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Nozzles combine effectiveness with low drift >> Technology: Farmers bank on global trends >> Business: Ride the wave of better corn yields >> Production: >> Farm Life: Tragedy had a silver lining

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02/11-15296_Rev

FarmFORUM volume 25 | issue 2 | Spring 2011

contents >> PRINT TECHNOLOGY

BUSINESS

PRODUCTION

FARM LIFE

FarmFORUM www.farmforum.ca Publisher Bayer CropScience Editor Sherry Butt Associate Editor Dave Wreford

New nozzles combine effectiveness with low drift

Choose nozzle based on needs

COVER STORY

Employee investment pays dividends

A good employee is a huge business asset

Ride the wave of better corn yields

Tragedy had a silver lining

Corn yields show no sign of peaking

This outstanding young farmer took over the family farm at 16

4 Editorâ€™s note: progressive farmers know how to get the job done 6 Farmers and agri-businesses bank on global trends: target business investments 16 Follow product labels for peak herbicide performance: 100% control unrealistic 20 Water water everywhere: better drainage only answer to excessive soil moisture

look for crop talk starting on page 24

contents >> WEB

CropTalk

FarmFORUM.ca

Contributors Jennifer Barber, Kim Langen, Clare Stanfield, Gerald Pilger, Angela Lovell, Genesis Studio and Chris Fertnig Photography. Graphic Design Aaron Mumby Design Farm Forum is published seasonally by Bayer CropScience. Contact Farm Forum at: Bayer CropScience Suite 200 160 Quarry Park Blvd SE Calgary, AB, T2C 3G3 T. 1 888-283-6847 F. 1 888-570-9378 E. farmforum@bayercropscience.com www.bayercropscience.ca Contents of this publication are copyrighted and may be reproduced only with written permission of the publisher, Bayer CropScience. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. Publications Mail Agreement Number 40743517 Registered in Canada Copyright 2011 Website www.farmforum.ca Return undeliverable copies to: Bayer CropScience Suite 200 160 Quarry Park Blvd SE Calgary, AB, T2C 3G3

New weed realities hit corn Widespread use of glyphosate-tolerant hybrids poses new challenges www.farmforum.ca/newweedrealities

Keep the help happy Strategies to help farmers retain workers

www.farmforum.ca/labourretain

Pesticide registration provides peace of mind Process reveals pesticide effectiveness as well as safety to human health and environment

On the cover Rick Schouten (centre), along with brother Ed (foreground) and son, Chris, run Schoutensâ€™ Cornerview Farms in Richmond, ON. The brothers employ nine permanent workers and no part-timers, a testament to the importance of investing in your employees.

www.farmforum.ca/pesticideregistration Farm Forum.ca | 3

s h o r t ta k e s

There are changes coming to FarmForum.ca We’re updating the Farm Forum website to make it quick to read and navigate and to make it easy for you to see what’s new on the site. We’ll continue with the mix of long and short articles but we’ll add more photos and videos to make things more interesting. We’re also going to update the site every month with more stories to keep things fresh. The new website will also include a blog. The plan is to have a Bayer expert blog on seasonal topics of interest to you with the opportunity to make your comments heard and add to the discussion. We’re also going to start a Twitter feed so we can get in on the conversations happening among farmers on that service. If you know nothing about Twitter, you’ll like it because each comment is very short and it’s easy to follow. Check out the new farmforum.ca and enjoy articles, blogs, photos, videos and tweets! FF

new farm forum website coming soon!

Fake WEbsite Screenshot Here

4 | Farm Forum | Spring 2011

Editor’s Note Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. That makes the farmers we highlight in stories throughout this issue far from insane: they are all great examples of progressive farmers who consistently strive for better ways of doing things. Starting with the Schouten brothers, Rick and Ed, who show us, in our cover story, some inventive ways of retaining employees at their dairy operation in Richmond, ON. Most of Schoutens’ Cornerview Farms’ nine full-time workers are long-term employees, an anomaly in an industry fraught with labour shortages, high turnover and a reputation for low wages and backbreaking work. When it comes to choosing the most effective nozzle for any spray job, the best way to find the right fit is to ask a lot of questions, and, as Tupperville, ON, farmer Dave Van Segbrook says, try different hardware on different crops at different times. As corn yields show no signs of peaking any time soon, most corn growers want to get in on the bonanza. For Hensall, ON grower Mark Brock, higher corn yields mean giving his crops a good start by planting and controlling weeds early and not skimping on fertilizer. This issue’s Farm Life story features the Outstanding Young Farmers’ program award winners from the Quebec region. Jean-Francois Lemieux took over the family farm when he was just 16, after the death of his parents within a few years of each other. But, armed with four years of experience, family support and the decision to make farming his career, Lemieux got on with it. Now, he and his wife Mylene Gagnon run Ferme Valmieux Inc., a very successful dairy operation in Saint-Vallier, Quebec. The secret to their success is consistently working to improve production and their quality of life. FF

Photo (opposite page) Genesis Studio

More at farmforum.ca

Planning key to successful growing season Thank you. As you enter the critical pre-seeding phase of your 2011 cropping season, thank you for taking time to check out Farm Forum. We know you’ll find it a good read but we also know you have a long “to do” list at this time of year. At Bayer CropScience we have a passion for providing our farm customers with the best products and service possible. One way of doing this is through the magazine you now have in your hands or on your screen. It contains a package of top-quality farm management and lifestyle stories selected to provide coverage of timely topics in ways you can use and enjoy. Canadian agriculture is a dynamic and exciting industry. And the new crop year seems set to present us all with even more challenges and rewards than usual. We hope this issue of Farm Forum helps you avoid the production pitfalls that lie along the route to those potentially juicy profits. We always appreciate feedback from readers. If we’re missing a topic you’d like to read more about, just let us know by contacting Farm Forum at farmforum@bayercropscience.com. It’s your magazine and we want the content to match your information needs and interests. Thanks again, and good luck in the growing season ahead.

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business

Farmers and agri-businesses bank on global trends

m a r k e t in g m inu t e

By Jennifer Barber

Financial uncertainty is nothing of how much Canadian farmers have innew for farm and agri-business managers. vested in becoming more sustainable,” They’ve always lived with it. But as their adds Tait. “We have moved to no-till or industry goes global, worldwide econom- minimum-till farming; we have better ic concerns and international trends are equipment; we have new inputs that are adding to the difficulty in deciding where applied at much lower rates; and we use less water. This is an area where Canabest to target business investments. Gwen Paddock, head of agriculture dian agri-business can continue to lead.” and agri-business for RBC Royal Bank, says that in many ways Canadian ag- Perception is reality riculture is being conducted in a world A storm hits Australia and that same day virtually without borders. “Farmers and the Internet is flooded with disaster stoagri-businesses in Canada are probably ries and commodity prices change. Before more in tune with the global situation it is possible for supply to be affected, the than in many countries because we are an whole balance of production shifts. Paddock says Canada’s exporting nation,” she agri-businesses have says. “Our grain and to be prepared to act livestock businesses In many cases people quickly. rely on international aren’t aware of how much “There is a newsuccess, and look at found immediacy to the global situation Canadian farmers have agriculture because of when they invest.” invested in becoming widespread access to While he agrees instant information,” that Canada’s agrimore sustainable she explains. “As an business is globally exporting country, we focused, Bruce Tait, senior vice president of agriculture for have to be prepared to meet demand by the accounting firm Meyers Norris Pen- shifting course when we are able.” ny, says Canada’s farmers are still more motivated by domestic demand. “A seg- Non-traditional uses of ment of farmers are actively marketing on agricultural products a global level, but I don’t believe enough Despite concerns over potential food farmers make capital decisions based on shortages, demand is growing for products based on unusual uses for food. the international picture.” “More people are finding innovaBoth point to overall global developtive ways to use food products,” says ments that are influencing the agricultural value chain in Canada, and see these trends Tait. We’re seeing fuel, fibre and health as having an increasing impact at all levels products that all start out as something of agriculture and agri-business investment grown in the ground. We’re also seeing an increase in neutraceutical products in this country. Some examples: and investment into research for these Sustainable production products.” Sustainability of food production is becoming a more important issue at both Global marketing the global and domestic levels. Canada’s Paddock says there has been real growth farmers are already investing more in in international marketing in recent years. sustainable practices, in part to maintain She cautions that for this trend to contheir global reputation. tinue, farmers and agri-businesses have to “In many cases people aren’t aware learn how to export effectively. 6 | Farm Forum | Spring 2011

“They have to invest in their own training and learn when to ask for help in order to become good marketers,” she says. “The government has developed educational programs and at RBC we have teams that helps clients learn how to get paid in an international market.” Genetically modified foods Tait says genetically modified (GM) foods are losing their stigma of earlier years because they are providing value-adds and nutritional enhancements that end-users can see and that agri-business can get paid for. “A lot of development is possible through genetic improvements either at the seed level or with research into new products,” he says. “A small pocket of the world is still concerned about GM food, but demand for the benefits provided by these same foods is increasing and I think farmers can bank on that.” Growth in niche markets Cultural preferences have created new markets for specialty products. Paddock says investing in niche markets has to focus on knowing your end consumer. “For niche markets a comprehensive business plan is more important than ever,” she says. “Cost of production is a consideration, as is determining long term demand for the product.” Food safety and security Tait says investment in traceability programs that can track a product or input all the way through the food chain helps make consumers feel more secure. He says that industry reluctance to invest in this technology has to do with the dollar value placed on it. “Anything greater than a 10 per cent price increase at the grocery store and the public claws back their buying. Farmers aren’t necessarily seeing a payback for this investment — it should be just a cost of doing business.”

PHOTOs (left) ©veer.COM/ Kheng Ho Toh; (right) ©istockphoto.COM/Sarpmurat

Focus on productivity Paddock says that enhanced productivity means enhanced profitability and with the relatively high cost of labour in Canada, businesses have to know how to run better in order to compete with low-cost regions of the world. “If growers or businesses have a plan in place they are better able to run their operations efficiently and achieve the added benefit of reducing risk,” she says. Foreign investment Foreign ownership is impacting all agribusinesses, not just the large ones. Tait says that because of Canada’s strong reputation, more people are going to be knocking on our doors looking for businesses that can help meet their demand. “There has already been interest in our natural resources,” he says, “but, looking forward, more investment is likely in Canadian companies that make food ready for shipment.” Risky business Paddock says that the global economic slowdown didn’t mean farmers and agri-

Investment in traceability programs make consumers feel more secure.

businesses stopped investing. They can’t stop investing if they hope to compete on an international scale. However they have to address their areas of risk and invest capital where their risk can be managed. In the future, she believes, a lot of global food trends will be driven by increasing

Save Time

demand and by the ways in which everyone in the industry is working to meet it. “We will have to manage risk, but at the same time we will have to continue to be innovative in our farming practices and agricultural products to compete on a global scale.” FF

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Technology

New nozzles combine effectiveness with low drift If you ask Dave Van Segbrook what kind of nozzle he uses on his vegetable crops, he’ll pull out a catalogue and give you a list of what works best in each situation. “We use different nozzles and tips from a number of manufacturers,” he says. “When someone tells me his product is the best it makes me curious to learn more, and we’ve learned the most by asking questions and trying different things on different crops at different times.” Van Segbrook has been farming in Tupperville, ON, since 1982 and has seen a lot of changes in sprayer and nozzle technology over the years. In general, he says, today’s best nozzles don’t try and fight gravity. “A lot of the products we apply need solid coverage in order to work, so we have to use specific nozzles and tips to get as much on the leaf as possible,” he says. “It stands to reason that smaller droplets are going to float around, whereas larger ones will fall down and explode on the plant to offer better coverage.” Fine spray droplets can move great distances under the right conditions. They travel furthest at night or early in the morning because the higher humidity keeps them from evaporating, and calm conditions slows dispersal. Somewhat windy days actually help disperse the

spray, but most applicators try to avoid these conditions for fear of drift damage. “With nozzle development we’ve been very successful in bringing performance and environmental concerns closer together but I am not sure we’ll ever find the perfect balance,” says Tom Wolf, a research scientist with Agriculture and AgriFood Canada. “Managing spray drift is very important from a financial and legal point of view, and also in terms of maintaining farmers’ reputations as environmental stewards.” A lot of sprayers today are faster and more powerful than every before. While this can be good for getting product on a field quickly, faster is not always better Tom Wolf when trying to balance optimal product coverage and reduced environmental impact. “I usually drive my sprayer at around 9-10 mph which in the eyes of many of my neighbours makes me a cowboy,” says Van Segbrook. “But out west if I were driving someone’s sprayer that speed I’d be fired for going too slowly. Issues with speed of application can be (addressed) with nozzle technology that gives you a more even pressure.”

New Holland GuardianTM Front Boom SP.365F 8 | Farm Forum | Spring 2011

By Jennifer Barber

The latest trends in nozzle technology include low-pressure, low-drift and variable-rate nozzles. In most cases, they work to eliminate finer droplets and replace them with larger, less drift-prone ones. This benefit is offset by the need to optimize pressure and in some cases use higher water volumes with these nozzles. Van Segbrook has been using lowpressure air-induction nozzles for a while because in his mind it’s logical technology. “In the 1980s we would use 200 lb. of pressure in our sprayer and leave a cloud of fog behind as we sprayed,” he says. “You never knew if that fog was going away from you or coming at you. With lower pressure you focus on getting bigger droplets where you want them to go.” Van Segbrook has also noticed that air-induction nozzles help keep sprayers cleaner. In the past, spray drift caused a film of product to build up on his sprayer. As the air induction nozzles work with gravity, he doesn’t see as much residue on his machine. Water volume also has an impact on product effectiveness. Choosing the right water volume, says Wolf, depends on crop stage as well as application technology. “The goal with herbicides and fungicides is to get the most product on the leaf surface,” he says. “When crop canopy is very small early in the season, this can be achieved with low water volumes. But fast-forward two months and you reduce effectiveness with low water volume on a more advanced canopy. Van Segbrook uses more water for some products, less for others, and suggests using water sensitive paper to gauge overall coverage. When placed on a target area before spraying, water sensitive paper becomes stained with the droplet pattern. This has helped him fine tune the best mix for proper coverage. “We tend to use higher water volumes because often the vegetation is thick by

the time we’re in the field spraying,” says Van Segbrook. “Since you can’t easily paint the underside of a leaf, we want a droplet that’s going to hit the leaf hard and cover as much as possible.” Wolf notes that sprayers are becoming more high tech, with models that are easier to fill and clean and more comfortable to operate. For example, automatic boom leveling helps growers achieve consistent coverage. Van Segbrook agrees. “At higher application speeds, today’s wider booms sometimes hit the ground in lower areas. Maintaining a steady height is ideal because if the boom is too high you get less coverage, and if it’s too low you sometimes see strips of coverage.”

PHOTOS (LEFT) COURTESY new holland north america; (top right) Capstan Ag systems Inc ,(bottom RIGHT) Greenleaf technologies

With nozzle development we’ve been very successful in bringing performance and environmental concerns closer together but I am not sure we’ll ever find the perfect balance He also credits new technology that prevents spray overlap for better sprayer performance and a healthier bottom line. Using a GPS signal, these devices track a sprayer’s course around field perimeters and automatically shut down nozzles over ground that’s already been covered. In terms of sprayer add-ons, Wolf notes several that help make the whole system work at its best. “The most important aspect of nozzle performance is finding optimum spray pressure,” he says. “A large pressure gauge mounted in clear view helps you keep control. In addition, better nozzle flow sensors help make sure you are getting good performance.” He also points to the crop protection industry as an important partner in any new nozzle technology. “While development of individual chemical characteristics is important, researchers should also be considering whether their chemistry works with low-drift and variable-rate nozzles, and different water volumes, so we can get as close as possible to a highperforming application with low environmental impact.” FF

New technology improves sprayer precision Any problem can be solved in many different ways. In trying to make the perfect sprayer nozzle, manufacturers have come up with different ways to handle common issues related to drift, pressure, water volume and coverage. Tom Wolf, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has tested countless different sprayer options and sees a lot of good products out there. But in pointing out some of the new technology available, he notes pros and cons to every innovation, and cautions growers to be aware of that before they go into the field. A few examples: AIM Command/Capstan Sharpshooter These two systems are the same technology from the same manufacturer but the Capstan Sharpshooter is a retrofit product for use on all types of commercial sprayers, whereas AIM Command is only available on CNH sprayers. They offer applicators more precise rate and droplet size control. Pressure can be manually changed to control droplet size. “In a conventional system, when you speed up, pump pressure increases to meet the higher flow rate needs,” says Wolf. “With this system, pressure stays constant while a pulsing solenoid controls flow independent of pressure.” He reports strong results with consistent pressure over a wide range of speed. The downside to this system Capstan Sharpshooter is high cost and somewhat greater complexity. VariTarget Nozzle “These take a different approach to pressure regulation,” says Wolf. “Instead of a pulse, they vary the size of the nozzle orifice. As spray pressure increases, the nozzle opening adapts to allow a wider range of flow rates.” He says the downside to this technology is that it is very sensitive: a small change in pressure can cause a relatively large change in flow rate. If two locations on a spray boom differ in pressure by 3 psi for example, nozzle output can vary by 25 per cent or more. He says this can result in uneven control. But he adds that proper calibration across the boom helps eliminate flow rate variations. Variable Rate Air Induced Nozzle The Greenleaf TurboDrop VR uses a spring that opens another orifice when necessary to increase flow. “We have not yet worked with this nozzle, but have noticed that it requires fairly high pressures,” says Wolf. “That could be a problem for sprayers that can’t generate high pressures. Low Pressure Air Induced Nozzle Although lacking variable rate technology, these nozzles are currently very popular with growers. “They Greenleaf TurboDrop have proven to be the most reliable in producing optimal coverage and lowest drift. The downside is that pressure has to be in a specific range for them to operate optimally.” Some examples of this type of nozzle are the Greenleaf AirMix, the Air Bubble Jet and the TeeJet AIXR. A new nozzle, the Hypro GuardianAIR has a high performing consistently coarse spray over a wide pressure range. FF

Farm Forum.cA | 9

Rick Schouten knows that what makes Schoutens’ Cornerview Farms hum, is its dedicated employees. By instituting a long list of employee benefits and perks, Rick and his brother Ed, have found the secret to retaining and keeping workers happy.

Cover Story By Kim Langen

Employee investment pays dividends A good employee is a huge business asset. And like all business employees, farm workers perform only as well as they are managed, maintained, and motivated 10 | Farm Forum | Spring 2011

ome producers are stars at keeping staff. It takes energy, inventiveness and money, but the payoff comes in the shape of employees who stick with you, improve their skills and become increasingly valuable team members as the years go by. Take Schoutens’ Cornerview Farms Ltd., a family farm in existence for 55 years near Richmond, ON. Run as a partnership by brothers Rick and Ed Schouten, and Ed’s son Chris, the operation includes a 550-cow milking herd, plus 750 dry cows, replacement heifers and calves. The partners use 1,800 acres to grow feed and forage for the animals, and the same again to produce cash-crop corn, soybeans and wheat.

PHOTOS Chris Fertnig photography

The farm employs nine permanent workers and no part-timers. Most are long-term employees, and when you hear how the Schoutens treat them, and the perks they offer, that’s no surprise. “We added benefits a little at a time,” says Ed Schouten, age 62. He grew up working alongside the hired men and doing the same chores back when the mixed farm was first started with just 100 acres and 25 dairy cows. “In the beginning, it was a flat wage, and they always had milk. We increase wages annually now, three to four per cent each year, depending on inflation. We do it before they ask.” Workers still get the free milk, plus a free side of beef each year, 10 to 20 broilers for the oven, reimbursement for Farm Forum.cA | 11

The Schoutens offer their employees a number of benefits including above-average wages and vacation pay to keep them happy. work clothes and pay advances for unexpected expenses. There’s the annual company golf tournament and Christmas party, and the chance to receive training and sign up for apprenticeships. The Schoutens also pay above-average agricultural wages to their workers, plus 4 per cent vacation pay and are currently looking at options for extended medical and dental plans. In adopting these progressive policies, the Schoutens are ahead of the herd. The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC), based in Ottawa, has examined the farm labour recruitment situation and reports that demand for workers is expected to increase faster than supply, partly due to the poor image of farm labour. “Agriculture is not very well defined,” says Danielle Vinette, executive director for CAHRC. “There is still very much a stereotypical view of farming — that it’s low-wage and back-breaking work. One of our objectives is to define occupations,

heat detection. Equipment dealers provide the Schouten employees with equipment maintenance training and all employees take part in an annual safety training session, carried out by a rep from the Ontario Farm Safety Association. “We try to motivate staff by varying their work activities where possible,” says Schouten. “We share the difficult jobs. Everyone chips in when the going gets tough.” It all sounds easy, but it’s in the details

“We try to motivate staff by varying their work activities where possible,” says Schouten. “We share the difficult jobs. Everyone chips in when the going gets tough.” so at least there is a more accurate picture of agriculture. That’s what we need to make it more attractive,” she explains. The Schoutens are doing their bit. Work schedules are organized in advance, and they operate a bi-weekly payroll system. Two of their workers live in a rent-free apartment, and one “heirloom” herdsman, an employee of 20 years, was even granted a plot of land on which to build a house for himself. Dairy workers are trained by a vet in dairy cow health and care, and an AI tech advises workers on breeding issues and 12 | Farm Forum | Spring 2011

of personnel management that farmers so often hit the wall. Danielle Cabernel, rural leadership specialist for Manitoba Agriculture, Food, and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) points out that choosing and retaining farm help is tricky, and farmers can make better choices by learning more about hiring and handling employees. “Many producers don’t have training or information in human resources and payroll matters,” she explains. “When you have a staff of 10 to 15 people, there are things like vacation planning and succession planning — who will replace them

when they retire, or leave? If they get a job somewhere else, is there someone who can step in? On farms, work has to be done day by day, but maybe (farmers) have to plan further ahead than this.” Part of the trouble is that most farmers have always been their own boss, said Cabernel. “I think that being a business owner and never being an employee sometimes means they might not be able to understand the worker’s viewpoint. It’s not just farming that is like that; it’s just that farming can be more urgent.” Security is another issue for many farm workers. Some, especially older folk, are happy with seasonal employment. But the best workers tend to gravitate to permanent jobs. The Schoutens steadfastly retain their employees full-time. There are no lay-offs during slower times of the seasons, and that way there’s no need for new hires. “It’s very seldom that we need new employees,” says Schouten. “We have been very fortunate not to need to hire. If we do, it’s usually word of mouth. People phone us, looking for work. That’s the way it’s been for 20 years. You have to make sure they’re not unhappy. They would have to look hard elsewhere to get what they are getting here.” But it’s not cheap, he adds, and probably not possible for every employer to offer such benefits, especially if their patch is not as large as the Schoutens’ 3,800acre spread. “It does cost, to be quite honest. A lot of smaller farms would have a hard time doing it. We can afford it. We run a business here, and our men are worth everything we give them. Some people take employees for granted. But everyone has to make a living.” FF www.farmforum.ca/labourretain

You’ve hired competent farm workers – now, how do you keep them happy? Learn more about strategies to help retain them.

If you think it’s tough to find good farm help, brace yourself. According to the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC), it’s going to get harder. The council, based in Ottawa, has examined the farm recruitment situation in Canada and reports that demand for workers is expected to increase. In 2009, the farm labour vacancy rate in Canada stood at 9 per cent, and that number is rising. “Our forecast is that by 2013 there will be a need for 51,000 extra full-time agricultural workers, and 38,000 extra seasonal workers,” says Danielle Vinette, CAHRC executive director. Where will these workers come from? In many rural areas, there’s still a pool of people who have retired from farming, are maybe in their 60s, and take on seasonal work such as harvesting, seeding, and haying. They can use big equipment — combines, tractors, seeders, sprayers — and may also be able to repair that equipment. This group is shrinking, however, and young folk may not come with the same storehouse of experience. In June, 2009, CAHRC created AgriTalent to address this issue and help workers gain the necessary training for farm jobs, says Vinette. It’s a bilingual database that farmers can access to find listings of training and learning programs in agriculture all across

Get ready for a sellers’ market in hired help

Canada. The council developed it to help producers, farm managers and other workers in the agricultural sector, and it could be a vital tool for farm personnel. When Canadian labour is not to be found, farmers do have a safety valve. They can turn to migrant workers for help. Service Canada, through its network of Human Resource Centres, runs a program to help fill the traditional and critical shortage of suitably qualified seasonal workers, especially when it comes to planting, maintaining and harvesting horticultural crops in Ontario. The Ca-

Our forecast is that by 2013 there will be a need for 51,000 extra full-time agricultural workers, and 38,000 extra seasonal workers ribbean and Mexican Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program is run on behalf of the Government of Canada, and was implemented in 1966 to address this shortage. It has grown over the years to fill the increasing need for farm labour, and now brings in seasonal workers from places such as Jamaica, Trinidad-Tobago, Barbados, Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, and Mexico. These workers can be employed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island—all participants in the program. FF

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BayerCropScience.ca or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative. Always read and follow label directions. Infinity® is a registered trademark of Bayer. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

Farm Forum.cA | 13 02/11-14671

Ride the yield wave Contrary to earlier predictions, corn yields show no sign of peaking. They keep going higher. Here’s how to get in on the bonanza

f the prairies are Canada’s bread basket, then Ontario must be our corn crib. With more than two million acres of corn grown in the province, and yields increasing year over year, it is a production powerhouse. But we can always do better, right? The never-ending goal of achieving more bushels per acre was front and centre at many corn clinics and demonstration trials last summer. But just how to squeeze another 10 or 15 or 20 bushels per acre isn’t a straightforward proposition. “Different growers try different

By Clare Stanfield

pr bo u ds u i ncetsi os n

things,” says Greg Stewart, corn specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OMFARA). “At meetings this year, a lot of growers came forward to say, ‘my yields have gone up’, but they couldn’t always say why that happened.” Stewart isn’t surprised. “The weather was good and hybrid improvements are significant, so it seems that almost anything worked. But we’re not entirely sure what’s happening.” Getting higher yields depends on agronomics, genetics and the environment, he explains. “You can clearly identify genetics and agronomic practices that have a yield impact, but I’ve had some trials where I sit back and scratch my head and think that’s not enough to explain what’s happened here.” Still, growers can take concrete action to get more bushels out of every acre. Some tips from Stewart:

Hybrid choice It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of new traits, but when you’re thinking more bushels, it’s best to remember that yield comes from genetics rather than traits. It’s important to take in as many sources of information and data as possible when selecting a hybrid — seed company data, public trials, local trials, and personal on-farm trials. Strike a critical balance between your own onfarm trials and external information, Stewart suggests. “You must use external data when initially deciding to bring new hybrids on to your farm, but many growers use their own on-farm testing when making decisions to replace their current dominant hybrids with new ones.” Seedbed preparation “I’ve been challenging growers a little more on seedbed preparation,” says Stewart. “Uniformity is key to increasing yields, so if you have some extra dollars to spend, consider planter modifications. Also focus on the job you’re doing of smoothing and leveling the seedbed. Enhancements to the harrows on the back of a field cultivator may pay back just as quickly as planter modifications.” Planting date “We see the yield increases when crops are planted early,” he says. “We used to think the planting window began on May 1. But we’ve generally migrated to looking at whether the soil is ready with moisture, rather than with temperature, so that date’s moved back to about April 20. It’s a significant change that’s getting rewarded with higher yields.” Early season weed control It’s been quite a few years now since research at the University of Guelph revealed the critical weed-free period in corn. It showed that crops kept weed-free from the fourth to the tenth leaf stage had larger root biomass, larger plants and significantly higher yields. “We’ve pounded the weed control message for a long time now,” says Stewart. “If you think you have a silver bullet with glyphosate, think again. Timing is still critical. “Growers need to look at strategies around weed control. There’s a huge impact on yield — you can have a 30-bushel yield decline if weed control is left too

14 | Farm Forum | Spring 2011

photos courtesy bayer cropscience

late in June. I tell guys it’s two weddings and a golf tournament, and you’ve lost 30 bushels.” Fertilizer Stewart has been doing some work on starter fertilizers, and looking at the influence of potassium in the mix. His results so far show that in soils testing medium to medium-low for phosphorus and potassium (P and K), a starter fertilizer that includes K can result in significant yield increases. The only way to know if this could benefit your corn is to soil test. Stewart says that if the results show K in the range of 105 to 120 or above, you don’t need to put it in the starter. But when soil tests have slipped into that 60 to 85 range you could see a decent yield boost if you include potassium in your starter fertilizer. FF www.farmforum.ca/newweedrealities

New weed realities are hitting corn. Learn about how the widespread use of glyphosatetolerant hybrids pose new challenges.

Good start usually means good finish Like most corn growers, Mark Brock thinks a lot about ways to improve his yield. What makes him stand out, though, is that he tests those ideas on-farm to see if they actually pan out in the bin come harvest. Brock crops 1,500 acres to corn, soybean and winter wheat near Hensall, ON. Much of that (500-700 acres) is planted to corn — about five to seven hybrids in all. He sets aside a fair portion for strip trials. “Most of them I do to satisfy my curiosity,” he says. He uses the trials to compare hybrids and test agronomic practices such as weed control, disease control and, this year, plant population strategies. For Brock, getting higher yields boils down to giving his crops a good start. Then, he explains, plants are better able to deal with stress later in the season. And that equals higher yield. Here are his top three tips: 1. Plant early. “That’s been a priority for us here,” says Brock, adding that he had corn in the ground by April 20 last season. Yield monitors have shown him that areas planted early tend to yield higher overall. “We’re accumulating more heat units earlier in the season and we’re using those early heat units to get the corn up earlier,” he says. That allows him to capitalize on some longer-season hybrids that wouldn’t normally mature in his area. 2. Control weeds early. About five years ago, based on University of Guelph research, Brock shifted his weed control program to ensure that his corn emerged into a weedfree environment. “We lay down a base with a residual product, then come back at the four- to five-leaf stage and clean up any escapes with Roundup.” The crop then fills in the rows and there is no weed competition to diminish yields. 3. Don’t skimp on fertilizer. “Run your numbers,” he advises. “Fertilizer costs a lot of money, but corn is worth a lot of money too!” FF

“It works quickly and effectively on broadleaf weeds…” “Infinity® works quickly and effectively on broadleaf weeds, and tank-mixes really well with the grassy products we use on our wheat and barley. Its unique chemical group is another huge benefit of this product. We will definitely use Infinity again.” – Bernie Frere, Trochu, AB

For more testimonials visit LightYearsAhead.ca

02/11-15395

Technology

Follow product labels for peak herbicide performance

By Gerald Pilger

The crop protection industry provides a host of effective herbicides that often result in better yields, reduced dockage, reduced soil seed bank and increased profits. But great performance from these products leads many growers to mistakenly equate weed control with weed-free. Unfortunately, weed-free is an unreasonable expectation as too many variables impact the performance of any herbicide. These variables include the weed spectrum in a field, weather, application equipment, herbicide resistance and application techniques. Even though a weed is listed on a herbicide label, you cannot expect 100 per cent control of that weed under all condi16 | Farm Forum | Spring 2011

tions. Actual results can be less than 100 per cent due to environmental conditions, weed size, time of day when applied, and application technique (water volume, droplet size and speed). Your best bet is to always follow the product label. That said, however, a little tweaking is sometimes beneficial. Many growers have experienced poor herbicide performance. It is easy to blame the herbicide when you expect it to always provide 100 per cent weed control. But when you realize that herbicide performance is affected by many factors, then the question becomes, how can I maximize herbicide efficacy? “Unfortunately, while research has

reported adaptions that improve specific herbicide performance, this information, mostly found in scientific literature, is not readily available to growers. Researchers have not done a good job telling growers how to increase the performance of herbicides they use,” says Dr. Peter Sikkema, associate professor, field crop weed management, University of Guelph. For example, Sikkema says, contact herbicides require a much higher water volume than most systemic products. “You should not use low water volumes for Groups 6, 10, 14, 22 and 27 herbicides. If you are trying to maximize the performance of Liberty 200SN on corn for example, 15-20 gpa will maximize control.” The effect of temperature on herbicide performance is well documented. According to Clark Brenzil, a provincial weed control specialist in Saskatchewan, performance of Groups 1, 2, 9, and 10 herbicides is maximized at temperatures between 20 and 25C. “Glyphosate products are bound up very rapidly within the plant so they need to be translocated to the target sites within 24-48 hours. Under very cool conditions glyphosate can get hung up in the leaves, so the leaves die but the growing point survives. This was seen in the un-

usually cool spring of 2004,” says Brenzil. He also notes that soil-applied Group 3 products are broken down very rapidly under anaerobic conditions. Growers using fall-applied Group 3 products have seen weed breakthroughs where potholes were water-filled in the spring. On the other hand, Brenzil says, there may be increased carry-over risk of soilapplied Group 2 products in saturated soil as well as under drought conditions because microbial activity is needed to break down these products. Mike Cowbrough, a weed management specialist in Ontario, says performance of many foliar broadleaf products is maximized with mid-day applications. “The leaves on some weeds are more horizontal in the middle of the day. This results in more herbicide contacting the leaf. If you have to spray at night, when the leaf has flopped down, you should use a higher volume of water to adjust for leaf alignment.” In June 2010, Dan Folske at North Dakota State University, put out a fact sheet detailing the effects of environmental conditions on various herbicides. The effects he noted included: • Systemic growth regulator herbicides (ie: 2,4-D, Banvel, Curtail) perform better at high temperatures provided the weeds have not yet developed a thick waxy layer on their leaves. • SU (sulfonylureas) products also perform better when applied at higher temperatures if there is sufficient soil moisture. • Group 1 grassy weed products are more effective under cool temperatures (but generally not below 4C) as long as the weeds are actively growing. Under high temperatures an increased rate of Group 1 herbicides may be needed.

PHOTO (left) ©veer.COM/ leaf

• Systemic herbicides work better with an early morning application than if applied in the afternoon or evening. • While contact herbicides perform better under high temperatures, the risk of crop injury also increases and Folske recommends postponing spraying these products when temperatures exceed 32C. If weed development means you have to spray during hot weather, consider spraying at the low-

est recommend rate, even if weeds are large, to decrease risk of crop injury. As well, in very hot conditions spray contact herbicides in the evening rather than the heat of the day. Glyphosate is one herbicide for which extensive research has been done on maximizing performance. A fact sheet out of Michigan State University encourages growers to increase glyphosate rates as weed sizes increase and for weed species which are tougher to kill. Avoid

addition of a surfactant. And never tank mix different glyphosate formulations. Weed scientists at the University of Minnesota actually ranked the factors that affect glyphosate performance. They found rate had the biggest influence, followed by temperature, weed height, adjuvant, relative humidity, time of day and finally dew. They did the same exercise for Liberty and again found that rate had the biggest effect followed by temperature, time of day, and finally weed height.

Herbicides need help Many growers think the road to better weed control begins with improved herbicides. But herbicides can’t work their wonders alone. Start with agronomy, says Dr. Tom Wolf, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. He suggests five steps:

1 2

Seed the crop so it emerges quickly and evenly. Pay attention to soil temperature, seeding depth, seeding rate and speed of the seeding operation.

Field scouting comes next. You have to know what weeds are in your fields and determine the most efficient product for controlling them. Wolf points out a very good broadleaf product can be weak on a specific weed. So match the best herbicide for the weed species in your field.

3 4

Remove weeds early. They’re much easier to kill when small and growing rapidly. Early weed control also reduces competition for crop nutrients.

Consider environmental conditions. Temperature, wind, humidity and rainfall after a herbicide application can all affect performance. Wolf also notes that soil type, soil temperature, soil moisture, organic matter and trash must be taken into account when using soil-applied products.

Finally, deficiencies in the spraying operation itself can diminish weed control. “We have sprayed hundreds of research plots,” says Wolf, “and one of the biggest factors in poor herbicide performance is simply non-uniform coverage. Incorrect overlap of spray patterns can easily reduce weed control by 10-15 per cent.” So make sure you’re using the right water volume, nozzle type, pressure, travel speed and boom height. FF

spraying under hot, dry conditions as the waxy layer will decrease absorption. Glyphosate performance decreases in the late evening and night. Allow the dew to evaporate if you must spray in the early morning. The addition of some micronutrient fertilizers can antagonize glyphosate so follow label directions carefully when tank mixing glyphosate with micro nutrients for application in RR crops. If applying ammonium sulfate with glyphosate, add the ammonium sulfate first. Finally, know your glyphosate formulation; some products require the

The herbicide registration system in Canada ensures all herbicides are effective under normal conditions. But conditions aren’t always normal. Carefully reading the label, following tips like those in this article, and monitoring how herbicides perform when applied on your own farm under various conditions will help you achieve better weed control. FF www.farmforum.ca/pesticideregistration

Learn more about pesticide registration, a process that reveals pesticide effectiveness and safety to humans and environment.

Farm Forum.cA | 17

Serious growers take weed control personally. With three modes of action in a single solution, Velocity m3 herbicide provides enough raw power to take down your toughest broadleaf and grassy weeds, including Group 1-resistant wild oats and Group 2-resistant broadleafs. For more information visit BayerCropScience.ca/Velocitym3

Letâ€™s DO this!

BayerCropScience.ca or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative. Always read and follow label directions. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

18 | Farm Forum | Fall 2010

G N I R B

T I N O

02/11-15157-02

Farm Forum.cA | 19

production

Water Water Everywhere Better drainage is the only answer to excessive soil moisture, but drainage has its drawbacks too Farmers need the rain. But sometimes there is simply too much of the stuff, and nowhere for it to go. And while some soils seem to shed or absorb excess moisture, other land just becomes a swamp. Is there anything producers can do, especially those poor waterlogged guys in Manitoba’s Interlake area where three wet years have in some cases completely halted their ability to farm? “Whether it’s the Interlake, or the Red River Valley, or western Manitoba, excessive precipitation may overwhelm the system we have in place for drainage,” says Perry Stonehouse, manager for water control, works, drainage, and licensing at Manitoba Water Stewardship. “There is no easy solution to the wet times we are facing. The difficulty is that the infrastructure needed to deal with extreme rain events is often too expensive.” The Peace region of Alberta may be the only area on the prairies hoping for 20 | Farm Forum | Spring 2011

by kim Langen

moisture this spring. For the rest of the to know where the water is going to west, it will likely be a question of excess go — to trace the path to an adequate moisture. There are just two options for outlet such as a creek with well-defined getting rid of it — surface drainage and sides, or a river with capacity to accept the flow. Other people’s land can’t be aftile drainage. Surface drainage is a way to minimize fected without their say-so, or sign-off.” crop damage from water ponding after Step Two involves a visit by a waterheavy rain, and to control runoff with- resource officer, who will examine the out causing erosion. Basically, it’s ditch- proposal. Depending on project size — ing. But farmers need to know if they are whether it’s a ”minor work” or a ”standealing with wet land, or true wetlands, dard application” — the officer makes which should be conserved. Wet land is a decision. One of three things can hapagricultural land that is pen: the project can be in production but has denied, a license can crop limitations due to be granted “as applied The difficulty is that periodic wetness, and for”, or (most comthe infrastructure this is where surface monly) a license can drainage can work. be granted with conneeded to deal with In Manitoba, leditions. The final step extreme rain events is is proceeding with the gal steps are required before surface or tile project, once the license often too expensive drainage projects can is granted. be undertaken. Each It’s important to get province has its own approval system, the drainage ditch grade right. Accordsays Stonehouse, and farmers need to ing to the Manitoba Agriculture, Food check authorization before starting. In and Rural Initiatives’ (MAFRI) Soil Manitoba, the first step is to prepare a Management Guide, a grade of 0.1 to drainage plan, and apply for a license 0.3 per cent is recommended, and those with a grade of more than 0.2 per cent from Manitoba Water Stewardship. “A topographic survey is a tool land- should have a grassed bottom and sides. owners can often use to plan drainage The side slopes of the ditches should be projects,” says Stonehouse. “They need less than 10 per cent, and topsoil should

PHOTOs (left) Kim Langen; (right) genesis studio

be removed and saved during construction, then replaced when the project is completed. The shortcomings of surface drainage, however, can include erosion, repetitive filling in of ditches, the chance of salinization in areas affected by artesian pressure, and potential water quality impacts when run-off water is not filtered through soil. Tile drainage is suited to lighter-textured soils: for example wet, sandy land used to produce high-value crops such as vegetables. A network of properly designed and maintained surface drains must also be in place for tile drainage to be effective, however. Tiles are used to remove excess water that is close to the surface in spring, or for rising water tables that occur during the growing season itself. Tile drainage costs can run from $400 to $600 per acre, or higher. The tiles also have to be dry in the fall — a wet fall increases the risk of frozen and damaged tiles in the spring, which make them less likely to work on prairie soils. Despite this, tile installation is on the rise there. “Tile drainage is not widespread, but it’s growing in Manitoba,” said Stonehouse. “It can be cost-prohibitive, however. Farmers should weigh the costbenefits of any drainage project they contemplate.” And what does wet/waterlogged soil cost a farmer in crop loss? Damage ranges from a few bushels per acre to total crop failure. Tile drainage can prevent drowning-out. Even where soil moisture is only moderately excessive, drainage allows earlier seeding, higher soil temperatures in the spring, increased air in the root zone and more availability of nutrients. It reduces the risk of a delayed harvest and of damaging equipment, and may provide a wider weed-control window. A slow melt of this “stored” wet stuff is about the best we can hope for in 2011: time to allow this abundance of moisture to move slowly out toward its next destination and wreak the least amount of destruction as it does so. And not too much rain to follow — except maybe up in the Peace country. “It’s not just the Interlake anymore,” said Stonehouse. “My advice to anyone in repeatedly flooded areas is to protect their house, and just try to get through it. It’s a poor spot to be in.” FF

Wet land versus wetlands There is wet land, and then there are wetlands. And if Ducks Unlimited could have its druthers, farmers would leave natural wetlands alone. That would benefit both farmers and ecosystems in the long term, says the non-profit organization. “Farmers should resist the urge to drain and dig ditches,” says Bob Grant, manager of provincial operations for Ducks Unlimited in Manitoba. “Wetlands do reduce flooding when left intact.” That’s because wetlands store excess water and slow water flow, especially after the spring melt and after heavy rain storms. One inch of rain (25 mm) delivers a whopping 22,500 gallons of water to each acre of land, according to Manitoba’s Soil Management Guide. “Wetlands not only keep water in place, they also keep nutrients in place,” says Grant. “Especially phosphorus and nitrogen.” True wetlands, such as bogs, marshes and swamps, have saturated soil conditions that last over a sustained period during the year. This allows them to host plants such as water-loving rushes, cattails, sedges and willows, as well as wildlife. True wetlands are valuable for groundwater recharge and allow nutrients to filter and recycle. Ducks Unlimited is working in partnership with Bayer CropScience to promote the planting of winter wheat acres, says Grant, and this may give farmers food for thought if they are looking out at wet fields this spring. Those who sowed winter wheat last autumn are already in a good place, he adds. “They will be in a better position than farmers wanting to sow spring crops if there is a lot of snow and delayed seeding this year,” says Grant. “They don’t have to worry about getting out there with equipment. And we have seen lots of water tolerance for winter wheat in saturated spring soils.” For farmers faced with late seeding conditions this year because of flooding and excessive rain, Grant offers the following advice if they want to try winter wheat. “Chem-fallow your fields, then plant winter wheat in late summer,” he says. “If you can’t get on a field this year, then just let the weeds and volunteer grains continue to grow. Spray once or twice, but don’t till. You need the dead stalks to trap snow and insulate the winter wheat seedlings in the winter.” Input costs for winter wheat can be lower than for spring wheat, and yields can be up to 50 per cent higher, at around 70 to 80 bushels per acre, says Grant. And there’s more flexibility when it comes to marketing. “It can go as feed wheat or ethanol wheat, as well as seed grain,” he says. FF

Farm Forum.cA | 21

fa r m l i f e

Tragedy had a silver lining for these Outstanding Young Farmers By Angela Lovell

22 | Farm Forum | Spring 2011

utstanding young farmers are not born: they are made, shaped by their own ideas, experiences, talents and hard work. Jean-Francois Lemieux and Mylene Gagnon are no exception. Their road to winning the 2010 Outstanding Young Farmersâ€™ program award for the Quebec region began with some deep ruts, however, created by the death of Lemieuxâ€™s parents within four years of each other. That left a very young Lemieux to take over the family farm at the tender age of 16. But he was ready. He had already decided that farming would be his fulltime career, and had four years of experience under his belt. The tight-knit family pulled together, and with his older brother managing the books and his younger sister helping out with housework, Lemieux turned his full attention to improving the family dairy operation. Ferme Valmieux Inc., located at SaintVallier, Quebec is now home to JeanFrancois, his wife Mylene and their two young children, Mathys (4) and Floriane (2). Their herd consists of 95 purebred

PHOTOS COURTESY Ferme Valmieux inc

Jean-Francois Lemieux, his wife Mylene Gagnon and their two children Mathys and Floriane and their family farm, Ferme Valmieux Inc. in Saint Vallier, Quebec. The couple were the 2010 Outstanding Young Farmers’ Program award winners for the Quebec region.

Holsteins, of which 48 are lactating. The herd ranks fourth in the province for low somatic cell count and is accredited by the Canadian Quality Milk Program. Lemieux concentrates heavily on improving the genetics in his herd through the use of embryo transfer, and breeds about 25 to 30 replacement heifers a year. In 1999 he replaced the farm’s deteriorating buildings with a new 40’ x 200’ naturally ventilated barn to house all his cows and heifers. As a result of these improvements, milk production has increased, with each cow now producing an average kg annually. Laurenof and9,800 Ryan Maurer Ferme on Valmieux all its own working their farm,produces Land feed, helps trim expenses and inand which Sky Grains, in Grenfell, SK. crease efficiency. Hay, barley, silage and corn as well as some cash-crop cereals are grown on 245 acres. Lemieux also reduces operating costs by using harvesting equipment owned by another producer. The two share their one employee with a neighbouring farm, allowing them to take some all-important time away from the business to spend with their young family. Assuming responsibility for the fam-

ily farm at such an early age left Lemieux and provides on-farm help mixing rations unable to attend college. But that hasn’t along with calf and cow care. The couple stopped him from keeping up with the lat- have many plans for the future of their est farming technology and developing his farm. They want to continue to improve business skills. He regularly takes farm- the herd’s genetics, and once they have training classes, but his best teachers have paid back some debt over the next 3 to been his friends and farming neighbours. 4 years, hope to expand with a bit more “My training in how to run the farm came land and adopt ever more technology to continuously improve from other farm profesproduction and their sionals in the area as quality of life. well as friends and famMy training in how to Although Lemieux ily,” says Lemieux. had to overcome perHe pays back that run the farm came sonal tragedy and learn community support by from other farm farming the hard way, he volunteering as a fire believes that determinafighter and by participrofessionals in the and a good balance pating in “field days.” area as well as friends tion between family, work, In a recent field day orand family financial management ganized with the Conseil and daily life is what has d’amélioration du béearned them the OYF tail, 1,500 people visited Ferme Valmieux, many of them children award. “We encourage our children and who got a chance to judge some heifers, they see our passion for agriculture,” says identify crop seeds and learn more about Lemieux, adding hopefully that one day their children will want to take over the what goes on at a dairy farm. Mylene, a former recreation coordina- farm and become the next crop of outtor, takes the lead in raising the children standing young farmers. FF Farm Forum.cA | 23

CropTalk

Volume 20 | Issue 2

What’s new with Bayer CropScience products

Seed Treatment – An Investment that Pays H

eavy precipitation last year in most parts of the prairies has set the stage this year for poor seed quality and high disease pressure. And, of course, there is no way of predicting what this year will bring in terms of disease pressure. Disease forecasts for 2011 predict that overwintering inoculum levels will be high for seed and soil-borne diseases such as tan spot, septoria and fusarium head blight on wheat, net blotch and scald on barley, ascochyta blight on chickpeas and peas and white mold on canola and pulses. Cool spring conditions could delay germination and excessive moisture in April will increase seedling disease pressure from seed decay, leaf spots and blight. More than ever, getting the seed out of the ground and well established is critical. There are several practices growers should respect: follow the recommended crop rotations, use resistant varieties whenever possible, scout fields and protect seed from disease with a seed treatment. Today’s seed treatments have evolved significantly over the past several years. Consider Raxil® MD, a combination of two highly effective systemic fungicides, tebuconazole and metalaxyl. The water-based, ready-to-use formulation is designed for both commercial and on-farm treating. Micro-dispersion technology ensures that the seed is uniformly covered, which is essential for effective control. And with the introduction of Raxil WW, growers can protect against disease and wireworm damage.

Protect your seed, right from the start Cold soil For reduced tillage growers seeding into cold soil, the soil temperature can delay crop establishment and opens the door to infection from seed- and soil-borne diseases. Seed treatment protects the seed during this time until the soil temperatures increase.

24 | Farm Forum | Spring 2011

Warm soil For soil that is warm, growers need to be aware that Fusarium garminearum, the pathogen that causes fusarium head blight flourishes causing seed blight, and root rot. Seed treatment will protect against Fusarium garminearum ensuring the seed germinates and gets out of the ground.

Seed-borne disease For seed that hasn’t been tested for seed-borne diseases, it is wise to use a seed treatment to prevent fusarium and smuts from developing. If you’ve purchased certified seed, the tag should indicate whether any diseased kernels were found along with the type of disease.

Insect pressure If there has been insect pressure historically or at seeding, consider applying a seed treatment like Raxil WW that contains both a fungicide and an insecticide. This will prevent damage to the plant from emergence until the crop is established.

Crop rotation The risk with continuous cropping is the build-up of disease inoculum in the soil. Seed treatment can help minimize potential losses from these soil-borne diseases. It is advisable to follow strategic crop rotation and use a good quality seed treatment. Not only will the current crop be protected, the build-up of disease inoculum can be avoided in the future. Whether growing conditions are ideal or not, using a seed treatment pays off in the long run, helping to establish the crop and deliver higher yields and better quality this season and keep soil healthy for the next growing season. CT

A Newsletter from Bayer cropscience

The Toughest Thing in Pink W

hen it comes to choosing a cereal seed treatment, you want one that comes out swinging against disease. And that’s what Raxil cereal seed treatment delivers. Registered on wheat, barley and oats, Raxil provides a cost-effective way to knock out seed- and soil-borne diseases. Along with its easy-to-apply water-based formulation, the combination of the systemic fungicides tebuconazole and metalaxyl in Raxil deliver powerful, effective control of all major seed- and soilborne diseases. These diseases won’t know what hit them. Because Raxil has extremely low viscosity, it can be applied in cooler temperatures without becoming too thick. In fact, viscosity won’t increase dramatically until it actually freezes (-10°C). Two serious contenders in the early season are fusarium and smuts disease complex. Raxil is a valuable tool to limit the impact of fusarium. Along with head blight, fusarium causes seed rot, seedling blight and root rot, seriously harming crop establishment and causing yield losses. Cereals treated with Raxil outperformed the untreated check by an astounding 29 per cent and surpassed the competitor product by 4 per cent. Left unchecked, true loose smut can knock barley yields back by up to 20 per cent. The systemic activity in Raxil protects barley from the minute the seed hits the ground, helping crops get off to a healthy start.

PLANT STAND INCREASE IN CEREALS WITH SOIL-BORNE FUSARIUM (%) 129 125 100 75

105

120

135

% Increase over untreated check Raxil MD

Dividend® XL RTA

Untreated Check

Source: 14 Bayer CropScience internal research trials (2004-2005).

CONTROL OF TRUE LOOSE SMUT IN BARLEY (%) 91 74 42 0

100

% Control Raxil MD

Vitaflo® 280

Dividend XL RTA

Source: 5 Bayer CropScience internal research trials (2004-2005).

PHOTOs coutesty bayer cropscience

Slams Wireworms Wireworms are increasingly becoming a problem in cereal crops all across western Canada. Wireworms cause damage by hollowing out the seeds before germination and feeding at the base of seedlings. Injured plants may wilt and die, resulting in thin plant stands. With heavy infestations, bare spots may appear in the field and reseeding may be required. Raxil WW is a co-pack of Raxil MD and Stress Shield™, an insecticide designed to put the smack down on the dreaded wireworm. Now you can get the benefits of Raxil MD, along with the effective wireworm protection of Stress Shield, to provide the toughest seedling protection. Imidacloprid, the active ingredient in Stress Shield, works through both ingestion and contact properties. Wireworms that come in contact or feed on Stress Shield protected seeds and seedlings enter into a prolonged coma-like state. Feeding is halted and the crop continues to grow. When the wireworms are ready to feed again, the crop is fully grown and is no longer susceptible to losses from wireworm feeding. CT

More Plant Stand, Higher Yield INCREASE IN PLANT STAND (%) 100 123 115 85

105

115

125

% Increase over untreated check Raxil MD

Raxil WW

Cruiser® Maxx

Source: 9 Bayer CropScience internal research trials (2007-2010).

INCREASE IN YIELD (%) 100 119 112 85

105

115

125

% Increase over untreated check Raxil MD

Raxil WW

Cruiser Maxx

Source: 5 Bayer CropScience internal research trials (2007-2010).

Farm Forum.cA | 25

CropTalk Get Your Pulses Racing W

ith so much time, energy and money invested in pulse and soybean crops, there’s no better way to protect that investment than by treating seed with Trilex® AL. Trilex AL’s combination of two powerful active ingredients – trifloxystrobin and metalaxyl – provide the best protection from diseases caused by rhizoctonia, fusarium, pythium, botrytis, ascochyta and phomopsis on labeled crops. Check out these results. In Bayer CropScience trials conducted in western Canada, Trilex AL outperformed the major pulse seed treatment competitors and performed way ahead of untreated checks for control of rhizoctonia and fusarium in pulses and botrytis in lentils. In the lentil trials specifically, plant stand was 136.7 per cent greater than check and yielded 122 per cent better.

In field peas, the stand topped the check by 133 per cent and outyielded the check by 129 per cent. In chickpeas, plant stand was an impressive 406 per cent of the check and yielded 301 per cent of the check. In all these crops, Trilex AL outperformed competitors. In dry beans, which are very susceptible to disease, the plants treated with Trilex AL produced plant stands 1,432 percent greater and yields 126 per cent greater than the checks – equal with competitors.

Inoculant compatibility Not only is Trilex AL one of the best seed treatments available for pulses and soybeans, it has excellent compatibility with pulse inoculants. Trilex AL has been extensively tested by inoculant companies and has proven to have one of the highest compatibilities between fungicidal seed treatments and rhizobium-based inoculants. Increased compatibility means Trilex AL takes care of the disease, gets your plant established and clears the way for the inoculants to supercharge nodulation. CT

INCREASED YIELD IN LENTILS – INOCULATED WITH RHIZOCTONIA AND FUSARIUM (%) 33.6 bu./ac.

36.4 bu./ac.

122

32.0 bu./ac.

119 90

105

27.5 bu./ac. 120

135

% Yield relative to the untreated inoculated check Trilex AL

INCREASED YIELD IN CHICKPEAS – INOCULATED WITH RHIZOCTONIA (%)

Apron® Maxx Untreated check = 27.6 bu./ac.

Source: 7 Bayer CropScience internal research trials (2004-2005).

Bayer CropScience Online Video Resources

200

301

227 230

260

290

320

% Yield relative to the untreated inoculated check Trilex AL

Apron Maxx Untreated check = 12.1 bu./ac.

Source: 2 Bayer CropScience internal research trials (2002-2003).

The next time you are online visit BayerCropScience.ca and spend a few minutes watching three new, informative videos that demonstrate the efficacy of a superior seed treatment, the importance of managing herbicide resistance and time savings from using an all-in-one grassy and broadleaf herbicide.

A Newsletter from Bayer cropscience

INOCULANT COMPATIBILITY TRILEX AL SEED TYPE

INOCULANT

TYPE

BECKER UNDERWOOD

NOVAZYMES

EMD

SEQUENTIAL

SIMULTANEOUS

TANK MIX

Lentil/Pea

Cell Tech

liquid

not recommended not recommended not recommended

Lentil/Pea

NitraStik C Nitragin C

powder

1 day

8 hours

Lentil/Pea

Pulse Signal II

liquid

4 hours

not recommended

Soybean

Cell Tech

liquid

4 days

Soybean

APEX Pro

liquid

21 days

14 days

Soybean

Optimize

liquid

21 days

Chickpea

Jumpstart

wettable powder

in progress

Chickpea

Tag Team

peat

4 hours

not tested

Dry bean

Tag Team

peat

30 hours

1 day

not tested

Lentil

Jumpstart

wettable powder

15 days

not tested

Lentil

Next Generation N-Prove

peat

1 day

6 hours

not tested

Lentil

Next Generation Tag Team

peat

1 day

6 hours

not tested

Lentil

N-Prove

liquid

not recommended not recommended not tested

Pea

Jumpstart

wettable powder

2 days

not tested

Pea

Next Generation N-Prove

peat

30 hours

1 day

not tested

Pea

Next Generation Tag Team

peat

30 hours

1 day

in progress

Pea

N-Prove

liquid

not recommended not recommended not tested

Soybean

Jumpstart

wettable powder

7 days

not tested

Soybean

Tag Team

peat

3 days

not tested

Dry bean

Self Stick

peat

not recommended 6 hours

not tested

Lentil

Nodulator

liquid

not recommended 2 hours

not tested

Lentil

Nodulator

peat

2 hours

4 hours

not tested

Pea

Nodulator

liquid

not recommended 2 hours

not tested

Pea

Nodulator

peat

2 hours

4 hours

not tested

Soybean

Nodulator

liquid

1 day

not tested

Soybean

Nodulator + extender

liquid

2 days

3 days

2 days

Bayer CropScience is always striving to supply the most current and up-to-date information. The above table includes all new research information as of January 7, 2011.

Raxil Emergence Time Lapse Video

Manage Herbicide Resistance Video

Just how effective is Raxil MD seed treatment? See for yourself with this time lapse video that compares the emergence of diseased seed treated with Raxil MD and untreated diseased seed. The results clearly speak for themselves. BayerCropScience.ca/Raxil

Herbicide resistant weeds are increasingly becoming an issue for growers. There are a number of best practices growers can use to deal with herbicide resistance. Learn more at BayerCropScience.ca/herbicide-resistance-management

Always read and follow label directions. Raxil®, StressShield®, Trilex® AL are trademarks of Bayer. All other products mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

Higher yields, greater returns in 2011! Get even more from your pulse crop when you combine the agronomic benefits of Trilex AL from Bayer CropScience and PulseSignal II from EMD Crop BioScience.

Critical, early season seed and seedling protection in pulses plus

Breakthrough performance — plant signal technology for earlier, more intense nodulation in peas and lentils equals Higher yields and greater returns in 2011! Receive a rebate of $1 per acre on Trilex AL and $15 per case on PulseSignal II with the purchase of equal acres of product*! Talk to your local retail, Bayer CropScience or EMD Crop BioScience representative for complete details today. CT *No minimum purchase required. Growers must be signed up for the 2011 BayerValue program to qualify. Please visit BayerCropScience.ca/TrilexAL for complete program details.

No Tank-Mixing Video All-in-one herbicides that provide control of both grassy and broadleaf weeds in one container are gaining popularity with growers. To get a firsthand look at how quick it is, check out the video online at BayerCropScience.ca/tundra/no-tankmixing-video

Farm Forum.cA | 27

For over a decade InVigor速 has been number one in yield and provides excellent early season vigor and high stress tolerance. But even more importantly, InVigor remains number one with growers who want to maximize their profit. To see how far ahead of the pack InVigor hybrids are, check out results from the most reliable, on-farm, statistically sound scientific trial program in the marketplace, the DSTs. Complete DST (Demonstration Strip Trial) results can be viewed at InVigorResults.ca.

Nothing outperforms.

BayerCropScience.ca or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative. Always read and follow label directions. InVigor速 is a registered trademark of Bayer. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

02/11-14824