Agronomist Notes
I hit the fields last week to look at soil temperatures, moisture reserves, depth of frost and weed emergence. The soil temperature averaged three degrees Celsius, soil moisture was down to one and a half feet and the frost line in chem-fallow was one and a half feet down. The only weeds I noticed were dandelions but the warm weather over the weekend may have prompted some germination which we’ll keep an eye on. I’ll be busy soil sampling towards the end of the week and look forward to getting the tractor and drill ready for action.
This week we’ll focus on pre-burn strategies and options and the do’s and don’ts of mixing glyphosate brands. We’ll finish up with market news.
Agronomy
Residual Pre-seed Herbicides Offer Flexibility
The warm weather over the weekend has many of us itching to begin seeding. However, very few weeds have emerged yet, so residual pre-seed herbicides may be a good fit.
With cool soil temperatures and a field history of winter annuals like cleavers, flixweed and hawk’s beard I’ve often used a pre-seed application of Pre-Pass to capitalize on the residual effect of the florasulam component. The length of residual control increases under cool temperatures and reduced soil moisture, which makes this strategy a good fit at this time. Other products like Express SG don’t offer the same length of residual control, which is what we’re after at this time. Express SG works well under cool conditions but weeds must be actively growing. SL
Adding Everest with Glyphosate for Pre-seed Burn-off
There’s plenty of talk about adding Everest herbicide with your glyphosate at pre-burn time. It is not a registered tank mix in Canada but Arysta LifeScience is actively pursuing it through PMRA field trials. The reason behind the addition of Everest at pre-burn timing is to help control flushing weeds like wild oats, volunteer canola, green foxtail, red root pigweed, shepherd’s purse, stinkweed and wild mustard. It sounds like a logical strategy but the optimal timing and rates have yet to be determined.
Several trials were conducted across the Prairies in 2007and I had the opportunity to take part in one. The field I selected had a history of heavy wild oat pressure. We selected the 7 grams/ac rate of Everest along with 375 ml/ac Vantage Plus Max. The overall wild oat control was poor with little to no signs of group two herbicide injury. We applied a second application of Everest at 11 grams/ac rate in-crop to control the wild oats.
There have been recommendations to add a half rate of Everest with glyphosate under light wild oat populations as well as the addition of Express SG, which may provide a synergistic effect. The jury is still out on that strategy and has not been confirmed, nor is it registered.
It seems that wild oats are the target weed when I hear of using Everest in a pre-burn tank mix. There is still a lot to learn about optimal timing and application rates, which is why Arysta is proceeding with PMRA field trials. At the end of the day the producer must be willing to risk the liability associated with unregistered products- the $7.00 an acre loss in Everest costs and an unsuccessful wild oat strategy. SL
Best Pre-burn Timing One Day Before Seeding
Research conducted by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has shown that glyphosate should be applied just prior to seeding. In those studies, glyphosate was applied 2-3 weeks before seeding, 1 day before, and 3-4 days after in narrow-hoe and simulated sweep seeding systems. In a narrow hoe-direct seeding system, wheat yield was greatest when glyphosate was applied 1 day before seeding. Yields were reduced by over 25% and 15% when glyphosate was applied 2-3 weeks before seeding and 3–4 days after seeding, respectively.
Full article: http://www.reducedtillage.ca/docs/Pre-seed%20Weed%20Control%20revised%20April%202007.PDF
Pre-Seed Burn-off Always An Advantage
Studies by Ag Canada show a burn-off application of glyphosate prior to emergence tended to improve yield and economic returns at all locations. Regardless of when the burn-off was applied, the weed control advantage was still obtained and provided an additional $12/ac return on average. The closer the burn-off is applied to crop emergence, the longer the weed-free period will be extended during early crop development. However, there are risks involved in delaying the burn-off application until after seeding. If weather conditions are not favourable prior to emergence, the opportunity for applying a burn-off can be lost. If a burn-off opportunity is missed, there is potential for weeds to reach a stage of development that will make them harder to control with an in-crop herbicide application.
Source: Ag Canada
Post-Seed Burn-offs Add Risk
In my experience, I’ve had poor results when applying a combination of glyphosate, Pre-Pass or Express SG combinations after seeding. The poor results stem from dust and soil coating or burying weeds after seeding, which reduces herbicide uptake. The disturbance from seeding can also dislodge plants causing stress and reduced herbicide uptake. In some cases if you get a timely rain after seeding, you could probably apply glyphosate to control weeds that are exposed and not damaged. The risk is not knowing how many weeds are buried that may emerge right after application. Sometimes we’re forced to apply glyphosate to heavy weed populations after seeding while knowing more will emerge soon after. SL
Mixing Glyphosate Brands – Understanding Salt Formulations is Key
In the world of glyphosate today, there are three types of salt formulations you should remember: isopropylamine salt (Vantage Plus Max), potassium salt (Roundup WeatherMax) and diammonium salt (Touchdown IQ). These three should never meet if you prefer a trouble-free spray application.
The reason for keeping salt formulations separate is to prevent what’s called salting out or settling out. For example, potassium salt formulations have a much higher ionic strength than isopropylamine salt, meaning the salt is more easily dislocated. When different salt formulations are mixed together, the weaker salt can settle out of suspension and leave the bottom of your tank a mess or your nozzles plugged.
If you do have to switch salt formulas with a hundred gallons or so left in the tank, fill the tank three quarters full with water and then add the next brand of glyphosate. This should help avoid any issues.
Isopropylamine Salt
Glyphos
Vantage Plus Max
Factor
Maverick II
Cheminova
Credit
ClearOut 41 Plus
Potassium Salt
RoundUp WeatherMax
RoundUp Transorb
Renegade HC
Diammonium Salt
Touchdown IQ
Market News
FarmLink Predicts Dramatic Acreage Swings in Western Canada
FarmLink Marketing Solutions, based out of Winnipeg, has come out with seeding estimates for Western Canada. FarmLink is calling for a 14 per cent acreage increase in durum, a 29 per cent increase in flax, a 21 per cent increase in lentils and a 27 per cent increase in mustard acres. More moderate increases are predicted in wheat (up 7 per cent), canola (up 3 per cent) and peas (up 7 per cent). The canary seed acreage is predicted to be the same. The biggest percentage drops are on chickpeas (down 32 per cent), oats (down 15 per cent) and barley (down 6.5 per cent). FarmLink is also calling for a 16 per cent decline in Western Canadian summerfallow.
Source: Kevin Hursh
CWB Developing No-tonnage Limit Program to Replace the DPC
The CWB will be replacing the Daily Price Contract (DPC), which has operated as a pilot program for the past three years, with a new, no-tonnage limit producer payment option (PPO) for the 2008-09 crop year. Unlike the DPC, the new program will have no tonnage limit. It will provide market-pricing opportunities for all farmers, and should be sustainable from a risk-management perspective. Full details will be announced prior to the start of the 2008-09 crop year. The new option will join a series of popular PPO options for farmers that include the Basis Price Contract, the Fixed Price Contract and the Early Payment Option.
Source: CWB
Initial Payments for 2007-08 Crop Year Increased
The CWB announced that 2007-08 initial payments for wheat, durum and Pool B feed barley will increase effective April 17, 2008. The increase for wheat will range from $34 to $53 per tonne, depending on grade, class and protein level. Milling durum will increase by $80 per tonne and Pool B feed barley will increase $65 per tonne.
Source: CWB
Saudi Arabia to Phase out Wheat Production
What started as an ambitious dream, for a desert nation bereft of rivers and lakes to become self-sufficient in wheat, became a reality with the aid of billions of dollars from the first oil boom in the 1970s.
Today, however, Saudi Arabia is preparing to phase out production by 2016. The volte face could make the Gulf nation one of the world’s top 15 importers of the cereal – even as countries across the globe grapple with high wheat prices.
Corn Acres May Not Change Much in the US
Even with corn futures at all-time highs there are still many concerns that may prevent increases in seeded acres through the US Corn Belt. The wet weather has made it difficult to do field work or begin planting. Every day that it stays wet makes it more difficult to plant more corn. Crop rotation has become a limiting factor as well with years of corn after corn. Higher fuel and fertilizer costs for corn compared to soybeans may also put a limit on the corn acres farmer’s plant. Also, farmers may face restrictions on the type of corn futures contracts that they can obtain. The volatile markets and margin requirements have squeezed grain buyers on cash flow and credit limits. This may all lead to a decrease in corn acres. The price of corn will have to be very attractive in the coming weeks.
Full story: http://enews.penton.com/enews/cornandsoybeandigest/corn_edigest/2008_04_14_april_14_2008/display
Below Average Wheat Crop Projected for Southern Plains
Drought has hit the southern Great Plains of Texas and Oklahoma hard and that has affected the winter wheat crop. According to a report released by the Texas office of National Agricultural Statistic Service last week, Texas's winter wheat crop will be 15% smaller than 2007 at 118.9 million bushels.
Tracking Rainfall In the US
If you’d like to find out a simple way to view recent or historical rainfall in the US, check out this handy interactive precipitation map developed by the National Weather Service. It looks like the Northern US wheat belt has only received two inches of rain in the last 30 days while the southeastern tip of Kansas has received more than 8 inches and Texas still remains dry.
See map: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/rfcshare/precip_analysis_new.php
