of 932S, while 948S builds on the success of 951S, each with the added benefit of full floury genetics for enhanced starch digestibility.
PIONEER
P78052PCE is a 78 CRM PowerCore Enlist hybrid that 10
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combines high yield potential with flexibility to fit both grain and silage production systems. Early flowering, good Goss’s wilt tolerance, and solid agronomic performance make it an attractive option for growers looking to maximize productivity in shorter-season environments. P8294V brings Vorceed Enlist technology to the 82 CRM maturity segment, offering both above- and below-ground insect protection. Along with strong agronomics and good tar spot resistance, this TonnEdge hybrid is a dependable choice for growers seeking yield stability and trait protection. P89127PCE is a high-yielding 89 CRM PowerCore Enlist hybrid. This hybrid has above-average stalk and root strength, and a balanced agronomic package to help support consistent performance across a wide range of growing conditions. It also has excellent silage potential. P90816PCE is a high-performing 90 CRM corn hybrid that combines good drought tolerance with good stay-green ratings. Powered by PowerCore Enlist technology, this corn hybrid is designed for producers targeting high yield potential in the mid-maturity segment. P94160V features Vorceed Enlist technology that provides strong agronomic traits and above-average Goss’s wilt score in the 94 CRM maturity range. The hybrid is tailored to longer-season environments where growers are looking for high yield potential and dependable plant health. P9466PCUE is a 94 CRM PowerCore Ultra Enlist hybrid featuring strong stalk and root strength, and insect protection. P9466PCUE offers high yield potential, and performance under demanding conditions.
PRIDE SEEDS
A4226G2 builds on the proven success of leaders like A4494G2. This 2125 CHU hybrid stands out with reliable emergence across a range of spring conditions, excellent standability for smooth harvest, and a well-balanced plant structure that makes the most of water and nutrients. Growers can expect consistently high test weight and grain quality that delivers at the bin. A5175G2 RIB is a 2425 CHU hybrid that combines strong agronomics with built-in protection against corn earworm and European corn borer. It’s a good choice for growers focused on maximizing tonnage and feed value without sacrificing harvestability. A5175G2 RIB comes with season-long plant health and durable stalk strength. AS1057RR EDF is designed with silage performance in mind. AS1057RR thrives across 2325 to 2475
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September 2026
CHU environments. It delivers high tonnage while maintaining a well-rounded nutritional profile, including strong crude protein and starch levels to support herd performance. It provides the feed quality expected from leading silage genetics and added tolerance to in-crop glyphosate applications.
PROVEN SEED – EXCLUSIVELY AT NUTRIEN AG SOLUTIONS
PV 60770RIB is an extremely early maturing hybrid at 70 CRM. It’s early to flower, reducing maturity risk for Western Canadian corn producers. It performs well across Western Canada with a strong disease package, strong emergence and seedling vigour. It’s a good option for early harvest, early grain acres. PV 64678RIB is a mid-maturing grain and early-silage hybrid. It prefers high yield environments to really stretch its high yield potential. A tall, strong agronomic hybrid, it redefines yield potential in the midlate 70 RM class. It has strong early season ratings, very good stalks, roots and drought tolerance to allow this hybrid to move west for potential silage and grazing applications. PV 64784RIB is a full-season hybrid with strong silage yield performance, a strong disease package and good emergence and early vigour scores. Good ear flex allows planting at lower plant populations (28,000 to 32,000 ppa). Its strong agronomics include good stalk and root strength with good stay-green and harvest appearance.
THUNDER SEEDS
68-day VT2P is the earliest product in trials for Thunder Seeds and it targets the ultra-early market. 80-day PC is a good drydown with consistent performance across different growing conditions, and it moves north well. 81-day VT2P has solid agronomics with all ratings good to very good. It also has a good Goss’s rating with a semi-flex ear. 85-day smart stack is the early smart stack, brought on for environments dealing with root worm pressure.
WINFIELD | CROPLAN
CP1221VT2P/RIB is a 72-day corn that offers good yield potential for a short growing season, good early emergence, and strong vigour. Boasting strong roots and stalks and good test weight and grain quality, this hybrid is a great fit for shorter grain corn growing areas. CP2667VT2P/RIB is an 87-day corn and a versatile hybrid that adapts to all yield environments. With good emergence and good early vigour, combined with great overall disease resistance and test weight, it’s a great corn for 3650 CHU.
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FERTILITY AND NUTRIENTS
Fact finding: Field pea response to phosphate fertilizer
On-going research explores placement and response. BY BRUCE BARKER
12
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ABOVE On low P soils, phosphate fertilizer provided a good yield response.
less at today’s prices,” says Holzapfel. Holzapfel saw significant responses at 64 per cent (7/11) of the low-P sites using the 95 per cent probability threshold, and 82 per cent of the sites at 90 per cent probability. The overall average increase across all sites was just over nine per cent. The results from Outlook show the value of soil testing. In 2019, with 5 ppm soil test P, there was a strong linear response to P with yield increasing as P fertilizer rates were increased. However, in 2020, when soil test P levels were 24 ppm, there was no response to P fertilization.
INVESTIGATING ALTERNATE FORMS OF P
Holzapfel initiated a new study in 2025 funded by Saskatchewan’s Agriculture and Demonstration of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) program. It looked at field pea response to different forms of P fertilizer and placement options. The research took place at Agri-ARM sites at Melfort, Scott, Swift Current and Indian Head. The overall project objective was to demonstrate the agronomic response of field pea to various P fertilizer formulations and placement options. As Holzapfel explains, they aimed to explore whether the response to fertilizer forms differ depending on placement opCONTINUED ON PAGE 17
September 2026
All photos courtesy of Chris Holzapfel.
M
ore peas, please. That’s the rationale behind past and on-going research, conducted by Agriculture Applied Research Management (Agri-ARM) sites in Saskatchewan, exploring how phosphorus (P) fertility and phosphate fertilizer placement affects field pea yield. “Field peas are not considered to be particularly responsive to fertilization. However, responses to modest rates have been documented in low P soils,” says Chris Holzapfel, research manager at the Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation (IHARF). Holzapfel was the lead researcher on a Saskatchewan Pulse Growers study in 2019 and 2020 that looked at fertility management, including nitrogen (N), sulphur (S), potassium (K) and P in field pea. Conducted at Swift Current, Outlook, Scott, Indian Head, Yorkton and Melfort, Sask., the research looked at overall fertility, as well as how field pea responded to P fertilization. Fifteen treatments looked at varying levels of N-P-K-S fertility. Focusing on P fertilization, four rates of 18, 36, 53 and 71 lb P2O5/ac (20, 40, 60, 80 kg/ha) were compared. The fertilizer treatments were all side-banded. The Olsen-P soil tests for the sites were low, ranging from 3 to 12 ppm, but with one exception at Outlook (2020) with a value of 24 ppm. Average across the 12 site-years, response to P was quadratic – rising with P rate before levelling off and falling at the highest rate. Pea yield levelled off at around 66 bu/ac (4.44 t/ha) with P application in the 40 to 50 lb P2O5/ac range (45 to 56 kg/ha). “The economic optimum was closer to 40 lb/ac, perhaps a bit
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13
SPECIAL SECTION
ENHANCED EFFICIENCY PRODUCT
MANUFACTURER
ACTIVE INGREDIENT
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
MODE OF ACTION
FORMULATION
Active Stabilizer Plus
Active AgriScience
NBPT (N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide) and DMPP (3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate)
12% NBPT, 2% DMPP
Urease and nitrification inhibitor
Liquid
Anvol
Koch Agronomic Services
Duromide + N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT)
Not applicable
Urease inhibitor
Liquid
Arm U 18% NBPT
Active AgriScience
N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT)
18% NBPT
Urease inhibitor
Liquid
Arm U 30% NBPT
Active AgriScience
N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT)
30% NBPT
Urease inhibitor
Liquid
Arm U Advanced
Active AgriScience
NBPT (N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide) and DMPP (3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate)
30% NBPT, 15% DMPP
Urease and nitrification inhibitor
Liquid
Arm UAN
Active AgriScience
NBPT (N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide) and DMPP (3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate)
18% NBPT, 3% DMPP
Urease and nitrification inhibitor
Liquid
BIOZ ActiSpark
ICL
Multi-strain microbial blend
0-0-0.5
Fertilizer uptake and efficiency enhancer
Liquid
CENTURO A-PRO
Koch Agronomic Services
Pronitridine
44% Pronitridine
Nitrification inhibitor
Water soluble liquid
CENTURO U-PRO
Koch Agronomic Services
Pronitridine
44% Pronitridine
Nitrification inhibitor
Water soluble liquid
CG P2X
Ostara
Magnesium ammonium phosphate hexa-hydrate (MgNH₄PO₄) (Struvite)
9-42-0-0 9%Mg
Dissolves in soil and root organic acids to supply P, N and Mg on crop demand, resisting soil tie-up
Dry fertilizer granular
CG Pearl
Ostara
Magnesium ammonium phosphate hexa-hydrate (MgNH₄PO₄) (Struvite)
5-28-0-0 0%Ca 10%Mg
Dissolves in soil and root organic acids to supply P, N and Mg on crop demand, resisting soil tie-up
Dry fertilizer granule
CG Synchro 50 MAX
Ostara
Ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (MAP) and magnesium ammonium phosphate hexa-hydrate (MgNH₄PO₄) (Struvite)
10-47-0-0-5%Mg
Dual-mode: Immediate MAP availability plus struvite Crystal Green release
Dry fertilizer granular
Duo Maxx
TIMAC AGRO
Nitrogen, soluble potash, NBPT, DCD, Tryptophane, Rhizovit Complex
15% nitrogen, 0.2% soluble potash, 0.8% NBPT, 0.2% DCD, 0.1% Tryptophane, Rhizovit Complex
Dual mode NPK stabilizer
Liquid
ESN
Nutrien
Dry granular urea with a polymer coating
44-0-0
Polymer coated urea granule releases N by diffusion through coating when in contact with water. Release rate controlled by coating thickness, type and soil temperature (controlled release).
Dry fertilizer granule
Excellis Maxx
TIMAC AGRO
NBPT, DCD, Rhizovit Complex
12% NBPT, 3% DCD, Rhizovit Complex
Dual mode nitrogen stabilizer
Liquid
Humistart
TIMAC AGRO
Marine calcium carbonate with Calcimer with micronutrents
4-0-0-20Ca - 0.8%Mg - 4%S
Soil amendment
Granular
ICL PKpluS
ICL
Polyhalite + superphosphates
0-24-6 +15.4Ca-1.8Mg-9.1S
Gradual release to match crop uptake
Dry spherical fertilizer granule
The Mosaic Company
Monoammonium phosphate with ammonium sulfate, elemental sulfur and zinc
12-40-0 10S 1Zn
Slow-release
Dry fertilizer granule
The Mosaic Company
Monoammonium phosphate with ammonium sulfate and elemental sulfur
12-40-0 10S
Slow-release
Dry fertilizer granule
MicroEssentials S15
The Mosaic Company
Monoammonium phosphate with ammonium sulfate and elemental sulfur
13-33-0 15S
Slow-release
Dry fertilizer granule
Nova PeKacid
ICL
Phosphoric acid + monopotassium phosphate
0-60-20
Low pH acidifying nutrients help improve uptake efficiency in root zone
Water-soluble fertilizer
N-Serve
Corteva Agriscience
Nitrapyrin
22%
Nitrification inhibitor
Liquid
Polysulphate Granular
ICL
Polyhalite
0-0-14-19.2S-12.2Ca-3.6Mg
Gradual release to match crop uptake
Dry granular fertilizer
Polysulphate Premium
ICL
Polyhalite
0-0-13.3-18.2S-11.6Ca-3.3Mg
Gradual release to match crop uptake
Dry spherical fertilizer granule
MicroEssentials SZ MicroEssentials S10
14
Sul4R-Plus
Sul4R-Plus
calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO₄·2H₂O)
17% Sulfur, 21% Calcium
n/a
Dry fertilizer granule
SuperU
Koch Agronomic Services
Dicyandiamide + N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT)
46-0-0
Urease and nitrification inhibitor
Dry fertilizer granule
TAPP 2X
Taurus Agricultural Marketing
Magnesium ammonium phosphate hexa-hydrate (MgNH₄PO₄) (Struvite) and polyhalite (K₂SO₄·MgSO₄·2CaSO₄·2H₂O)
6-27-7.5-9S-5Ca-8%Mg
Dual-mode: root-activated struvite (P, N, Mg) plus gradual-release polyhalite (K, S, Ca, Mg).
Dry fertilizer granule
Top-Phos NP 3-28
TIMAC AGRO
Complexed mono-calcium phosphate
3-28-0-9S
Complexed super phosphate
Granular
Top-Phos NP 3-22
TIMAC AGRO
Complexed mono-calcium phosphate with micronutrients
3-22-00-6S-0.1B-0.3Zn-0.08Cu
Complexed super phosphate
Granular
Top-Phos NP 15-20
TIMAC AGRO
Complexed mono-calcium phosphate with micronutrients
15-20-0-3Mg-8S-0.2Zn
Complexed super phosphate
Granular
Tribune
Koch Agronomic Services
Pronitridine + N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT)
Not applicable
Urease and nitrification inhibitor
Liquid
TSN
Taurus Agricultural Marketing
NBPT (N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide) and DMPP (3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate)
46-0-0 with 18% NBPT & 3% DMPP
Urease and nitrification inhibitor
Dry fertilizer granule
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September 2026
Brought to you by:
Information compiled from fertilizer manufacturers. Follow the information on product labels and consult an expert if there are any discrepancies with the information in this table.
FERTILIZER PRODUCTS RECOMMENDED USES
PRODUCT BENEFIT
Liquid treatment to coat urea or additive to UAN.
Prevents nitrogen (N) loss. DMPP works at low rates with no bioaccumulation. Variable rate lets growers treat only as needed to protect ROI.
For surface, shallow-placed, shallow-banded or shallow-incorporated application of urea and ureacontaining fertilizers (pre-plant, pre-emergence, sidedress, topdress, other post-planting applications.)
Featuring dual active ingredients, Duromide and NBPT, Anvol provides long-lasting protection against ammonia volatilization over a wider range of soil conditions.
Liquid treatment to coat urea or additive to UAN.
Curbs ammonia volatilization so more N reaches crop. Binds urease at low rates. Built-in buffering holds pH below 7 to protect performance.
Liquid treatment to coat urea or additive to UAN.
Limits ammonia volatilization. Ideal for high-pH soils/dry conditions. Allows lower application rates, with buffering that keeps pH below 7.
Liquid treatment to coat urea or additive to UAN.
Guards against volatilization, nitrification, denitrification. Polymers boost efficacy at low rates. Buffering holds pH below 7. Low-odour liquid.
Liquid treatment to coat urea or additive to UAN.
Dual-action stabilizer. Slows urea hydrolysis and blocks conversion of ammonium to nitrate, keeping more N available in the root zone.
Improves fertilizer effiency/nutrient uptake in range of soil types/pH ranges. Apply as frequently as needed.
Increases bioavailability of macronutrients/essential minerals. Highly compatible with crop protection and nutritional inputs.
May use with anhydrous ammonia, liquid manure, other forms of N that contain ammoniacal N.
Helps minimize N loss from leaching and denitrification. Higher concentration/lower application rate. Improves operational efficiency.
May use with urea, urea ammonium nitrate, liquid manure, other forms of N that contain ammoniacal N.
Helps minimize N loss from leaching and denitrification. Higher concentration/lower application rate. Improves operational efficiency.
Use in place of traditional phosphorus (P) sources. Seed-safe/root-activated, allowing product to be placed directly in row with seed. 95% plant available in year one means less rates than conventional P.
Single-source, root-activated phosphate delivering P, N and magnesium on crop demand. Rather than releasing with moisture, it feeds only when roots exude organic acids, resisting tie-up and maximizing season-long uptake with Crystal Green technology.
Use in place of traditional P sources. Its seed-safe and root-activated for in-row placement, and made from recovered nutrients with documentation available for sustainability reporting.
Only high-efficiency granular phosphate made from recovered nutrients. Ostara’s Pearl process captures P and N from water and closes the phosphate loop. It has the same root-activated struvite chemistry as CG P2X, with the portfolio’s highest magnesium (10 per cent Mg).
A homogeneous phosphate starter replacing a MAP + Crystal Green blend. Lower salt index than straight MAP allows in-row placement and blends easily with urea, potash and sulphur (S).
First homogeneous phosphate granule to combine the immediate availability of MAP for early vigour with the season-long, root-activated release of Crystal Green technology. Each uniform granule delivers the same nutrient ratio every pass.
Designed for application on granular and liquid fertilizers containing N, P, potassium (K), and micronutrients to enhance nutrient efficiency and crop performance.
Enhances nutrient efficiency through dual-action approach, protecting P and other nutrients from retrograde tie-up and reducing N losses via volatilization and leaching while stimulating microbial activity in the rhizosphere to improve nutrient cycling and plant uptake.
Any N fertilizer application.
The unique polymer coating protects and releases N at a rate controlled by soil temperature. ESN thereby supplies N to the crop at a controlled rate to reduce N loss, increase N-use efficiency and improve grower profit.
Treatment of granular or liquid urea based fertilizers (urea, UAN, etc.).
Contains Rhizovit Complex. Enhances nutrient use efficiency, improves N uptake, supports root development, stimulates microbial activity.
All soil types and pH conditions.
Enhances soil structure, improves nutrient uptake, promotes root development, increases microbial activity, supports plant growth.
Use in place of traditional phosphate/S blends. Low salt index allows placement directly in row with seed.
5-in-1 crop nutrition in single prill application. Enhances uptake, improves nutrient effiency, reduces applications, promotes growth.
Any N, P, S and/or zinc application.
Any N, P and/or S application.
The uniform nutrient distribution provided by MicroEssentials ensures product is delivered evenly across the field, providing crops an adequate chance of taking in key nutrients for season-long nutrition. By reducing the pH around the granule, the unique chemistry of MicroEssentials promotes interactions that improve nutrient uptake of P and S. In addition, MicroEssentials combines two forms of S, sulfate and elemental S, in every granule to ensure S availability throughout the growing season. Sulfate S satisfies seedlings’ needs for early-season growth, while elemental S is available later in the growing season. Note: These products are not available in British Columbia.
Ideal for fertigation use in hard water and alkaline soils (pH > 7) for precise pH modification in rhizosphere to improve nutrient uptake. Low pH formulation allows P to safely tank mix with Ca and Mg.
Nova PeKacid, high PK acidifying fertilizer, lowers irrigation water and root zone pH to reduce P fixation and improve uptake with dualbenefit of improving fertigation system performance by reducing mineral deposits.
May use with anhydrous ammonia. Inject/incorporate in zone/band with fertilizer (min. 5 to 10 cm depth).
Slows conversion of ammonium nitrogen to nitrate nitrogen. Ensures N is available when the crop needs it, helping to maximize yield.
Use in place of traditional K, S or calcium/gypsum sources. Low salt index allows placement in row with seed.
Gradually releases four sulfate-based nutrients. Provides nutrients while improving soil health/enhancing water efficiency/nutrient use.
Use in place of traditional K, S or calcium/gypsum sources. Low salt index allows placement in row with seed.
Gradually releases four nutrients in one sulfate-based prill. Provides nutrients while improving soil health/enhancing water efficiency.
Any N, P and/or S application.
Use in place of traditional gypsum or in place of traditional sources of plant-available calcium and S.
Premium granular source of plant-available calcium/S with slow-release profile. Uniform, low-dust granules. Low salt index.
Any N fertilizer application.
Premium fertilizer featuring urease/nitrification inhibitors to guard against three forms of N loss — volatilization, leaching and denitrification.
Replaces separate phosphate and K/S/calcium applications. Seed-safe and root-activated for direct in-row placement with the seed.
Pairs Crystal Green struvite (from CG P2X) with polyhalite from polysulphate in one homogenous prill, delivering six nutrients (N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg) in every granule for uniform application and crop-demand-driven nutrition.
All soil types, pH, replacing other phosphate fertilizers.
Proprietary P fertilizer designed for high solubility, efficient uptake and consistent performance across all soil types and pH levels. With a low salt index, sustained nutrient release and positive interactions with soil microbes, Top-Phos delivers smarter, longer-lasting P nutrition.
All soil types, pH, replacing other phosphate fertilizers.
Proprietary P fertilizer designed for high solubility, efficient uptake and consistent performance across all soil types and pH levels. With a low salt index, sustained nutrient release and positive interactions with soil microbes, Top-Phos delivers smarter, longer-lasting P nutrition.
All soil types, pH, replacing other phosphate fertilizers.
Proprietary N-P fertilizer combining TIMAC AGRO’s N-Process and TOP-PHOS technologies. Top-Phos is designed for enhanced P solubility, availability and absorption. N-Process optimizes N use efficiency by stabilizing N, promoting ammonium nutrition to support stronger root development and reduced losses. The result is effective performance across all soil types and pH levels, positive microbial interactions, sustained nutrient release and a low salt index.
Designed to protect liquid urea-based fertilizers from ammonia volatilization, leaching and denitrification. TRIBUNE can be used for any crop that requires N fertilization, including row and specialty crops where a nitrification inhibitor is needed.
Dual active ingredients NBPT, the most research-proven urease-inhibitor technology, and the patented active ingredient Pronitridine, safeguard nutrients from volatilization, leaching and denitrification.
Any N fertilizer application.
Ready-to-use N fertilizer treated with NBPT and DMPP to reduce volatilization, leaching and denitrification, improving N-use efficiency and keeping more N available to the crop.
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15
NITROGEN MADE SIMPLE SOUND AGRONOMY SENSIBLE ECONOMICS SUPERIOR LOGISTICS
PICK THE TIME • PICK THE APPLICATION • PICK THE PURPLE.
CONTACT US: TAURUS.AG/CONTACT LEARN MORE: TAURUS.AG/PRODUCT/TSN/ 16
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DISTRIBUTED BY
September 2026
FERTILITY AND NUTRIENTS
Fact finding: Field pea response to phosphate fertilizer | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12
tion and how the responses differ with environment. In addition to untreated controls, the treatments were a combination of five products including monoammonium phosphate (MAP; 11-52-0), MAP plus ammonium sulfate (AMS; 21-0-0-24), MicroEssentials S15 (13-33-0-15), MAP plus MST (9-43-0-16), and Crystal Green Synchro 50 (9-42.5-0-0 plus 7 Mg). These were applied at a rate of 40 lb P2O5/ac (45 kg/ha). MAP plus MST is essentially MAP with micronized elemental sulfur uniformly distributed through each granule. Crystal Green Synchro 50 is like the commonly recommended MAP/struvite blends (approximately 50:50), except the blending is already done to ensure the forms of P are homogenized within each granule. The placement options compared were in-furrow and side-banded. The overall results showed that side-banding was consistently the safest and most effective placement for applying any form of P fertilizer. The potential for seedling injury with seed placement varied depending on location and formulation. At Indian Head and Melfort, fertilizer form and placement did not affect plant density. However, at Swift Current, all products except MAP plus MST significantly reduced emergence relative to the corresponding side-banded treatments, and the greatest reductions were with MAP plus AMS and MES15. Seedling injury was higher in the coarser textured, lower organic matter soils, and injury was greater in this order: Swift Current, Scott, Melfort and Indian Head. Yield responses to P varied by site. At Indian Head, yield response of around three per cent over the control was small and not significant with yields across forms and placement in the 82 to 88 bu/ac (5.5 to 5.9 t/ha) range. Soil test P was 14 ppm at this site. At Melfort, with a soil test value of 14 ppm, yield differences between form and placement were also insignificant with a yield increase of approximately five per cent among treatments over the control. Holzapfel says there was fairly strong evidence of an
ABOVE Agri-ARM research found that side-band P is the safest way to deliver phosphate fertilizer.
The overall project objective was to demonstrate the agronomic response of field pea to various P fertilizer formulations and placement options. topcropmanager.com
overall P response at Swift Current, but no significant difference between placement options. Yield response was about 10 per cent over the control at the site with 13 ppm Olsen-P. On average, the highest yields tended to occur with the MAP plus AMS blend. Protein was not affected by any of the treatments at Indian Head, Melfort or Scott, but was negatively affected by seed-placed fertilizer at Swift Current, particularly for MES15. The reason for this discrepancy is unclear, but Holzapfel says this may have been due to the greater fertilizer injury and/or the extremely high residual NO3-N levels at Swift Current. “Overall, our results highlight the importance of P fertilizer for achieving high field pea yields. Side-banding is the preferred placement option where possible, performing equal to or better than seed-placed P in essentially all cases,” says Holzapfel. “We did not see any significant advantages to any of the more novel P forms relative to MAP applied alone for any of the variables measured.” However, Holzapfel says that novel P forms may still be a fit under certain circumstances. For example, growers looking for alternatives to AMS as an S source might consider MES15 or MAP plus MST. Additionally, Synchro 50 or MAP/struvite blends might be appropriate for field pea growers who require added assurance that they will not injure their crop when seed-placing high rates of P fertilizer. In 2026, Holzapfel initiated a new study similar to the 2025 novel P forms research, but with the addition of Top-Phos fertilizer. He plans on conducting it in 2027, as well. TOP CROP MANAGER WEST
17
TECHNOLOGY
Pinpointing pest populations Researchers develop autonomous insect monitoring system. BY KATE AYERS
ELIMINATING MANUAL INSECT COUNTS
Led by Abdul Bais, professor and program chair of electronic systems engineering at the U of R, the research team developed a smart insect trap (SIT) prototype. The solar-powered, battery-equipped unit automates the process of counting flea beetles, aster leafhoppers and wheat midge on standard sticky cards, replacing laborious and time-consuming manual counting. “These sticky cards can collect hundreds and thousands of insects, and counting them manually is not fun,” Bais says. It’s also more consistent because producers or agronomists may only check sticky cards once every few days or weeks. The SIT uses a built-in camera and artificial intelligence (AI) to capture images of sticky cards every 40 minutes without field visits, giving real-time pest updates. It runs 24 hours a day, equipped with a flashlight to ensure consistent image quality while operating 18
TOP CROP MANAGER WEST
overnight. Producers only need to visit the unit to swap out the sticky cards.
EXPERT LABELLING BOOSTS DATA RIGOUR ABOVE The smart insect trap prototype is a solar-powered unit that automates the process of counting insect pests.
As part of the project, the team also developed an AI tool that calculates the exact percentage of flea beetle feeding damage on canola leaves, removing the guesswork from visual defoliation estimates. This study was conducted at the Agriculture and AgriFood Canada (AAFC) research farm in Saskatoon from early May to early October in 2022, 2023 and 2024, with ongoing monitoring through summer 2025. The team installed eight SIT units in central field locations and field edges to capture spatial and temporal patterns in flea beetle abundance. Critical to this field deployment was the entomological expertise and logistical support of AAFC research scientist Tyler Wist. Wist coordinated research field access at the AAFC Saskatoon Research and Development Centre (Saskatoon RDC) and guided the strategic positioning of the SIT units across the research fields to carry out the ecological study. The strategic SIT placement allowed the researchers to assess flea beetle dispersal patterns, overwintering habitat preferences and critical intervention periods by correlating insect activity with micro-climatic variables September 2026
All photos courtesy of Muhib Ullah.
I
nsect pressure in crops, especially flea beetle and wheat midge, can cause extensive damage and economic loss. Managing these pest populations requires timely insect identification and field treatment. In response, researchers at the University of Regina (U of R) have developed an autonomous smart trap system designed to give grain and oilseed producers real-time, precise insect counts directly from the field.
and crop growth stages. During the project’s four growing seasons so far, researchers have collected nearly 100,000 flea beetle images. Images were labelled by entomological experts to ensure methodological rigour and that AI models were trained and tested on taxonomically reliable data.
BUILT FOR PRAIRIE CONDITIONS
The self-contained SIT takes an image, processes it and sends results 36 times a day. It is powered by a solar panel and internal battery, built to handle the tough Prairie weather conditions. While pest monitoring devices exist on the market, Bais says this SIT unit produces images of higher-quality and collects data more frequently than other options. “Unlike cloud-dependent systems that send raw data off-site for processing, the SIT handles AI-based detection and counting directly on the device in the field, a technique known as edge processing,” says Muhib Ullah, who worked on the project as a PhD student and is currently an AI algorithm engineer at Super GeoAI Technology Inc. “The results are then sent to the user via the cloud, and the environmental data collected alongside the images allows us to correlate the drivers – how humidity, temperature and other variables influence both the population and activity of these insects.” Combining image-based pest detection with environmental data offers a comprehensive understanding of insect dynamics in response to weather conditions. The system’s insights enable precise data-driven decisions about when to apply insecticides, ensuring treatments are only used when necessary and effective. This targeted approach reduces chemical applications and input costs.
HARNESSING AI CAPABILITIES ON FARM
AI makes this project possible, Bais says. “If there are 4,000 insects, which is normal in high activity zones, you need to take like three hours to count it. With AI, you can count it in a fraction of a second. Once you have the model trained, then the scale comes automatically. With the human counting, you can only scale so much and it’s so expensive. With AI, it doesn’t cost that much, and it’s very fast.” The system’s AI vision models – drawing on a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) – are designed to detect and process images in real time. If a new insect moves north and needs to be monitored, the model can be updated by retraining on a representative sample of that species without replacing any hardware, Bais says. Future development will focus on domain adaptation techniques that allow the system to learn new species from limited samples, reducing the need for large retraining datasets. topcropmanager.com
LEFT TO RIGHT The SIT counts flea beetles, aster leafhoppers and wheat midge on standard sticky cards; Researchers are developing a free mobile application in which growers can photograph their sticky cards and receive automatic insect counts.
PROTOTYPE IN THE WORKS
While the SIT is currently in the prototype stage and not yet commercially available, the next phase of the project is to develop three cost-tiered variants to broaden accessibility for producers and researchers without compromising performance. The basic version ($250) will transmit insect images to a mobile app for analysis; the intermediate version ($320) will incorporate environmental sensors and Bluetooth connectivity for offline image transfer, and the advanced version ($430) will include onboard edge processing, full environmental sensing and cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity for real-time field monitoring. Environmental sensing across all tiers will enable the pairing of biological and abiotic data, providing a new basis for identifying the conditions that trigger pest population buildup or migration. GPS tagging of each unit will further enable analysis of spatial variation, such as differences in insect activity at field edges versus interiors and improving understanding of overwintering zones and dispersal pathways. The researchers are also developing a free mobile application in which growers can photograph their sticky cards and receive automatic insect counts. “We have an initial version of it and if we get the funding to refine it, we will definitely be releasing that as a better version to the farmers where they can have that not just for flea beetles but also for wheat midges and other insects,” Bais says.
FUTURE APPLICATION
Looking ahead, the researchers hope to secure more funding to expand the AI vision models to cover additional insect species and develop the three cost-tiered SIT variants. They also want to seek farmer collaborators for further testing, fully develop the smart phone detection and counting app, and explore domain adaptation techniques that allow the system to recognize new or emerging species without requiring full retraining. The goal is to develop vision-language models that enable farmers to query field images using plain-text prompts. For example, producers could ask about insect activity, pest pressure trends or treatment timing. This project was funded by Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund in collaboration with AAFC at the Saskatoon RDC. TOP CROP MANAGER WEST
19
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FERTILITY AND NUTRIENTS
Soil moisture savvy could improve N management Reducing nitrogen management uncertainty. BY JOEY SABLJIC
A
22
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PRAIRIE-SPECIFIC NITROGEN CHALLENGE
ABOVE A multi-year research project aims to refine nitrogen management recommendations.
Working alongside master of science students – Carlie Johnston, Tianci Fei and David Anokehi – Mohr’s work focuses heavily on fall-applied nitrogen, a practice that remains common across Western Canada for both economic and logistical reasons. Historically, fertilizer prices have often been lower in the fall than in the spring. Fall applications can also reduce workload during narrow seeding windows by eliminating a separate fertilizer operation before planting. “There’s still a place for that fall-applied nitrogen operationally on a lot of farms,” says Mohr. “So that was the thinking behind this work – to really try to refine our nitrogen management recommendations by making that link between what is the best nitrogen management practice as a function of soil moisture.” The challenge lies in what happens after fertilizer is applied. In the study, researchers are examining urea-based nitrogen sources. Once applied, urea undergoes a series of transformations before becoming nitrate, the form of nitrogen most vulnerable to environmental losses. Under excessively wet conditions, nitrate can be lost through denitrification, where nitrogen escapes as a gas. On lighter-textured soils, nitrate may also leach deeper into the soil profile. Both pathways can reduce nitrogen availability to the crop and lower overall fertilizer efficiency. Temperature and moisture conditions also play critical roles in determining how quickly those transformations take place. “If you apply your nitrogen when the soil is cooler, the transformation is slowed,” explains Mohr. “Some of the inhibitors that are applied to September 2026
Photo courtesy of Carlie Johnston.
pplying nitrogen (N) too early in the fall increases the risk of nitrogen loss, but waiting until spring means losing valuable time during the seeding rush. Add unpredictable weather patterns into the mix, and even the most carefully designed fertility plans can become educated guesses. The biggest challenge, says Ramona Mohr, research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), is that one of the biggest drivers of nitrogen performance remains frustratingly difficult to predict. “The efficacy of different nitrogen management practices and the potential for loss of nitrogen can be strongly affected by soil moisture,” says Mohr. “The difficulty that we have, though, is that our current technologies aren’t really very good at predicting what soil moisture is going to be in the longer term.” That uncertainty is the driving force behind a multi-year research project that aims to refine nitrogen management recommendations for Western Canadian growers by better understanding how soil moisture influences nitrogen availability, losses, and even crop performance. Launched in 2023 and running through the 2027 growing season, the project combines field research, controlled-environment studies and predictive modelling to answer a question many producers wrestle with every year: How can growers make profitable nitrogen decisions when they don’t actually know what moisture conditions lie ahead? Several collaborators are also on board, including the University of Manitoba (U of M) and Manitoba Agriculture, with support from the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF), Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA), SaskWheat and the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).
nitrogen fertilizer can also slow that transformation to nitrate, and that can help reduce the potential for nitrogen losses.”
EVALUATING MULTIPLE N MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
To better understand these interactions under Prairie conditions, researchers have established field trials at five locations, including sites at Arborg and Brandon, Man., Melfort and Swift Current, Sask., and Lacombe, Alta. The trials are examining several key management variables, including the timing of application (early fall, mid-fall, late fall and spring), nitrogen source and nitrogen application rate. Researchers are comparing conventional urea with SUPERU, an enhanced efficiency fertilizer containing both urease and nitrification inhibitors.
BRINGING MOISTURE INTO THE EQUATION
A second component of the project is taking place under controlled environment conditions. The researchers are trying to understand how different combinations of soil temperature and moisture affect the conversion of urea into nitrate, and how quickly nitrate moves away from fertilizer bands. They’re evaluating four soil moisture levels ranging from relatively dry to wet conditions, along with soil temperatures of 5, 10 and 15 C. Early observations suggest moisture levels significantly influence nitrogen transformation rates. “With the higher moisture levels, there was more nitrate available and it moved farther away from the band,” says Mohr. “The transformation of nitrogen is more rapid in that case, and so the movement
out from the band is more rapid.” While those findings align with established nitrogen science, the controlled study provides critical data needed to quantify how specific moisture and temperature combinations influence nitrogen dynamics.
FROM RESEARCH TO NITROGEN DECISION SUPPORT
The project’s most practical outcome may be a decision support tool for growers that integrates field trial data, controlled-environment results, previously published research, weather records and historical soil temperature and moisture information into a single platform.“The aim of that decision support tool is to give farmers local, area-specific information as to the relative safety or risk of different fertilizer application windows based on soil moisture conditions,” explains Mohr. By translating decades of research and environmental data into practical risk assessments, the team hopes to provide producers with a clearer picture of when nitrogen applications are most vulnerable and what management options can help protect their investment.In a production environment where every pound of nitrogen matters, reducing uncertainty could prove just as valuable as improving efficiency.
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2026-06-25 8:57 AM
SOYBEANS
On the watch: Soybean varieties in 2027 Sort through available soybean varieties. BY KAITLIN BERGER
T
op Crop Manager has compiled a list of soybean varieties that will be available for growers in 2027. All information comes from the respective seed companies.
BAYER
DKB0007-77 is a medium-tall plant that stands well on average, with a branchy, robust architecture. Its disease package delivers excellent iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) and white mould tolerance. It utilizes Roundup Ready 2 Xtend technology, providing tolerance to glyphosate and dicamba. DKB003-13XF is a medium-tall plant that provides excellent emergence and early vigour, as well as an excellent stand and branchy architecture. It has a good overall disease package with very good IDC and white mould tolerance. As the earliest XtendFlex bean in the lineup, it provides tolerance to glyphosate, dicamba and glufosinate.
MAIZEX
NORTHSTAR GENETICS
NSC Newdale RR2X delivers exceptional yield potential in an early maturity class (RM 00.1 or 2300 CHU), making it an excellent fit for Manitoba and Eastern Saskatchewan soybean production. NSC Oakbank RR2X has an exceptional IDC rating 24
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ABOVE When it comes to soybean varieties, there are options.
with a very strong disease package and resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN). NSC Oakbank is a 00.5 RM and 2425 CHU and has yielded exceptionally well in all trials.
PIONEER
P0009Z36E is Pioneer’s earliest-maturing Z-Series Enlist E3 soybean, developed for shorter-season soybean acres. The variety combines excellent standability with strong Phytophthora protection and good white mould tolerance, helping growers manage risk while maintaining yield potential. P00Z19E is a new 0 early Enlist E3 variety that brings a well-rounded defensive package to Western Canadian soybean production. With strong September 2026
Photo courtesy of Kaitlin Berger.
Polar R2X is a Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety with 2300 CHUs/00.1 RM. It has great white mould tolerance and strong yield performance across soil types, as well as great pod height that helps capture every bean. Ram R2X is a Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety with 2350 CHUs/00.3 RM. It is a clean plant phenotype with great standability and strong white mould tolerance, and it works well across all soil types. Moose R2X is a Roundup Ready 2 Xtend variety with 2375 CHUs/00.4 RM. With a consistently neat and tidy phenotype across all soil environments, it has great first-pod height and leading plant standability, which makes harvest a breeze.
Phytophthora field tolerance and solid agronomic performance, it offers growers another high-performing option for shorter growing seasons.
PROGRAIN
Arlo R2X is a 2450 CHU with 00.4 relative maturity. Arlo R2X yields above-market leading checks and scores above average in IDC, Phytophthora root rot, white mould and overall defensive characteristics. It is a robust, semi-bush plant with great agronomics.
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PV S005X17 is a mid-season Xtend variety which boasts significant and stable yield for the maturity group. This tall, bushy plant type jumps out of the ground with impressive appearance and has excellent all-round agronomics. It has outstanding resistance to IDC, strong white mould tolerance and contains Rps1k Phytophthora gene.
that are highly desired by international food manufacturers. MANITOU is a RM 00.5 (2400 CHU) variety with great standability, adaptable plant architecture, and Rps1c for Phytophthora tolerance. This product qualifies for Sevita’s identity-preserved production premiums. SI BOTANZI XT* is an exciting new Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean variety with exceptional yield performance. SI BOTANZI XT* has desirable plant architecture that fits a range of production systems. This RM 000.8 (2225 CHU) variety is bred to have Rps1c genes for Phytophthora tolerance and great IDC tolerance. *Pending registration as of June 2026.
THUNDER SEEDS
TH006XF is a high-yielding soybean that gives you flexibility on spraying. It has a great disease package SC26-2375XF is a high-yielding soybean with the XtendFlex trait that with excellent IDC tolerance, and solid defence charallows application of glufosinate for more weed control options. The va- acteristics for SCN and white mould. It has medium-tall riety is semi-tolerant to IDC and has a very good lodging rating. Rated as height with a medium-bushy canopy. 2375 or 00.3 relative maturity. TH004 Enlist has very good IDC tolerance. It also provides a good defence against SCN and white mould. SEVITA INTERNATIONAL AL10626 AlbaughCA Post Harvest 7.125 x 4.75 TopCropIt has medium height with good standability and a MANITOU is a new food-grade soybean variety with high protein levels stacked Phytophthora gene.
SECAN
FIELD-PROVEN LINEUP. NO-NONSENSE APPROACH. FARMER-FOUNDED SPIRIT. You’ll find that spirit in our products and our people, and how we make doing business easy. For more than 45 years, we’ve been providing
options and affordability to help maximize returns. Our post-harvest
herbicides — Instep®, Clorvante® 25 WDG and Cleat® — do exactly that.
When you can get the results you want, why pay more?
LEARN MORE AT ALBAUGH.COM/CA ©2026 Albaugh, LLC. All rights reserved. Albaugh, the Albaugh logo, Cleat, Clorvante, and Instep are registered trademarks of Albaugh, LLC. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. It is a violation of federal law to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling.
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2026-07-31 9:14 AM
AGRONOMY UPDATE
by Bruce Barker, P.Ag | CanadianAgronomist.ca
Reducing phosphorus surface runoff in snowmelt
D
rainage management practices, such as using surface ditches, can help drain water from potholes in the spring to improve the efficiency of crop production. However, these practices can also impact water quality downstream. A research study was conducted by Blake Weiseth at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Department of Soil Science to see if fertilizer and crop management practices could be implemented to limit the environmental impact of pothole drainage in the Canadian Prairie Pothole Region. It was conducted at the Ag in Motion site near Langham, Sask. in a three-year field study starting in the spring of 2021. The main objective was to see how variable rate fertilizer application, shallow tillage or growing a forage mixture impacted dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) concentrations and P load in snowmelt surface runoff from drained watersheds. Crop P uptake and grain yield were also compared for each treatment. In addition, the research looked at how performance varied across different landscape positions on the hummocky landscape. Eight hydrologically isolated watersheds with ephemeral to seasonal permanent potholes were identified. They covered a total of 39 acres (16 ha) in a single field. In the fall of 2020, surface ditches were constructed to drain the potholes off the field. In the spring of 2021, snowmelt surface runoff was collected over a four-day period to determine baseline DRP concentrations. The control treatment had a constant fertilizer rate applied across each treatment area and no post-harvest tillage following the annual grain crop. The second treatment used variable rate (VR) nitrogen (N) and P fertilizer rates derived from a commercially available VR prescription plan (SWAT MAPS). The VR plan utilized 10 zones, with seed, N, P, and sulfur (S) fertilizer rates varying across each zone. For example, for Zone 5 in 2023, the seeding rate for canola was 4.8 lb/ac (5.4 kg/ha), while the fertilizer rates were 100 lb N/ac (114 kg N/ha), 50 lb P2O5/ac (56 kg P2O5/ha), and 27 lb S/ac (30 kg S/ha). The third treatment was the same as the control, but with a shallow 0 to 2 in (0 to 5 cm) post-harvest tillage to lightly incorporate crop residue in the soil surface. The fourth treatment was an annual forage species (30 per cent hairy vetch, 25 per cent crimson clover, 25 per cent tillage radish, and 20 per cent turnip) seeded and harvested each year. The four treatments were randomly assigned to two of the eight watersheds, and applied to the same watershed each year. The three landscape positions sampled in each watershed were upslope, midslope, and depression. The annual crops grown in the control, VR and tillage treatments were flax in 2021, wheat in 2022, and canola in 2023. All fertilizer was banded at the time of seeding.
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The treatments did not have an impact on grain yield in any of the three years. The VR P treatment rates were 10 to 20 per cent less than those applied to the control, but were applied to zones with high P fertility which could explain the lack of yield response. The only landscape area with higher grain and straw yields was on the depression compared to the upslope and midslope. The different treatments also did not provide a significant interaction between yield and slope. Total crop P uptake did not differ in any year for each crop for the control, VR fertilizer, and tillage treatments. The forage mixture P uptake was variable, with higher P uptake than the other three treatments in 2021, but was significantly lower in 2022 and 2023. Landscape only affected crop P uptake in 2021, similar to crop yield where the depression treatment had higher crop P uptake. Residual soil available P measured post-harvest was not significantly affected by the four treatments or landscape position. In two of three years, the VR treatment had significantly lower DRP concentration measured in-field surface snowmelt that were 64 to 69 per cent of the control with no significant reduction in crop yield. In two of three years, the forage mixture also reduced DRP concentration relative to the control. Total estimated P load concentrations from in-field snowmelt was significantly lower for the VR fertilizer treatment by 50 per cent compared to the control in one of three years. The forage mixture treatment also had significantly lower estimated P load than the control in two of three years. The differences in P runoff in snowmelt was largely attributed to differences in P fertilizer rates under the VR treatment. The researchers noted that “generally, fertilizer and crop management practices that effectively match fertilizer P application rates to variation in crop P demand across the landscape, and that encourage crop removal of residual P, can be effective in reducing P transport from drained agricultural watersheds.” This research was supported by the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (SaskWheat), the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission (SaskCanola), the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association (SaskSoil), the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA), and Water Security Agency. Bruce Barker divides his time between CanadianAgronomist.ca and as Western Field Editor for Top Crop Manager. CanadianAgronomist.ca translates research into agronomic knowledge that agronomists and farmers can use to grow better crops. Read the full research insight at CanadianAgronomist.ca.
September 2026
DEC 3, 2026 Grande Prairie, AB Following a successful first year, Top Crop Summit is returning to Alberta’s Peace Region for an even bigger second edition. Designed for growers, agronomists and crop advisors, the summit delivers expert agronomy research, insights, and production strategies tailored to the Peace Region—helping you make informed decisions and boost productivity next season.
Rate: d ir B ‑ y l r a E $70.00 0) 3 . t c O s d n (e Register to attend or exhibit at
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Just Add Nitrogen. Five essential nutrients. One low-salt granule. ICL PKpluS® delivers phosphorus, sulphur, potassium, magnesium and calcium safely in the seed row, letting you manage nitrogen your way.
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September 2026