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Rice

RULES TECHNOLOGY

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PRODUCTION

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Successful farmers reveal their best investments

Simple math reveals management weak spots

Glyphosate resistance gains ground

Chasing dreams has OYF couple counting sheep

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DID

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PUBLISHER Bayer CropScience EDITOR Sherry Butt ASSOCIATE EDITOR Dave Wreford

VOLUME 27 / ISSUE 2 / SPRING 2013

C OV E R S T O RY

DESIGN/PRODUCTION Farm Business Communications 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.

PHOTO: PBAYER CROPSCIENCE, ARMIN STELLJES

CONTRIBUTORS Jennifer Barber, Jeff Mechior, Lindsye Dunbar, Phil Franz-Warkentin, Gerald Pilger, Jonathan Small

Rice Rules Meeting an ever increasing demand for rice requires new technologies and new thinking PRODUCTION

FA R M L I F E

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T E C H N O L O GY

The views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Publications Mail Agreement Number 40743517 Registered in Canada Copyright 2013 WEBSITE www.farmforum.ca Return undeliverable copies to: Bayer CropScience Suite 200 160 Quarry Park Blvd SE Calgary, AB, T2C 3G3

Glyphosate resistance gains ground

18

Chasing dreams has OYF couple counting sheep

6

Farmers reveal their best investments

16

Editor's Note: a jam-packed issue with great info and ideas to help you get the most out of the growing season ahead 4 Potato seed treatment gets a fresh complexion: visual evidence ensures success

10

Simple math uncovers management weak spots: best ways to measure business efficiency

12

The 7 deadly sins of farmland ownership: buy quality not quantity

28

Treat it right: seed treatments are easy to use but require proper application

30

The Non-Negotiables of Weed Management This report by weed specialist, Jeff Stachler, outlines eight easy-to-follow points for effective weed control and resistance management.

ON THE COVER Annual production increases of eight to 10 million tonnes are needed to meet the rising demand for rice worldwide. Bayer CropScience is helping with new technologies to boost production and crop protection.

PHOTO: BAYER CROPSCIENCE, MARCEL BRAENDLI

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editor's note

S H O R T TA K E S

This issue is jam-packed with great information and ideas to help you get the most out of the growing season ahead. For starters, Farm Forum asked producers from across Canada, “What technological innovation or management practice you adopted in the past 10 years has boosted your bottom line the most?” Turn to page 16 to find their answers.

As with any business, the key to a healthy bottom line for your farming operation is to constantly evaluate what you are doing right and where you could make improvements. Our story on page 12 explains how to use key performance measures to get a handle on your business efficiency.

Another way to improve any business is by learning from others. National OYF co-winners, Martin Brodeur Choquette and Johanne Cameron of Quebec, are first-generation farmers who believe anything is possible if you keep your eye on your dream and have a solid plan in place. These sheep producers focus on raising a high quality product and keeping costs in check by making sure their operation is as efficient as possible.

New and improved crop protection products also boost yield and your bottom line. Bayer’s new seed treatment, Titan Emesto, is coloured pink, so potato growers know right away if they’ve applied it properly. It protects against current resistant seed-borne fusarium strains and offers the broadest spectrum insect control available from a seed-piece treatment. You’ll find details on page 10.

Soybean growers have a new battle on their hands — glyphosate-resistant weeds. But with a good strategy that includes herbicide and crop rotation, reduced reliance on glyphosate and the option of a two-pass weed control program, growers can still maintain the upper hand.

In this issue we also talk about a crop that’s not widely grown in North America but is pretty much a staple in everyone’s diet — rice. Bayer is leading the way in developing new technologies to meet the growing demand for rice by helping growers around the world protect their crops and boost yield.

C O N S U LTA N T ’ S C O R N E R

Wheat acres head higher in 2013

PHOTO: DIRK HANSEN ©BAYER CROPSCIENCE

BY PHIL FRANZ-WARKENTIN THE ANNUAL NORTH AMERICAN fight for acres that pits soybeans against corn, and (in Canada) wheat against canola, is not expecting any major casualties in 2013. A shift away from oilseeds and toward grains is likely, however.

The tide of yellow canola that rose steadily across western Canada over the past decade is finally expected to ebb in 2013, as rotational issues and competing cropping options turn some attention away from the oilseed.

In 2012 canola gave wheat a run for its money for the largest seeded acreage in western Canada, with 21.5 million acres going in the ground, according to Statistics Canada data. That compared with the all-wheat number of 23.8 million. Early government and industry estimates see the wheat area going up in 2013, with some of that at canola’s expense.

In 2012, canola seedings broke the previous record by over two million acres, but a great deal of that extra area went into marginal land in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. Those areas are better suited to wheat and durum, and the fact that grains can now be marketed as a cash crop at harvest time only adds to the interest.

Canola acreage might be down, but average yields would still result in record production in 2013 since, adverse weather in 2012 hampered yields in some cases. In an early projection, Agriculture

and Agri-Food Canada’s market analysis division forecasts Canadian canola production in 2013 at 15.5 million tonnes, which would be up from 13.3 million in 2012.

The situation is similar in the U.S., with the usual competing crops, soybeans and corn, both seeing some area shift into wheat in 2013. Early rumblings from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, estimate wheat area in the U.S. (winter and spring) will rise to its highest level in four years.

Meanwhile, soybeans are expected to decline slightly from their 2012 record, to 76 million acres.

A negative influence on the oilseed

markets is in South America, where record soybean crops continue to be harvested. Sporadic weather concerns on that continent over the recent growing season did prop up soybean and canola futures in North America over the winter, but as newly harvested supplies start to become available those weather issues will become less important.

Attention then shifts back to planting weather in the U.S. and Canada, as conditions in the spring will play their own role in what is actually planted. FF — Phil Franz-Warkentin writes for Commodity News Service Canada.

FARMFORUM.CA / SPRING 2013

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FA R M L I F E

Chasing dreams has this OYF couple counting sheep

National OYF co-winners, Martin Brodeur Choquette and Johanne Cameron, raise sheep and cash crops on their 225-acre farm in southern Quebec.

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FARM FORUM / SPRING 2013

PHOTOS COURTESY OF OYF CANADA

BY LINDSYE DUNBAR MARTIN LUTHER KING’S impassioned “I have a dream” speech inspired many to follow their own dreams. The power of this message — dreams drive achievement — was not lost on Johanne Cameron and Martin Brodeur Choquette, 2012 Outstanding Young Farmers’ program national co-winners.

Johanne and Martin are first generation farmers who own and operate Les Bergeries Marvoine, a sheep farm in Saint Charles-sur-Richelieu, QC. From a young age, both had dreams of working in agriculture. Their love for sheep farming is at the core of their operation and it’s also what brought them together.

Johanne was introduced to sheep at a young age as the self-appointed “righthand man” for her grandfather, who raised a small flock of purebred sheep.

“I was his shadow. He couldn’t get rid of me,” laughs Johanne. Her grandfather sold the flock but the love of sheep stayed with Johanne. She went to Université Laval and graduated with an M.Sc. in sheep reproduction, then moved on to a research job at Centre d'expertise en production ovine du Québec. Still wanting a flock of her own, however, Johanne started out with two ewes and a ram in a rented barn.

An entrepreneur at heart, Martin was raising rabbits by the age of 11. With help from his father to build the hutches, he raised and sold 300 to 400 rabbits per year.

At 15, a neighbour urged him to get into sheep. Martin started with one ewe, and eventually sold all the rabbits to focus on building his flock. He worked at a local dairy for extra income and by the time he entered college to study agriculture, he had 50 ewes. When he graduated at 20, he was renting three empty dairy barns for his 350-head flock. In 2003, he bought a “fixer-upper” farmyard and took the owner up on a rent-to-own agreement for the land.

Martin and Johanne met in 2004 through her position at the research centre. They combined their flocks and today own the land with the farmyard; just over 225 acres. On that they produce all the feed for their 650 head, as well as cash-crop corn, seed soybean, wheat and barley.

“Demand for sheep is increasing,” says Johanne. “To be competitive, we focus on genetics to produce a higher quality product. We also work hard at keeping

 Johanne and Martin along with their daughter Clara and dog Belle.

“Demand for sheep is increasing … to be competitive, we focus on genetics to produce a higher quality product” – Johanne Cameron

our operation as efficient as possible to reduce production costs.

“Many people laughed at us when we were starting out,” she says. “Sheep farming is not common in our area.”

But they persevered and it paid off.

“Getting into agriculture without being able to take over an existing operation requires a staggering amount of work and is financially very stressful,” says Johanne.

“But it is possible if you keep your eye on your dream and if you have a plan.” The couple not only has a plan, they revisit it every couple of months, and keep a close watch on the budget.

Both dream about building a farm they can pass on to their kids along with their passion for agriculture. They have a one-year-old daughter, Clara, and plan on having more. “I was always so jealous

when I went to purebred shows to see kids there with their parents,” says Johanne.

“We hope our kids love agriculture but if they don’t we are sure we can find another young farmer who is willing to take over.”

Winning the Quebec region OYF award was a big surprise for Johanne and Martin.

“The alumni welcomed us like family,” says Johanne. “The program is fantastic and what they do to promote agriculture is great. The OYF process helped us realize the progress we’ve made.”

Johanne and Martin were named national OYF winners for eastern Canada at an event in Charlottetown in December. “When they called our names, I was speechless,” says Johanne. “I would encourage any young person with a passion in agriculture to participate in the Outstanding Young Farmers’ program.

Networking with all the other OYF honorees and alumni helped us access new ideas so we can build new goals and dreams.” FF

FARMFORUM.CA / SPRING 2013

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C-52-02/13-BCS13025-E

PRODUCTION

Potato seed treatment gets a fresh complexion

10

FARM FORUM / SPRING 2013

BY JENNIFER BARBER FOR DAVE BUHLER, the success of his potato seed-piece treatment coverage was obvious. He was using new Titan Emesto from Bayer CropScience, which is coloured pink so growers know right away if it’s been properly applied.

“We could assess coverage quickly and visually,” says Buhler, a fourth-generation producer who grows seed, table and processing potatoes on his farm near Winkler, MB. “Our employees had no exposure to dust, the product dried very quickly, and we had great control.”

Last year, Buhler participated in side-by-side trials

PHOTO: ©THINKSTOCK

Visual evidence ensures successful application of seed treatment, Titan Emesto

PHOTO: BAYER CROPSCIENCE

comparing Titan Emesto against conventional dusts. He cut 4,000 bags with Titan Emesto and was able to get a good look at how it performed. As a seed producer, Buhler says a product like Titan Emesto has added value because he knows each seed-piece has been entirely covered. It also provides the opportunity to rotate fungicide groups in seed treatments.

“You don’t want to bring diseases on to a neighbour’s farm, so you want to make sure every seed-piece is clean” he says. “We grow table potatoes as well, where perfect skins are important. The complete coverage from a liquid helps prevent diseases that can affect the skins.”

Titan Emesto controls seed-borne fusarium tuber rot (including resistant strains) plus seed-borne rhizoctonia, and has good activity on silver scurf. It also offers growers the broadest spectrum insect control available from a seedpiece treatment. Its flowability, along with low application and water rates offer ease of use, thorough coverage and, consequently, improved efficacy.

Titan Emesto is a co-pack of the potato insecticide Titan, and Emesto Silver, a potato seed-piece fungicide with two modes of action — Group 3 (prothioconazole) and Group 7 (penflufen). Both these actives are new and unique to fungicide potato seed-piece treatments.

“This is an important development for resistance management today and in the future,” says David Kikkert, horticulture portfolio manager with Bayer CropScience. “Today, it gives growers protection against current resistant seed-borne fusarium strains.

Having two modes of action working on a specific pest, along with proper rotation with alternate chemistries, is a great resistance management strategy going forward.”

New application equipment isn’t always necessary when switching to liquid formulations. Current equipment can be modified, so growers who currently use dust may get away with few changes. The key consideration is coverage: how that is achieved is up to growers.

“Equipment collaboration and accurate coverage means consistent efficacy and more yield,” says Kikkert.

“Growers may also prefer a liquid because it reduces operator exposure, it’s easier to

 Titan Emesto helps prevent diseases that can affect the potato skin, which is critical for table potato producers.

apply, and the product is less bulky to handle.”

Buhler says he still plans to continue using dust products for specific issues such as late blight. But last year he had no late blight so he isn’t worried about control in this year’s potato seed.

It’s the same story at Russell Jonk’s farm in Bruxelles, MB, where he grows 1,500 acres of potatoes, for both the seed and processing markets. In spring 2012 he ran a demonstration trial to test Titan Emesto against other products.

“We’ve used liquids for many years, ever since the effectiveness of neonicotinoid insecticides became clear, and Titan Emesto works well,” says Jonk.

“It is easy to apply, and works as well as others we’ve used. It is clean for our employees to handle, and can be applied accurately.”

He says the colour in the product has additional benefits, aside from confirming uniform coverage. “It’s nice because we can be confident that our

treater is working correctly,” he says.

He adds that his planter operator reported improved planter accuracy with Titan Emesto. “He said the product dried quickly and the seed had better flow in the planter hopper, which made his job easier,” says Jonk.

He adds that his trial took place later in the season than usual, and that everyone was pleased with the product efficacy and is interested to use Titan Emesto during a full season under cooler conditions to get the full benefit on seed-borne rhizoctonia.

Given last year’s performance, he’s not foreseeing any issues this year.

“Titan Emesto was developed with growers in mind,” adds Kikkert. “It’s a complete potato seed-piece treatment that combines the broadest spectrum insecticide protection, with fungicides that protect against major diseases including fusarium tuber rot, seed-borne rhizoctonia and silver scurf. It is just one of the ways Bayer CropScience is bringing new innovative solutions to growers.” FF

Bayer CropScience Titan Emesto product page: www.farmforum.ca/titanemesto

FARMFORUM.CA / SPRING 2013

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BUSINESS

Simple math uncovers management weak spots

BY JEFF MELCHIOR MOST INDUSTRIES TRY to identify which segments of their operations are contributing to the bottom line and which are holding them back. When it comes to farming, measuring efficiency can be challenging because many factors in food production are outside producers’ control.

Look beyond external factors such as the weather, however, and you’ll usually find you have much more financial control than you might think, says Larry Martin, principal at AgriFood Management Excellence Inc., a training company that offers agri-food management courses. Martin travels the country teaching farmers how to use key performance measures to get a handle on their business efficiency.

“We think of agriculture as being unique, which it is, but these principles and measures can be used in any business,” he says. “You can’t control the weather but, beyond that, farming is like any other business.” His views are backed up by Jonathan Small, a farm management consultant with financial consultants, MNP, in Red Deer, AB.

PROFIT VERSUS EXPENSES Financial statements are the first place to look when figuring the efficiency of a business. The following measures give farmers a good idea of how they are doing.

Operating efficiency ratio. This is defined as operating profit per dollar of sales. Operating profit is what’s left after paying direct costs and operating overhead, but before paying taxes and interest on debt, and before deducting

12

FARM FORUM / SPRING 2013

depreciation. In most business circles, this is called EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, says Martin.

“We have a lot of data that says this number should be above 35 per cent — that’s what the top operators get,” says Martin. “If it’s below 25 per cent you’ve probably got a problem.”

This standard doesn’t work in every situation, however. “It probably doesn’t fit very well for cattle feeding operations because of the high turnover,” he says.

“But we’ve seen it work really well for hogs and particularly horticulture.”

Gross margin. This is a similar calculation that measures the value of what you produce by looking at the perunit dollar value on output minus direct costs. Output is your gross revenue — basically yield times price. Direct costs are those things that you apply to the crop or put into the animal that have a direct cause and effect relationship to revenue, ie: seed, fertilizer, chemicals, production insurance in the case of crops and feed, replacement animals and vet costs in the case of livestock, explains Small.

“There’s a very strong connection between gross margin and profitability, especially in a multi-enterprise operation like a mixed farm,” he says. “It’s easy to quantify and in my experience producers usually have the figures right in their heads.”

Cost of production. There are as many ways to calculate the cost of production (COP) as there are people doing it, says Small. However, one of the most effective ways is to simply look at your total costs in recent years (the last two or three are your best guide) and divide by units of production (bushels, tonnes, etc).

“There's a very strong connection between gross margin and profitability, especially in a multi-enterprise operation like a mixed farm” – Jonathan Small FARM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT, MNP

On most farms, fixed costs usually change slowly over time, adds Small.

Direct costs tend to change faster but these days, rapid changes in costs are usually those related to energy, ie: fuel, utilities and fertilizers. Historic statements give you certainty about your major costs while current conditions tell you what to expect with respect to energy and other direct costs.

“A typical high-cost canola producer will have a COP of $10 per bushel or more,” says Small. “A look back at history will tell you the frequency of canola prices over $10 per bushel — and it’s not been very often. Look at your total cost per acre and divide by your historic range of yield,” he adds. “How often are you

below, say, $10 per bushel COP and how often are you over? It can give you some perspective on your likelihood of selling at a profit and tell whether you have a problem with COP or not.”

RETURN ON INVESTMENT Are you getting the best value out of your capital? That’s the question return-oninvestment measures are intended to answer.

Asset turnover ratio. This is the amount of cash (gross sales) you generate as a percentage of the fair market value of your total capital assets including land and equipment, says Martin. “It should probably be at 50 per cent, or 0.5,” he says. “Below 50 per cent, you’re probably not getting enough out of your assets, or have too much equipment investment for your operation.” Note that in making the calculation it’s important to exclude all non-farming assets and non-farming income.

“Over-investment often makes this 50 per cent benchmark difficult to attain,” adds Small. “In my experience, ratios above 25 per cent in primary agriculture,

in western Canada at least, are rare because of the habit of loading up farms with too many assets.

“Farmers who achieve over 40 per cent typically rent a lot of what they use — land, equipment and capital (by borrowing). That way they can have the gross income from a large farm but the fixed capital investment of a comparatively small farm. So they make higher returns on investment, can grow faster and, ultimately, own more farm assets sooner than guys following the traditional model.”

Capitalization. When it comes to capitalization, the two basic rules are: don’t overcapitalize your farm and understand the best ways to invest capital, says Small. Although this can be easier said than done, he identifies machinery as one category where producers tend to over-invest.

“Equipment capital drives 60 per cent of overhead costs on most farms,” he says. “We find that the determining factor when it comes to buying equipment and real estate is often based on emotion and, as a result, producers tend to over-

Five challenges to implementing efficiencies

BY JEFF MELCHIOR

Farmers face unique challenges when it comes to raising their business efficiency, and most barriers are cultural, says Jonathan Small, farm management consultant with MNP in Red Deer, AB. He lists the five big ones: Few available benchmarks. One of the key problems, in Canada at least, is a lack of standardized benchmarks to adequately measure farm efficiency. “In Europe they’re bombarded with them, but the industry here needs more and better financial benchmarks.”

Poor records. The first step in measuring and improving efficiency is having good records to measure and improve from. However, Small says, there is not a strong culture of record keeping among Canadian producers. The good news is that the situation’s improving.

invest in ‘stuff’ and underinvest in knowledge that can help them manage their farms better.”

LOOK AT DEBT Debt analysis is not so much a measure of efficiency as it is a measure for financial risk, says Martin. But it is another key factor when determining further capitalization.

“What you do is express your total debt as a ratio of your operating income (EBITDA). If that ratio turns out to be five, it means your debt is five times more than your operating earnings,” he says. “It also means that if you just pay back principal — you don’t pay yourself, you don’t pay interest or taxes and you don’t reinvest in your farm — it would take you five years to pay off your debt. My experience is that if this number is above three, then you’re in a very risky position.” FF Agri-Food Management Excellence Incorporated:

www.farmforum.ca/agri-foodtraining Accounting and consulting firm, MNP

www.farmforum.ca/mnp

“The younger generation is more focused on the benefits of record keeping.”

Mixed farms are complex. Efficiency measures become more complex as the number of enterprises on a farm increases, says Small. Although today’s farms are generally more specialized than ever, mixed enterprises are still common. “It’s not a situation unique to agriculture, but the industry has more than its fair share of this challenge,” he says.

Cash-based accounting. Canadian farmers are able to report their taxes on a cash basis, meaning transactions are only recorded when cash changes hands. Although this has tax advantages, Small says the system makes it difficult to pin down efficiency measures.

Accrual-based accounting, in which all transactions are recorded even if no cash changes hands, provides a better financial foundation for improving efficiency, he says.

Financial fluency. Producers generally should focus more on developing their financial skill sets, says Small. He believes that investing in education is as important as other investment decisions.

A characteristic of the most successful farmers is their mastery of finance, he finds.

“Education often appears to have a lower value than most tangible investments,” he says. “When farmers do invest in education, they often choose technical training over management training. In my view, both are equally important and the benefits will frequently outweigh more tangible investments.”

FARMFORUM.CA / SPRING 2013

13

THEY’LL

NEVER

KNOW W

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HIT THEM BayerCropScience.ca/Velocitym3 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.

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C-60-02/13-BCS13025-E

T E C H N O L O GY

Successful farmers reveal their best investments

BY GERALD PILGER NO MATTER WHAT THEY produce or where they live, prosperous farmers constantly evaluate new technologies and management practices, then implement those most likely to improve their bottom line.

To identify winning strategies, Farm Forum asked farmers across Canada this question: What technological innovation or management practice you adopted in the past 10 years has boosted your bottom line the most?

Their answers may surprise and inspire you.

Alberta: GPS

Curtis Jans crops 3,000 acres west of New Norway, AB. Like many farmers, his first experience with GPS was simple light-bar guidance on a sprayer (he was tired of trying to follow foam marker blobs!). Now he has GPSenabled auto steer on the tractor pulling his drill and on his swather.

And the combine GPS can be upgraded for auto steer as well.

“GPS has made a huge difference on my farm,” he says. “It’s reduced our cost per acre, increased equipmentoperator safety and enabled individuals to do a better job on more acres with less stress. GPS technology also opened the door to other new technologies like auto steer, variable-rate application, and auto boom shutoff.”

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FARM FORUM / SPRING 2013

Jan VanderHout Ontario: Expansion

Jan VanderHout is a third-generation vegetable grower in the greater Hamilton area. “The long term viability of our farm depended upon expansion,” he says. “Growers must find efficiencies as margins decline.

“To expand our Beverly Greenhouses operation, we had to develop new labour management systems, improve pest control methods, increase automation and access better markets. By doing all this we were able to more than triple the size of the farm over the past 15 years,” he says, adding that he now grows cucumbers in 22 acres of greenhouse space.

VanderHout cautions those who are thinking about expansion: “Keep a handle on your debt load. This may sound counterintuitive, but you have to live within your means.”

TOP PHOTO: BAYER CROPSCIENCE, BOTTOM PHOTO: COURTESY JAN VANDERHOUT

Curtis Jans

Joerg von Waldow

Ryan Sommerfeld

New Brunswick: New equipment Joerg von Waldow milks 300 cows near Corn Hill, NB — a big increase from the 11 cows he first milked 40 years ago. This growth would not have been possible without advances in milking equipment.

“We looked across Europe and North America for a milking system that would easily allow us to increase the number of cows we milk,” he says. “We decided to build a new barn with a rotary milking system. We also installed a manure separation system and put in waterbeds for the cows instead of bedding them on shavings. Our costs are lower, cows are more comfortable and we can easily expand our milking herd anytime we want. Furthermore, this new equipment requires less labour and less energy.”

Von Waldow also built a glassed-in viewing area so visitors can watch the milking operation. “Farmers need to show consumers that we care for our animals.”

His advice? “Make sure you build big enough for future expansion. Look to the future; not just the present.”

Brent Royce

TOP PHOTO: COURTESY RYAN SOMMERFELD, BOTTOM PHOTO: ©THINKSTOCK

Ontario: Conservation tillage Brent Royce says switching to conservation tillage has brought positive returns to his Listowel, ON, farm.

Royce cash crops 500 acres, raises 20,000 turkeys, and lambs out 400 ewes, indoors. “Reduced tillage saves time, labour and equipment investment,” he says. “As well, soil fertility has risen because of improved manure application methods and less tillage.”

He’s still perfecting his conservation tillage package. “You have to build a system that works for you. Everyone’s needs are different. It is a lot of trial and error.”

Saskatchewan: Knowledge Ryan Sommerfeld raises purebred Gelbvieh cattle near Medstead, SK. He says the biggest improvement to his bottom line is a result of more extensive research to identify better herd sires.

“I used to go to one bull sale and simply buy the bull that I thought looked the best. Now I am doing a lot more homework ahead of time,” he says.

“I check bloodlines, genetics and even whether the bull carries a tenderness gene. I not only look at the mother of the bull but her sisters as well. I look for longevity in the cows.

“The Internet has become a very valuable tool for researching bulls. But if you really want to improve your herd, you have to talk to people and get their opinions on the bloodlines you are considering adding to your herd.”

David Hamblin

Floyd Peterson

David Hamblin says advances in soybean and corn varieties have improved the bottom line on his family’s 3,000-acre seed farm in the Red River Valley near Morris, MB. “The landscape has changed,” he says.

“Ten years ago not many soybeans were grown in Manitoba. Now they are a big part of our rotation. Corn hybrids suitable for our area first became available about five years ago, and corn acreage is getting bigger every year.”

Hamblin points out that new crops give farmers more options; especially when net returns for these crops are higher than the traditional wheat, barley, canola and oats that western Canadian agriculture was built on.

“If you decide to grow a new crop, start small,” he advises. “And grow earlymaturing varieties. You can expand acres after you learn the risks of growing a new crop.”

Floyd Peterson of Fir Mountain, SK, calves out 400 head of commercial cows on his 3,000-acre farm. Until three years ago he also had a custom combining business and followed the harvest from Texas to Saskatchewan every year with eight New Holland combines. New Holland even had him evaluating its new models and technology during his custom-harvest run.

When asked what he felt contributed most to his bottom line over the years, his answer was simple: “Hard work, often with short pay.”

Manitoba: New crops

Saskatchewan: Hard work

And, really, hard work was a key for each of these farmers. Even the labour-saving technologies of GPS or rotary milking parlours were but stepping-stones toward expanding farm operations, lowering unit production costs, and increasing returns.

They agreed that to improve your bottom line, you need to thoroughly review your operation, search out new innovations and evaluate the potential they offer, and then work hard to incorporate the best of these ideas into your business. FF

FARMFORUM.CA / SPRING 2013

17

PRODUCTION

Glyphosate resistance gains ground Growers fight back against glyphosate resistant weeds with a number of strategies including herbicide and crop rotation and reducing reliance on glyphosate

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FARM FORUM / SPRING 2013

THE BATTLE AGAINST glyphosate resistant weeds in soybean is on, and it will take active management to keep it from becoming an all-out war.

Seventy-eight per cent of soybeans planted in Canada are Roundup Ready varieties. Growers have embraced the high yields and easy management that comes from this technology but, as they are finding out in the case of glyphosate resistant weeds, it is possible to have too much of a good thing.

“We now have three weeds with confirmed resistance to glyphosate in southwest Ontario,” says Peter Sikkema, professor of weed management with the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus.

“The first was giant ragweed, initially identified in 2008 and now confirmed at 71 sites in five counties.

In 2010 we identified resistance to Canada fleabane, now confirmed at 155 sites in eight counties. And common ragweed has now been confirmed at a single location in Essex county.”

What causes a weed species to become resistant is not fully known, but what happens within a mixed population of susceptible and resistant individuals of the same species is clearly understood. With repeated application of the same herbicide or herbicide group, only the resistant population survives and returns seed to the soil. Over time, resistant weeds become dominant in the field and the susceptible population diminishes. This process is known as selection pressure.

Growers have embraced Roundup Ready soybeans, as they allow for in-crop application of glyphosate resulting in a wide margin of crop safety and low-cost, effective weed control. But with resistance now a reality, growers are looking at ways to increase longevity of the product that they rely on, and at the same time not lose the yield advantage they are accustomed to.

“We’re developing strategies to reduce the selection of glyphosate resistant weeds,” says Sikkema. “One way is to reduce reliance on glyphosate. Growers need to get used to using more than one mode of herbicide action on every acre, every year.”

There are different options for rotating herbicides, such as rotating to a LibertyLink soybean package which uses glufosinate, the only Group 10 on the market. Launched only a few years ago, LibertyLink varieties are slowly gaining market share as growers become aware of the yield advantage and look for ways to keep resistance at bay.

Rotating herbicides also helps fight off multipleresistance, which is what happens when a weed is resistant to herbicides from two different chemical groups. Multiple-resistance is very difficult to fight once it takes hold.

“In addition to chemical rotation, growers should make sure they have a diverse crop rotation,

PHOTO: BAYER CROPSCIENCE

BY JENNIFER BARBER

TOP PHOTO: COURTESY PETER SIKKEMA, BOTTOM PHOTO: FILE

with crops that are not reliant on glyphosate for weed control,” says Sikkema. They can also use vigorous seed, proper fertilization and timely tillage to make sure their crops emerge strongly and out-compete the weeds, meaning less herbicide control is necessary.

Soybean growers can also consider a two-pass weed control program, applying a broad-spectrum preemerge herbicide to the soil, followed by glyphosate post-emerge. A two-pass program protects the crop’s full yield potential since it offers good weed control during early crop development. In addition, post-emerge glyphosate application timing is not as critical since weed density is dramatically reduced. It can also reduce the selection intensity for additional glyphosate resistant weeds.

Gilles Leroux, a professor of weed science with Université Laval in Quebec, says some growers in that province are leery of two-pass programs.

“Quebec growers can be reluctant about going over their fields twice,” he says. “They prefer to treat in one pass, for example by mixing glyphosate with a residual herbicide applied early post-emerge. This is a compromise between a two-pass program, pre and then post, and a one-pass glyphosate application post.”

Leroux adds that there are numerous ways to

“In addition to chemical rotation, growers should make sure they have a diverse crop rotation, with crops that are not reliant on glyphosate for weed control” – Peter Sikkema UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH

manage resistance and it should be something all growers think about when developing their crop management plans, regardless of whether they farm in areas where resistance has been confirmed.

He says managing all chemical resistance, not just to glyphosate, should be considered as some giant ragweed is already resistant to both glyphosate (Group 9) and Group 2 herbicides.

“Part of my research program looks at developing weed control strategies that will delay or prevent the arrival of resistance to glyphosate in Quebec, where it has not yet been identified,” he says. “These

 To help tackle weed resistance, growers are advised to scout their fields diligently following herbicide application each season to look for small groups of weed escapes. These weeds can be pulled and/or sent to an accredited lab to have them tested for resistance.

FARMFORUM.CA / SPRING 2013

19

Bayer's herbicide resistance information website: www.farmforum.ca/mixitup Weed submission info for herbicide resistance testing: www.farmforum.ca/weedtesting OMAFRA herbicide resistant weeds fact sheet: www.farmforum.ca/HTweedsfactsheet

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FARM FORUM / SPRING 2013

Soybean growers embrace HT seed

By Jennifer Barber For more than a decade, Canadian soybean growers have had access to herbicide tolerant (HT) varieties, with their popularity growing as awareness of their benefits increased. As with everything else in agriculture, a lot has changed in 10 years, including crop production systems, weed control issues and weed control options.

“We’ve been selling Roundup Ready varieties since they were introduced, and we were one of the first companies to sell LibertyLink varieties when this technology became available,” says Steve Denys, vicepresident sales and marketing for Pride Seeds in Chatham, ON. “Growers list simplicity in terms of weed control strategies and simplicity in terms of management at harvest as two of the reasons they choose herbicide tolerant varieties,” he says.

Quebec-based Semences Prograin also develops and markets both conventional, or identity-preserved, soybeans as well as Roundup Ready and LiberyLink varieties, and HT soybeans account for about half the company’s seed business in Canada.

“Choosing one system (HT or conventional) over the other is not really about money, because both are very comparable cost-wise,” says Marc Saumure, district sales manager with Semences Prograin for Eastern Ontario.

“Growers tend to choose HT technology for convenience. There is a trend in Ontario and Quebec for large growers to move entirely to HT soybeans for the simplicity of weed control and also to reduce the risk of errors when growing both HT and conventional, as the markets are very different.”

Saumure says that weed control becomes more of an issue as herbicide resistance rears its ugly head. Right now, glyphosate

resistant weeds have been detected only in southwestern Ontario, but growers are realistic in recognizing that it won’t stay that way for long.

“We aren’t immune to it in other soybean growing areas,” says Saumure. “At Prograin we are committed to bringing growers seed with new traits to improve weed control and reduce the risk of weed resistance to single modes of herbicide action. The spread of resistance is a question of time, and that is why we will be introducing genes for other multi-modes of action in our offering to growers.”

Denys adds that his customers are looking for HT seed that offers high yield potential, solid emergence, standability, disease tolerance, natural drought tolerance and good harvestability. He also says growers are increasingly looking to efficiency at the planting stage and are asking for seed treated with insecticides and fungicides.

And the most recent call has been for preinoculated seed.

“Beyond agronomics and yield, we are also looking at the introduction of varieties with stacked herbicide technologies that give producers new tools and strategies for weed control,” says Denys. “This area represents the biggest advancement in soybean weed control since the introduction of HT varieties back in 1996.”

Both Denys and Saumure say that there will always be a segment of core growers who seed conventional and identity-preserved varieties because of the premiums available.

Both companies will continue to service those customers. But they also continue to develop high yielding varieties for the herbicide tolerant market that adapt to changing conditions, and changing markets.

PHOTO: ©THINKSTOCK

strategies are constructed by adding diversity to cropping programs and by mixing herbicides with different modes of action. Resistant weeds have greater opportunity to spread when production practices are not varied.”

Quebec’s soybean fields haven’t yet been subjected to resistance for several possible reasons. First, growers there rely more on conventional tillage so they have less weed pressure than in other regions. As well, the province still has a large number of identity-preserved soybean growers, so there is less reliance on glyphosate. The risk of developing resistance is lower in areas with more diverse cropping systems.

“Growers don’t have to stop using glyphosate,” says Leroux. “They need to use both glyphosate and other chemicals in their herbicide program, as well as combining residual herbicides with glyphosate as tank mixes, or treating with a pre-emerge residual herbicide, followed by glufosinate or glyphosate post-emerge.”

He says growers need to scout their fields diligently following herbicide application each season to look for small groups of weed escapes. In addition to resistance, other reasons for ineffective weed control include sprayer malfunction, weed size, and soil and environmental conditions. He adds that if you are worried about resistance, pull weeds that have not been eliminated by the herbicide in order to prevent seed production. Consider sending them to an accredited lab where they can be tested for resistance.

A new website, www.mixitup.ca, developed by Bayer CropScience, is a resistance management resource with details on how resistance has developed, how big the problem is, and how to manage the issue, along with a thorough list of contacts. The website’s message is that growers need to rotate crops as well as herbicides and technology/ production practices to keep resistance at bay. FF

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Always read and follow label directions. Converge® is a registered trademark of the Bayer Group. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada. *Based on five trials at three different Ontario locations in 2011. Trials were conducted comparing weed control with pre-emerge herbicides in corn. Trials were funded in part by the Grain Farmers of Ontario. The assistance of OMAFRA through the OMAFRA/University of Guelph Partnership is also acknowledged.

Rice rules

New technologies and new thinking are required to meet an ever growing demand for rice and Bayer CropScience is leading the way

BY JENNIFER BARBER

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FARM FORUM / SPRING 2013

PHOTO: ŠTHINKSTOCK

C OV E R F E AT U R E

I

associated with rice, achieving those increases will require new technologies and new thinking. Bayer CropScience is leading the way.

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES In rice production, 100 known insect, fungal and weed pests can cause crop damage. If growers could reduce the impact of these pests on rice, it’s estimated they could double the global harvest.

The crop is an important focus for Bayer. The company supplies rice growers around the world with effective fungicides (Routine, Nativo, Antracol and Folicur), herbicides (Ronstar and Ricestar), and insecticides (Admire, Curbix and Fame) to help them produce the best crops possible.

Key disease concerns for growers are rice blast fungus, which destroys enough

PHOTO: BAYER CROPSCIENCE

More than a billion people depend on rice production for their livelihood, and of the 200 million rice farms in the world, 90 per cent are located in Asia.

F RICE IS ON your menu today, you’re in good company — more than half the world’s population eats the grain daily. Today, 600 million tonnes of rice is grown each year on over 150 million hectares, or 11 per cent of the world’s available agricultural land. Wheat is the only crop grown on more acres.

Unlike most wheat producers, however, the majority of rice farmers have small operations, with their livelihood tied to their primary food source.

And despite being the world’s second largest crop, most rice is consumed domestically, in the countries where it’s grown. Only seven per cent of global supply is exported.

Yet demand for rice grows every year, and annual production increases of eight to 10 million tonnes will be needed to simply meet that expanding market. Given the production challenges

FARMFORUM.CA / SPRING 2013

23

Rice can be continuously cropped without increasing the risk from disease or insects — some fields have been cropped for more than 1,000 years.

Still, overall global yields haven’t increased much since the 1990s, with an average harvested yield of four tonnes per hectare. Because of high demand and increased pressure on water supplies, global rice reserves have trended downward in recent years. The need for higher yields is therefore becoming urgent.

One way for growers to boost their average yield is to use high quality seed.

Bayer CropScience, a world leader in rice seed development, is helping with Arize, a hybrid seed line that out-yields conventional rice varieties by up to 35 per cent. Arize varieties have high genetic purity, excellent germination rates, and resistance to leaf blight. Bayer is also investing crop management practices to increase rice production. For example, the Tabela Rice Project in Indonesia helps growers sow well established pregerminated rice directly into paddy soils. This method uses 20 per cent less water and increases yield by up to 10 per cent when compared to direct seeding methods.

BOTTOM PHOTO: BAYER CROPSCIENCE, ARMIN STELLJES TOP PHOTO: BAYER CROPSCIENCE, PETER GINTER

 The U.S. is one of six of the world's major rice exporters.

rice to feed 60 million people every year, and leaf blight, which can decimate entire harvests. On the insect side, the brown planthopper can cause up to 60 per cent yield loss, and is a vector (carrier) for two damaging rice plant viruses.

On the plus side, rice can be continuously cropped without increasing the risk from disease or insects — some fields have been cropped for more than 1,000 years.

Some of the stats around rice are almost mind-boggling. For example, it takes 3,000 litres of water to produce one kilogram of rice and, with enough water, rice can be harvested up to three times a year off the same land. Eighty million hectares of irrigated lowland rice accounts for three-quarters of the worldwide supply.

More than a billion people depend on rice production for their livelihood, and of the 200 million rice farms in the world, 90 per cent are located in Asia. Rice is important in other regions, though: in sub-Saharan Africa, for example, it’s the fastest growing food staple.

 Research into new rice hybrids and crop management techniques helps increase yield and quality in an environmentally sustainable way.

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FARM FORUM / SPRING 2013

ď ° Phan Sam (Bayer Vietnam) and Vo Hoang Minh examine the first harvest results.

Rice by the numbers

Data and trends in rice production, consumption, import and export.

GLOBAL RICE PADDY PRODUCTION AND AREA

RICE IMPORTS BY REGIONS IN 2011 AND 2012 (million tonnes, milled equivalent)

millio n to nnes

millio n hectares

170

160

Lat. Am erica & Car.

150

Others

140

2011 f'cast

0.0

5.0

F=fo recast

Area

RICE EXPORTS BY MAJOR EXPORTERS

2011

10.0

2012 F

15.0

RICE PRODUCTION, UTILIZATION AND STOCKS

millio n to nnes, milled eq.

12.0

(milled equiv.)

millio n to nnes

millio n to nnes

160

10.0

2011

8.0

500 475

140

2012 F

450

120

425

100

6.0

400

80

India

Pakistan Thailand

USA

Viet Nam

F=fo recast

S t o c k s ( le f t a xis )

P ro duc t io n ( right a xis )

2010/11

2009/10

2008/09

2007/08

2006/07

2005/06

2.0

375

2004/05

60

2003/04

4.0

China

20.0

350

2011/12 f'cast

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

145

2002/03

TOP PHOTO: BAYER CROPSCIENCE, PETER GINTER

Africa

155

Production

0.0

Asia

165

2002

730 710 690 670 650 630 610 590 570 550

Ut iliza t io n ( right a xis )

Chart Data: FAO, Rice Market Monitor, Trade and Markets Division Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FARMFORUM.CA / SPRING 2013

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In fact, transplanting pre-germinated seed is the most popular way to grow rice, globally. Under this method, seedlings are grown in a nursery for 20-80 days before transplanting. It has the advantage of requiring less seed, and weed control can be easier to manage. The primary disadvantage of this method is that when done by hand — as it is most of the time — the process can be very labour intensive.

Under direct seeding methods, either dry seed or seed that has been pre-germinated for a very short time are broadcast by hand, or planted using a machine. Where there is plenty of natural water sources, dry seed is manually broadcast onto the soil surface and worked in while the soil is dry. On irrigated land, the seed would be pregerminated then broadcast over the field.

In Vietnam, Bayer CropScience’s Much More Rice program is aimed mainly at

improving rice yield, but it is also working toward improving rice quality and finding more sustainable ways to grow it. This partnership between farmers and local government aims to establish best practices for rice production and improve profitability by reducing labour and increasing nutrient efficiency.

On a global level, Bayer CropScience’s Innovation Centre in Ghent, Belgium is working to develop new rice hybrids that will increase yields by 15 to 20 per cent.

It is also developing lines that are more drought resistant, more flood tolerant and better able to thrive in saline soil.

Bayer CropScience also works in partnership with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines to study new ways to improve rice production and meet global demand. Together, Bayer and the IRRI have helped set up the Hybrid Rice Research and Development Consortium.

This group looks at new hybrids and crop management techniques that help farmers improve the yield and quality of their rice in an environmentally sustainable way.

Bayer CropScience is working to further establish a secure global supply of rice with innovations both from Ghent, and from its rice research lab in Singapore.

Both facilities are developing hybrids with integrated agronomic traits that raise yield. Together with its suite of crop protection products, Bayer’s goal of helping safeguard the global supply of rice is well within reach. FF International Rice Research Institute: www.farmforum.ca/ riceresearchinstitute Hybrid Rice Development Consortium: www.farmforum.ca/riceconsortium Bayer CropScience – Why Rice Matters: www.farmforum.ca/whyricematters

BY JENNIFER BARBER The International Rice Genebank (IRG), located in Los Banos in the Philippines, is home to the world’s largest collection of rice genes. With more than 117,000 types of rice in its vaults, the IRG stores wild rice, ancestors of rice, traditional and heirloom varieties, along with modern varieties. They are stored under long-term preservation technology and used for research and development purposes.

Built in 1965, the IRG is maintained by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). New varieties are developed from the genetic variants in traditional and related wild species of rice. The information in these older species can give vital information on how rice reacts to stress. That’s important because genetic information from traditional varieties tends to be lost when new varieties are developed and widely adopted, and wild species tend to be threatened when their habitats are destroyed by human disturbance.

In addition to preservation and research work, the IRG has also helped reintroduce

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FARM FORUM / SPRING 2013

varieties after times of loss in different regions of the world. For example, Cambodia lost many of its native varieties after chaos caused by the Khmer Rouge, which ruled the country during the late ‘70s. Throughout the 1980s, the bank was able to help restore native varieties and replenish rice production in the country.

Today, researchers are working to sequence the genetic material of every rice variety in the IRG to better understand the differences between varieties with the eventual goal of improving genetics in current commercial varieties. The first rice variety was gene-sequenced by IRRI in 2005.

There are other significant crop gene banks around the world, two of the largest located in China and India. Svalbard Global Seed Vault on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, part of the Svalbard island group (known as the “Doomsday Vault”) also has a diverse gene bank, and the IRG has sent duplicates of many of its varieties there as a back-up location for its genetic material.

Rice can be stored for hundreds of years under controlled conditions. Active rice

material is distributed to farmers, farm groups, government and universities who share the information under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

The Treaty recognizes that farmers are the primary beneficiaries of rice seed, so it makes sure they are primary recipients of rice research. By sharing diversity information and technology, building the production capacity of developing countries and sharing the monetary benefits of commercialization, the IRG benefits farmers around the world.

PHOTO: INTERNATIONAL RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Take it to the bank

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It’s easy to use and even easier to see the difference it makes. And you’ve never seen anything like this before.

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BayerCropScience.ca or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative.

Always read and follow label directions. Titan™ and Emesto™ are trademarks of the Bayer Group. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

H-25-03/13-TCS13013-E

BUSINESS

The 7 Deadly Sins of

FARMLAND OWNERSHIP

BY JONATHAN SMALL FOR MORE THAN three decades, I have been privy to countless conversations with my Ag clients about purchasing land. And while many things have changed over the years, including the industry and the men and women involved in it, I kept hearing the same misconceptions about ownership time and time again.

There is a lot of value to be gained by increasing land ownership, but having more cannot, and should not, be the only consideration.

Purchasing land is a big and multifaceted decision but by keeping the following seven deadly sins in mind, you can make sure that you’re making the right purchase for the right reasons.

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FARM FORUM / SPRING 2013

1

Making land ownership your first priority This means not putting it ahead of profit, your relationships or the best interests of your operation.

Ultimately, it is profit that has to pay for land and, for most owners, your first priority has to be increasing profits to a level that allows for the purchase of land.

2

Buying poor land You’re making a long-term purchase, so take the time to make sure it’s the right one. Whether you buy good or bad, its going to be with you for a long time.

Land prices these days reflect scarcity more than quality and the productive difference. If you make a purchase you know doesn’t have long-term value, keep that in perspective moving forward.

3

Getting emotionally involved with fixed assets Your land is such a fundamental part of your operation it can be hard not to get attached — but it doesn’t do your business any good. Remember land is an asset for you to use to build profit.

4

Over-aggressive debt repayment Far too many farms get themselves into trouble because of bad debt structure. Be practical about your capacity for debt repayment on all purchases, especially land. Remember that maintaining cash flow and liquidity is critical.

5

Employing fixed versus variable rates Choose your rates wisely, starting with an objective understanding about the level of debt you’re taking on and the reality of your balance sheet and income statement. Factor in an awareness of Canadian monetary policy and do your best to make a proportionate and rational decision.

6

PHOTOS: ©THINKSTOCK

Losing sight of how you make money Farmers make money from controlling farm assets (control doesn’t just come from ownership) and profit comes from proper management.

Optimizing your assets maximizes your ability to convert management into profit, which, in turn, leads to the ability to own more assets. Your first priority should be business growth, not just growing your land holdings.

7

Trying to buy it all Don’t let yourself be fooled by the idea of a once-in-a-lifetime ownership opportunity. It could lead you to overpay, buy the wrong land and/or miss out on future purchasing opportunities. Make purchases based on your strategic goals and don't let "For Sale" signs sidetrack your decision making.

Land ownership can be an important, and profitable, part of building your business but every purchase you make should be well thought-out and fit within your overall business plan, longterm strategy and goals. Avoid the seven deadly sins and you can hopefully avoid buyer’s remorse. Purchasing land feels good in the short term; but purchasing the right land and managing it correctly will have you on a purchaser’s high for years to come. FF

FARMFORUM.CA / SPRING 2013

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T E C H N O L O GY

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FARM FORUM / SPRING 2013

Treat it right Even though today's seed treatments are easy to handle and use, producers must still apply them properly to ensure maximum performance.

PHOTO: BAYER CROPSCIENCE, KALLE HALBERSTADT

BY JENNIFER BARBER IF YOU REMEMBER the days of wetable powder seed treatments, then you probably have a huge appreciation for today’s modern, liquid, low-mess seed treatment products.

While these new products are a lot easier to use, it doesn’t take the onus off growers to apply them properly or risk poor field performance. And sometimes, that comes down to the quality of your equipment as much as it does operator proficiency.

“On-farm treaters today are where sprayers were 40 years ago,” says Dan Bardi, seed treatment market development specialist with Bayer CropScience Canada. “Application methods have not kept pace with the advancements in seed treatment technology, and we believe that many growers are losing the benefits of their seed treatments due to poor application.

It was pretty clear that to prepare the way for seed treatment technologies, an improved application system was needed.”

That’s where the new Seed Treatment Optimized Rate Metering (STORM) treater comes in. With its electronic controls, metering conveyor and peristaltic metering pumps, STORM was designed specifically for “just-intime” cereal and pulse seed treatment, so growers can react quickly to seeding conditions while ensuring that their seed treatments are applied accurately.

STORM was developed initially by Bayer CropScience, which came up with the technology itself, then brought seed and grain handling leader Ag Growth International Inc. (AGI) on board to help refine the design and commercialize the product.

FROM IDEA TO REALITY Doug Kielo farms near Delisle, SK, and tested the STORM prototype on his farm

in the spring of 2012. A long-time, on farm seed treater, he’s tried numerous systems in an effort to find the most accurate, safe way to treat his seed and says that this system will save growers money.

“We were able to apply the product to within millilitres of what we anticipated,” he says. “We were very happy with the accuracy of the pump, and the nozzles that feed into the auger offer even distribution without any waste.”

“The seed metering device on the STORM treater gives an accurate measure of seed flow, allowing for proper application rates” – Dan Bardi SEED TREATMENT MARKET DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, BAYER CROPSCIENCE CANADA

That’s music to Dan Bardi’s ears. “We wanted to fit the treating process into an existing practice on the farm — the transfer of seed from a bin to a truck, or from a truck to the aircart,” he says. “We wanted the user to be able to treat the seed at a convenient time for them and allow growers to treat exactly what they need with as much accuracy as possible.”

But the biggest issue STORM addresses is seed volume. “The big issue we had to address was determining seed flow,” says Bardi. “The seed metering device on the STORM treater gives an accurate measure of seed flow, allowing for proper application rates.”

He explains that the electronic interface does all the work before a grower heads out in the field. Once a “recipe” is entered into the system, it can be stored and used again in the future. It was also designed as a closed system to reduce operator exposure to seed treatment product.

Kielo says he likes how he was able to develop treating recipes to suit his needs.

“The recipes were easy to adapt and go back to for future use,” he says. “I liked that we had the ability to batch treat, even when only applying with jugs instead of tanks, with no loss of accuracy.”

Another key feature is that STORM lets farmers choose just how much seed to treat. Simply program that in, and the system treats that volume, and only that volume, then shuts off. So if you’ve got only 40 acres that needs treated seed, you can treat exactly that and have no left over treated seed.

“This batching ability is a huge plus for the grower,” says Bardi. “Getting rid of left over seed can be difficult as growers would have to seed it out or tie up a bin to store it. With GPS and field mapping, growers know their acres. Growers know their seeding rates from their seeding equipment. Those two pieces of information tell them how much seed to treat. The STORM allows them to program that number in and treat until they have the seed they need.”

COMING TO A FARM NEAR YOU AGI expects to launch STORM seed treatment systems this coming fall, with delivery in time for the 2014 season. Until then, you can check out one of 12 sites across western Canada where STORM is being demoed this spring. Check with your Bayer field rep, or the website for a location near you.

“I think it’s important for growers to know that Bayer CropScience doesn’t just sell innovative crop protection and seed products,” says Bardi. “We listen to what they need and try to address those concerns, even if it’s a solution we haven’t provided before. This collaboration between Bayer CropScience and Ag Growth International in the development of seed treating equipment is a good example of that.” FF

FARMFORUM.CA / SPRING 2013

31

WHAT'S NEW WITH BAYER CROPSCIENCE PRODUCTS

THE NON-NEGOTIABLES OF WEED MANAGEMENT

I

n addition to his Bachelors Degree in Agronomy, Jeff Stachler has both a Masters and PhD in Weed Science, making him one of the most prominent weed specialists in the U.S. As an advocate for practicing solid resistance management strategies, Dr. Stachler has been preaching the dangers of herbicide

resistance in his home country for over a decade and now believes that Canada has the unique opportunity to show the rest of the world how to avoid what he calls the current “U.S. resistance disaster.”

“Canada has the chance to show the rest of the world how it has to be done. So far we’ve failed in the U.S., but Canada can

succeed.” Stachler reports.

Stachler outlines best agronomic practices in what could be considered his manifesto, Stachler’s Non-Negotiables of Weed Management. In eight easy-tofollow points, he provides the framework for effective weed control and resistance management.

STACHLER’S Non-Negotiables of Weed Management  Practice perimeter weed management

• Leave a 1m weed-free zone around all crop edges, including wet spots (i.e. mow down weeds along field boundaries)  Practice ZERO tolerance

• Allow NO weed(s) to reproduce (no seed production) • Remove/destroy surviving plants by hand (cheaper and more effective vs. the cost of additional herbicides and applications, and the price of resistance)

 Scout fields

• • • •

Before planting Before crop emergence Before 1st post-emergence application 5-14 days after each postemergence application • Observe response of individual plants • Scout field whenever weeds start to flower

 Diversify weed management strategies

• Cultural practices - Crop rotation - Delay planting in weediest fields - Maximize crop density and minimize the time to canopy closure - Maintain soil health/fertility for your crop • Rotate herbicide sites (modes) of action - As often as possible (at least once every two years) • Rotate herbicide-resistant/tolerant crops - At least once every two years • Where possible, apply soil-applied herbicides to all crops - Allows flexibility for timing post application - Adjust rates for soil types

32

FARM FORUM / SPRING 2013

 Start clean

• No-tillage – Apply a non-selective herbicide in a pre-burn application or utilize a cover crop • Conventional/reduced tillage – Till early/ deep enough to remove annual weeds, if not, apply non-selective herbicide prior to crop emergence  Understand weed biology

• Take advantage of the key vulnerabilities of each species - Target specific problem weeds and resistant species • The impact of leaving one weed behind - 1 year seeding = 7 years weeding • Understand weed seed dispersal/movement - Based on a 25% emergence rate, a 10% chance of inheriting the same resistance mutation and the same MOA used year over year – one wild oat plant produces the following: (Year/Resistant wild oat plants), Y1=1, Y2=5, Y3=125, Y4=625, Y5=Over 3,000 - Means of weed seed dispersal include water, machinery, wind or other carrier (human, animals, birds) 

Respond quickly to a changing weed

population • When just a few weeds escape a herbicide application, consider that the herbicide program is broken and needs to be fixed to prevent a disaster • Don’t always blame the weather as the main cause of herbicide misses (genetics can account for up to 50% of the problem)

 Maximize herbicide activity

• Choose the most effective herbicide(s) for the most difficult weeds (know the mode of action/herbicide group numbers and understand how herbicides work) • Combine multiple modes of action that target the same weed whenever possible - Each individual active ingredient within the mix must provide effective control of the target species • Apply post-emergence herbicides to small <3” annual weeds • Use full labelled rates of herbicides - Must follow when using post-emergence herbicides • Include the most effective adjuvant(s) for ALL herbicides - Follow recommended rates for adjuvants as specified on product labels.

• Use correct spray volume (follow label directions) • Use correct droplet size - Droplet size can vary between contact herbicides and translocating herbicides, always consult product label for correct droplet size • Use 15” nozzle spacing • Reduce sprayer travel speeds to10km/hr • Apply during the best weather conditions - Warm, humid, and sunny conditions - Avoid spraying in cool conditions (<3°C) - Maximize rain-fastness interval • Time of day (several herbicides are less effective when sprayed after 9:00 PM and until 8:00 AM)

A NEWSLETTER FROM BAYER CROPSCIENCE

ZEROING IN ON PAYBACK The Demonstration Strip Trial fungicide map from Bayer CropScience shows how it pays to spray

W

ant to know what you can save in yield and quality by applying a fungicide to protect your cereal crop? The online Demonstration Strip Trial (DST) fungicide map is here to help. Simply visit BayerCropScience.ca/ItPaysToSpray.

The map was designed with grower convenience in mind. It provides a simple way to navigate and view individual trials or multi-year summary results from dozens of locations across western Canada.

The results go five years back and show how different cereal crops performed at each trial location, each year, with and without a fungicide treatment. You can see exactly what the yield and quality differences were, to get a clear picture of the positive results growers experience when they apply a leading fungicide such as Prosaro or Folicur EW.

shown on the map to view individual trial results.

The information includes features such as “Agronomist’s Summary” with expert analysis, “Yield Comparison” bar graphs comparing results and “See What Grower’s Say” comments from real growers, along with treatment details on the specific fungicide products, application rates and timing.

Everything is at your fingertips, with quick-scan menus and scroll-down options to select the information you want to view.

All geared to help you make an informed decision. Try it today.

Keeping it real.

All DSTs are managed by actual growers, using their own equipment and agronomic practices, with the help of Bayer CropScience specialists to ensure the appropriate fungicide application.

The goal is to replicate real growing conditions and mirror the circumstances that growers face every day.

“DST results show timely fungicide application is one of the most reliable and powerful tools growers have to protect their cereal crops and ensure a strong ROI” Easy to use, lots of features

The map offers several multi-view options and features. Begin by selecting your crop, choosing among options for wheat, barley or oats. You can then choose to view summary results for Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba, or a regional summary for western Canada. Growers can also click on any of the trial locations

Select a DST location nearest to your farm to view results you can expect with your crop

BayerCropScience.ca or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative. Always read and follow label directions. InVigor®, Liberty®, LibertyLink®, Proline® and TraitGuard™ are trademarks of the Bayer Group. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

FARMFORUM.CA / SPRING 2013

33

TO SPRAY

No visible disease present

No visible disease present

No visible disease present

No visible disease present

Leaf disease on upper leaves and/or flag leaf

/

Leaf disease on upper leaves and/or flag leaf

/

FL

AD TIMING HE

NG

EAF TIM I

L AG

The only time you shouldn’t spray is when you have a poor looking crop and you are not in a fusarium head blight (FHB) area.

If your crop doesn’t look good, but you are in an FHB area, a fungicide application can still pay for itself and safeguard the yield and quality of your grain. Do some calculations and if your potential disease risk and ROI exceed the cost of application – you should protect your crop with a fungicide.

If your crop looks good, you will definitely want to protect your investment with a fungicide application. Which product will provide the most bang for your buck? It depends on crop staging, current disease pressure and potential disease risks.

Here is a quick chart to help make your fungicide decision easier.

Leaf disease only (lower to mid leaves)

Leaf disease only

Leaf disease only (lower to mid leaves)

Leaf disease only

To see how it pays to spray in your area, visit BayerCropScience.ca/ItPaystoSpray BayerCropScience.ca/ItPaystoSpray or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative.

Always read and follow label directions. Folicur® and Prosaro® are registered trademarks of the Bayer Group. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

NOT TO SPRAY FHB AREA

WHAT SHOULD YOU SPRAY ?

NO

Even when you can’t see disease symptoms, there is no such thing as a disease-free crop. A good crop is worth protecting - consider spraying an application of Folicur ® EW or Prosaro® applied at head timing to help ensure top grade, quality and yield.

YES

There is no such thing as a disease-free crop. Even in the absence of disease symptoms, the mere fact that you are in an FHB area means you need to protect your crop. Apply Prosaro at head timing.

NO

Leaf disease damage to upper leaves or the flag leaf can cause irreparable injury to your crop and immediate action is required. Spray Folicur EW and re-assess at head timing to determine whether a second fungicide application is required.

YES

Spray Folicur EW and re-assess at head timing to determine whether a second fungicide application is required.

NO

When leaf disease is limited to lower/mid leaves at flag leaf timing, the damage is negligible. Re-assess at head timing and if you still only see leaf disease you can spray either Folicur EW or Prosaro.

YES

Whenever you are in an FHB area, you should spray Prosaro. However, if leaf disease is limited to the lower/mid leaves you have the ability to make your Prosaro application at head timing to cover both leaf disease and FHB.

C-51-02/13-BCS13045-E

Freedom from wild oats.

New Varro™ herbicide for wheat.

Freedom from Group 1 herbicide resistance.

Freedom to select your preferred broadleaf partner.

Freedom to re-crop back to sensitive crops like lentils.

BayerCropScience.ca/Varro or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative.

Always read and follow label directions. Varro™ is a trademark of the Bayer Group. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

SBC13047.Varro.OBC.indd

2-13-2013 10:07 AM CALMCL-DMX8304

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