SWAT 018: Prairie Legend Les Henry

SWAT Agronomy

We have a really special episode for you as we sit down with Les Henry. Retired in 1996, Les is a professor emeritus at the University of Saskatchewan, a private consultant, and farmer. He is a renowned soils expert and in 2010 he released a lighthearted book about his passion for soils titled “Henry’s Handbook of Soil and Water”. He has taught and mentored many farmers, agronomists and ag professionals over the years, and his impact on the industry cannot be overstated.

In today’s episode, Les reflects on his career milestones including conducting soil surveys, helping farmers solve problems like soil salinity, teaching and research he has done both in Canada and abroad, his 48 years of writing, his views on farmer-led research and extension and much much more.

“At the end of the meeting, a farmer got up and said, 'you told us what we already knew in language we couldn't understand and took all day to do it. And he was right! So on the way home, I said to my department head, we have to do something different here. That was something I'll remember forever.” - Les Henry

1:56 Henry’s background and how he started his career

3:06 Working on soil surveys and getting started in teaching

4:12 The importance of listening to farmers

6:30 Henry’s work on salinity

12:24 The five years Les spent on soil surveys

13:44 Work in soil fertility

15:44 What’s different from what he used to teach about soils?

19:36: Writing “Henry’s Handbook of Soil and Water”

23:15 The top takeaway from Les’ writing

25:18 Research needs to start with a real problem

26:00 Recent writing on cover crops

28:00 Variable rate and SWAT MAPS

34:03 Government interference

35:36 What Les is most proud of

37:50 Doing things “My Way”

Purchase a copy of “Henry’s Handbook of Soil and Water”

Learn more at SWATMAPS.com.