The Closer Look

• Brandon office façade receives its first facelift since 1976

• Ag in the Classroom runs throughout March with Portage la Prairie, Shoal Lake and Neepawa helping to spread the word on Agriculture.

• Charlee McLaughlin from Shoal Lake is judging the Brookdale Elementary Science Fair and will be a Judge at the Western Manitoba Science Fair in Brandon

• Shur-Gro was excited to be a part of Ag Days again this year and to see each other face to face!

We would like to announce the following staff updates:

• Raelynne Johnston received the Shur-Gro Outstanding Employee Award

• Brock Sutherland – Manager, Wawanesa

• Sheila Elder – Sales Agronomist, Brandon

• Slava Dubchenko – Sales Agronomist, Elie and Oakville

• Lori Grant – Co-Manager, Oakville

• Becca McDonald – Sales Agronomist, Neepawa

• Lori Laing – Business Support, Head office Brandon

• Dale Bass – Shur-Gro Maintenance Coordinator, based in Portage la Prairie

• Devan Woolley – Office Manager, MacGregor

AsI sit down to write my yearly letter for the “Closer Look”, I noticed from past letters that the word “challenge” is often used in describing the year we have been through. Interestingly, I would have to say 2022 is not any different in that sense. Large amounts of snow followed by rainfall led us into a very late spring seeding situation. However, throughout it messages of “we’ve been here before” echoed around our branches and through conversations with our customers. True to form everyone rallied together, getting product to the field in a tight timeline and ensuring that the crop got in. Our agronomists worked along side our growers offering them information to help finalize decisions on late seeding. I would have to say it paid off and 2022 ended up being a strong year, obviously buoyed by equally strong grain prices. The theme of our Spring publication

A Message from Ron

this year is Crop Rotation and how that affects the sustainability of our soil resource, our herbicide choices, our environment and in the long run most important, our farms. The dictionary says sustain is to support, keep sound, to keep alive and to keep going. To me that really describes both Independent Ag Retailers and Farmers. As an independent retailer Shur-Gro has been in business since 1968. Today we are the oldest surviving independent retail in Western Canada. Our people and our services are here to support our grower customers, to help keep farms viable and to keep going. Shur-Gro is dedicated towards helping implement new ideas and initiatives to be on the cutting edge of agronomic solutions to increase crop productivity in the most efficient way possible.

To date we are working with different technologies to increase your nitrogen efficiency while reducing nitrous oxide emissions. Some branches are working with slow-release phosphate and sulfur products, while others provide solutions like ESN or brand new technologies

like Envita. Our agronomists are always cognisant of the challenges our customers face regarding the increasing costs of production and outside forces affecting agriculture. We have professional Agrologists on staff as well as CCA’s trained in 4R Nutrient management available to help you navigate the ever-changing face of Agriculture.

As we head in to the 2023 season, I would like to thank those who helped celebrate my 90th birthday! A milestone for sure. I have seen many changes over my lifetime both personally and professionally. It has been a life dedicated to the Independent Ag Industry, to community, family, and farmers. I look forward to the upcoming season with enthusiasm and tell you we are here to help in your business going forward. All the best in the 2023 growing season!

Ron Helwer

Ron Helwer President, Shur-Gro Farm Services

Brandon Branch gets a new Façade

Give crops the nitrogen they need when they need it.

Envita® is the leading nitrogen-fixing biological that turns the entire plant – including leaves and roots – into a nitrogen-fixing powerhouse. From cereals and canola to pulses and corn, trust Envita to fill the nitrogen gap and ensure this essential nutrient is available in the right place at the right time – all season long.

For more information, visit Syngenta.ca/Envita, contact our Customer Interaction Centre at 1‑87‑SYNGENTA (1‑877‑964‑3682), or follow @SyngentaCanada on Twitter.

The Enlist™ weed control system will change how you think about weed management in soybeans.

Enlist E3™ soybean varieties are now available. Using the Enlist weed control system, farmers can take control of resistant and hard-to-control weeds.

WHY USE THE ENLIST WEED CONTROL SYSTEM?

> A system with new traits providing herbicide tolerance in soybeans and corn

> Herbicide solutions built on an improved form of 2,4-D that lands and stays on target, enables management of hard-to-control and resistant weeds with Group 4 herbicides

> Enlist Stewardship resources that support the use of multiple modes of action to manage resistant weeds, provide training, and promote responsible and sustainable use

Enlist E3™ Soybeans

Enlist E3 soybeans provide high-yielding soybean genetics and industry leading triple-mode of action herbicide tolerance.

WHY USE ENLIST E3 SOYBEANS?

> Enlist E3 soybeans are tolerant to 2,4-D, glyphosate and glufosinate herbicides, which are part of a strong resistance management strategy

> Excellent crop tolerance enabling applications up to the R2 growth stage

Enlist™ herbicides that land and stay on target

COMPLETE CONVENIENCE.

Enlist Duo provides the convenience of both 2,4-D choline and glyphosate in one formulation for control of grasses and broadleaf weeds including hard-to-control and resistant weeds.

FLEXIBILITY AND CHOICE.

Enlist 1, a stand-alone 2,4-D choline formulation, provides the flexibility to tank-mix and adjust the rates of glyphosate or Liberty® 200 SN (glufosinate) for hard-to-control and resistant weeds.

Fitting Legumes into your Crop Rotation for a Sustainable Future

Assoybeans and peas continue to gain traction within Manitoba, the question of why to include them in crop rotations is becoming more of a common conversation. There are long-term benefits to diversifying a crop rotation, and the decisions that are made now eventually become long-term impactful results.

Managing nitrogen and nitrous oxide emissions with a legume in rotation:

With the ability to fix their own nitrogen from the air and feed any extra back into the soil, most properly inoculated soybean crops offer a way to prepare the soil for the next year’s crop. As well as offer an alternative to the use of commercial nitrogen fertilizer. Incorporating a soybean or pea crop into a rotation not only can be a good return on investment for the year at hand but also helps avoid excess nitrous oxide emissions. When any form of nitrogen is added to the soil, it will emit nitrous oxide in varying amounts depending on the fertilizer used and how it was applied. On an average year a field will still emit nitrous oxide even if no nitrogen is applied, so by eliminating nitrogen inputs during a soybean or pea rotation year, those nitrous oxide outputs will be minimal. Producers are being pushed to maintain or reduce unnecessary losses of nutrients to the environment, with a push to cut nitrogen fertilizer emissions by

up to 30% by the year 2030. Legumes go a long way in reaching that goal and helping the net return to your farm at the same time.

As that target quickly approaches, diversifying a rotation with crops like soybeans or peas every three to four years can become a foundational aspect of a successful cropping system for a producer. The most commonly seen crop rotations with soybeans in Manitoba would be the wheat-soybeancanola or cereal-soybean-cereal-canola rotation. Added to these rotations most recently would be the addition of field peas as they continue to have a higher presence over time with the completion of the Roquette Processing plant in Portage la Prairie. Producers continue to increase the number of areas where they can grow soybeans efficiently and with minimal risk here in Western Canada. Doing so will help producers ensure a sustainable future while managing the quality of the soils.

Sustaining healthy soils from a soybean crop:

Crops such as soybeans have already been and continue to be a major driver of rotation change in the prairies, and the benefits a soybean crop can provide for the overall health and quality of the soils continue to be recognized. Yields have increased in crops in the year following soybeans, the reasoning behind this is

due to the long taproots on the plants which open up the soil profile and break it down resulting in improved soil tilth for the next crop. The legume family has been shown to improve a soils physical property, such as increased soil moisture retention and reduced soil hardness. Along with these physical improvements within the soil profile, biological factors play a huge role in the overall quality as well. Which is a result of microbial breakdown of roots, root exudates and old nodules.

The ideal crop rotation and the benefits it provides to a producer will look different for everyone, it can take time and practice to achieve these results. Incorporating crops such as soybeans and/or peas is an important component of not only our soils health but also an important part of our nitrogen emissions reduction picture. With lower input costs, the future is bright with soybeans. So, why not think twice about including a legume like soybeans or field peas in your next rotation!

Becca McDonald Sales Agronomist

GET AHEAD IN 2023 WITH THE ROUNDUP READY XTEND CROP SYSTEM

Farmers can change the way their soybeans grow with the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System. With residual weed control and expanded herbicide options, Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans are a premium choice for the 2023 season to get the most out of your fields.

Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans utilize the technology that was popularized by Roundup Ready 2 Yield® varieties and contain a dicamba tolerance trait. The updated formulations of Roundup Xtend® 2 herbicide with VaporGrip® Technology and the dicamba-only XtendiMax® 2 herbicide with VaporGrip Technology give farmers options with their soybeans early in the season – taking steps to combine good resistance management and good weed management all in one.

THERE ARE THREE KEY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN DETERMINING YOUR SOYBEAN STRATEGY FOR 2023:

CHOOSE THE CHEMISTRY OPTION THAT WORKS BEST WITH YOUR FIELD

In 2023, the Roundup Ready 2 Xtend Crop System will offer two uniquely updated chemistries to provide control of dif cult and resistant broadleaf weeds including kochia, waterhemp, giant ragweed and Canada eabane, with short-term residual bene t to reduce in-crop ushes of these problem weeds.

Roundup Xtend 2 with VaporGrip Technology is a pre-mixed combination of glyphosate and dicamba, designed to save you time in the eld.

XtendiMax 2 with VaporGrip Technology is a low-volatility dicamba-only formulation that can be tank mixed with any Roundup-brand product.

2

1 3

Early application provides a better chance to maintain your yield and take advantage of early residual control capabilities. Dicamba performs best when sprayed early – the bigger the weeds, the harder it is for any herbicide to perform at its best.

The best way to capitalize on the potential of your Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans is by supporting the crop early and getting ahead of weeds – better weed control and higher yield potential are within reach when you take advantage of the capabilities of the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System. To maximize the yield potential of your Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans, apply the rst pass of dicamba between pre emergence and V2.

DOUBLE-DOWN ON RESIDUAL WEED CONTROL WITH DICAMBA

Taking advantage of residual weed control is another way to leverage the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System for your operation. By applying dicamba in the rst herbicide pass, the short-term residual activity on small-seeded broadleaf weeds (including lamb’squarters, redroot pigweed and common ragweed) can help maximize the yield potential of your Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean crop.

With an early application of dicamba between pre emergence and V2, trials showed a 2.4 bu./ac.1 increase due to reduced early weed competition from the residual dicamba activity.

Source: Nine Canada Market Development Trials (2018 and 2019). Roundup Xtend 2 delivers the same level of control as Roundup Xtend herbicide with VaporGrip Technology. XtendiMax 2 delivers the same level of control as XtendiMax herbicide with VaporGrip Technology. Your results may vary depending on agronomic, environmental and pest pressure variables.

RECOMMENDED APPLICATION TIMING*

YIELD IMPACT OF EARLY RESIDUAL CONTROL

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ROUNDUP READY 2 XTEND SOYBEANS AND THE ROUNDUP READY XTEND CROP SYSTEM, VISIT - TRAITS.BAYER.CA.

Keep your farm prosperous with advanced protection.

If you’ve ever wished your cereals could make a bigger impact on your farm’s bottom line, this is the fungicide for you. Sphaerex® delivers stronger, longer-lasting efficacy on late-season leaf disease and outstanding control of FHB. It also helps preserve your grain’s grade with its best-in-class DON reduction. This exceptional level of protection leads to increased quality, yields and profits. Now just imagine where all that might take you. Visit agsolutions.ca/sphaerex to learn more.

Imagine where more profitable cereals could take you.

Organic Matter and Rotation Diversity

The Key to Crop Production

matter, we test for it and read the results on our soil test, but at the end of the day does it really get the attention it deserves? Crop Rotation also tends to play second fiddle. We value its benefits and yet it is not always at the forefront of our decision-making process. Why?

Organic

Markets, future prices, and profitability seem to dominate a lot of our time with regards to crop production. It is a very important part of the profitability equation on the farm. However, there is a direct correlation between crop rotation and organic matter (OM) that is not always thought about. From moisture retention, carbon capture and sustainability all the way to yield. Organic matter and crop rotation influence our whole crop cycle. Organic matter seems unassuming when you view it on your soil test, but it has a huge responsibility in the long-term health and productivity of your soil. It is the organic fraction of the soil that includes plant, animal, and microbial residues in various stages of decomposition, biomass of soil microorganisms and substances produced by plant roots and other soil

organisms. This is the portion of the soil that stores water and nutrients necessary for high yield and crop quality, it houses beneficial organisms which turn organic matter into available fertilizer, stores carbon and reduces green house gas emissions. There are many uncontrollable variables when it comes to your soils, however organic matter is one we can change through proper management and crop diversity.

Crop rotation plays a massive role when it comes to maintaining and building soil organic matter. It’s easy to look at the grain prices, fertilizer prices, seed availability and get stuck in a loop of very tight rotations, which can turn a safe profit in the short term. However, a tight rotation can have negative impacts ranging from increased chance of weed resistance and disease pressure to a potential decline in soil organic matter and fertility. Therefore, stepping back and looking at the long-term goal of managing your fields and incorporating a more spatially diverse crop rotation is a better option for long term profits and soil health. An example from the Canola Council of

Canada recommends 2-3 years between canola crops. For every year that canola is spread out from being cropped the yield increases on average 3.5-6.5 bu/ acre. Also, crop rotation diversity is critical to maintaining and building soil organic matter. Numbers show that from 1998 to 2017 our crop diversity in Manitoba had declined. (Manitoba Yearbook and MASC) This has happened for several reasons, with the main one being a short-term view on profit generating crops. What we need to keep in mind are long term profits and soil quality. Studies in both Manitoba and Ontario show higher returns per acre over a crop rotation cycle. In Ontario, from 1982-2013, the long-term average was $91/acre higher returns over a 4-year cycle on a diverse rotation including corn, soybeans, and winter wheat, (Dave Hooker Presentation University of Guelph). In Manitoba, MASC tracks yields based on how many years between the same crop. See the chart below. Call your local ShurGro Agronomist to discuss the details of your crop rotation.

Torin Howarth, Sales Agronomist Shur-Gro Killarney

REDUCING NITROGEN LOSS WITH NITROGEN STABILIZERS

Nitrogen is a key factor for growing every crop. When you use it as an input, you want to make sure you get the most out of it.

The triple action protection of our NEON products keep nitrogen in your soil for longer, ensuring it’s always available to your crop when you need it to be. Plus, by reducing denitrification, volatilization, and leaching, you’re helping your plants, and your planet.