Efforts to address plastics used in agriculture taking root featured in Globe & Mail’s Next-Generation Farming Report

Dec 13, 2023

The Globe and Mail “Next Generation Farming Report” highlights Cleanfarms’ goal to keep agricultural plastics out of landfill and manage on-farm agricultural waste materials in the most sustainable way possible. Cleanfarms has been steadily expanding its range of programs and is currently operating pilot projects to develop efficient ways to deal with bale wrap, in particular.

Prior to having plastics available, tasks like gathering hay were cumbersome. “It took the team six weeks to complete what can now be done by one person in three days,” Mr. Friesen recalls. “Plastics – combined with technology – had a phenomenal impact on the agriculture industry, resulting in much more efficient ways of growing and delivering food.”

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.