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Agronomy, testing,
and reference material.
Our agronomy services, free water and soil testing, and a library of bulletins, cheat sheets, and trial results — everything you need to make informed decisions for your farm.
Practical agronomy
for your operation.
Our commitment is to put the best interest of our customers at the forefront of every decision and recommendation. With a focus on innovation and maximizing yields, we provide unbiased information to help you determine the right products, services, and application methods for your operation.
01
Soil testing & analysis
Pulled in-field by your Account Manager, sent to an accredited lab, and reviewed with you in person. The foundation of any fertility plan worth running.
02
Crop planning
A full-season plan built from your soil tests, rotation, and acres. Fertility targets, crop protection strategy, and seed selection — all aligned to your operation.
03
Crop scouting
Your Account Manager walks the field with you — looking for disease pressure, weed escapes, insect damage, and nutrient gaps. Decisions made on the ground.
04
Tissue analysis
In-season testing of plant tissue to confirm what's actually available to the crop. Catches deficiencies before they cost you yield.
05
Seed testing
Germination, vigour, and disease testing before the drill rolls. Better data, better stand, better outcome.
06
Agronomic consulting
Bigger-picture conversations about your operation's trajectory — variable rate strategy, soil health programs, rotation changes, and the trial work we're running locally.
Ready to put a plan together?
YOUR ACCOUNT MANAGER STARTS WITH A FIELD WALK AND A SOIL TEST.
— BOOK A TEST
Start with the data.
Good decisions start with knowing what's actually happening on your farm and in each of your fields.
Both services can be scheduled directly with your Account Manager.
Test your spray water
before it costs you a pass.
Hard water, high bicarbonates, and pH issues can quietly tank your herbicide application. We'll test your water at any of our 10 locations and tell you what conditioners (if any) you need.
- Drop off a sample at any CMN location
- Conditioner recommendations included
- Free for customers
Know what your soil has — and what it needs
Your CMN Account Manager will help coordinate soil sampling for your fields and walk through the results with you. The lab handles the testing. We help you understand what the results mean for your next crop and put them to work in your fertility plan..
- Soil analysis completed by an accredited lab
- Results reviewed with your Account Manager
- Practical recommendations tailored to your fields
- A fertility plan built around your goals
— OUR AGRONOMY LEADERS AT CMN
Meet Steve Cowan
ROLE
Innovation Agronomist & Partner
EDUCATION
B.Sc. Agricultural Economics
University of Alberta
WITH CMN. SINCE
2012
Steve Cowan holds a B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Alberta and serves as CMN's Innovation Agronomist and a Partner at Crop Management Network.
Since joining CMN in 2012, Steve has held a variety of roles across the business — giving him a well-rounded understanding of the ag retail landscape and the practical realities our customers face.
On his own farm, Steve is a strong advocate for soil health, thoughtful crop rotation, and precision agriculture technologies that improve both productivity and long-term sustainability.
In his role as Innovation Agronomist, Steve helps ensure the new products and technologies CMN brings to market are grounded in sound science, agronomically defensible, and positioned where they can deliver meaningful, real-world value on the farm.
Meet Lisa Dirksen
ROLE
Lead Field Agronomist & Partner
EDUCATION
B.Sc. Agriculture (Agronomy), CCA & P.Ag.
University of Guelph
WITH CMN. SINCE
2019
Lisa Dirksen holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Agronomy) from the University of Guelph, along with her CCA and P.Ag. designations. She serves as CMN’s Lead Field Agronomist and is a Partner at Crop Management Network. Lisa has spent 20 years in the industry, working across Ontario, the Peace Country and Central Alberta. She joined CMN in 2019 as an Account Manager and remains based at our Edberg location.
Raised on a farm, Lisa understands that every operation is different and that balancing agronomics, economics and logistics is critical to its success.
In her role as Lead Field Agronomist, Lisa supports our Account Managers, leads agronomy training and oversees our customer trial and Summer Intern programs. Her passion for teaching and exploring new products helps our team turn agronomic knowledge into practical recommendations that support each farm’s goals
— AGRONOMY LIBRARY
From the field.
Bulletins, cheat sheets, trial results, and seasonal guides from our agronomy team. Practical, local, and free to use on your operation.
GUIDE
Canola Pre-Harvest Decision Guide
Swath or straight cut, choosing a pre-harvest product, and getting the most from it in Central Alberta.
CMN AGRONOMY TEAM
AUGUST 2026
GUIDE
CMN 2026 Fungicide Guide
A practical guide to disease risk, timing and protecting yield in Central Alberta crops
CMN AGRONOMY TEAM
JULY 2026
CHEAT SHEET
Delta T Considerations by Application
This guide is a starting point for thinking through spray decisions as Delta T conditions change. Specific rates and sprayer setup depend on your water, your sprayer, and the products in your tank.
CMN AGRONOMY TEAM
JUNE 2026
CHECKLIST
Canola Pre-Seed Checklist
CMN AGRONOMY TEAM
MAY 2026
Get new bulletins
delivered to your inbox.
Steve sends out timely agronomy notes throughout the season — never more than once a week, only when there's something worth saying.