Agronomist Notes
Last week brought cooler temperatures helping late seeded crops fill out and keep the insects at bay. Even if Lygus bugs jumped above threshold right now, the canola seeds have firmed up enough to prevent any further damage in the fields I check. Late seeded fields will still be at risk. Bertha armyworms have not shown up in any significant numbers and Diamondback moths are still pupating.
Harvest reports so far show barley running in the 80’s, peas in the 60’s and winter wheat in the 70’s around the Three Hills and Beiseker area. Canola swathing and the field pea harvest are in full swing. The earliest spring wheat is roughly 10 days away from what I can see. A small concern is the number of wheat fields I’ve seen with ergot along the headlands. Now is a good time to check for signs of ergot and explore options at harvest.
This week’s newsletter will cover ergot management, the top tips for growing winter wheat and top ten things to remember when tuning up your combine this fall.
Agronomy
Ergot in HRS Wheat
I’ve noticed quite a bit of ergot again this year, especially along the headlands. Once again, conditions were conducive for ergot development during flowering. The conditions required for germination of ergot bodies are a cold period (winter), followed by prolonged wet soils in the spring. We’ve had prolonged wet springs in 2006 and 2007. Subsequently, we’ve seen an increase in ergot levels the last two years.
Crops such as rye and some grasses are more susceptible to ergot infection because they are open-pollinated, allowing easy access of the fungus into the flowering head. Ergot bodies may be present in a field from a previous cereal crop, or from grasses along roadsides or neighbouring pastures. Ergot bodies may also be introduced into a field with planted seed.
What Varieties Are Most Susceptible?
Although cereal varieties may differ in their susceptibility to ergot infection, there are no truly resistant varieties. In regional cereal variety trials, disease levels were too variable to be able to draw any conclusions regarding varietal differences. Bottom line: I wouldn’t change varieties because of ergot.
Allowable Levels of Ergot
Guidelines for allowable levels of ergot in grain are set by the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) and shown in Table 1. For cereals, ergot is assessed in a minimum sample size of 500 grams to an optimum/export sample size of 1,000 grams. If kernel count is excessive, the weight of ergot as a percent of the net weight of the sample is determined.
Table 1. Percentage of Allowable Ergot by Weight.
| Grade | #1 | #2 | #3/4 | Feed |
| CWRS | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.04 | 0.10 |
| CWRW | 0.01 | 0.04 | n/a | 0.10 |
Options for This Fall
If you do see ergot bodies along the headlands, I suggest binning the headlands separately and clean it either for seed or export standards. Seed cleaning costs are pegged at $0.40/bu this fall. If your wheat is downgraded from a No. 1 to a No. 2 because of ergot, it doesn’t pencil out to have the seed cleaned because it works out to a net loss of $0.14/bu after cleaning. However, if you are downgraded from a No. 1 to a No.3, you stand to gain at least $0.14/bu after cleaning. The difference from a No. 1 to a feed grade is even more significant with a net gain of $1.96/bu after cleaning.
Seed cleaning plants with gravity tables or camais-type gravity tables do a very good job of separating ergot bodies from cereals because the grain is separated by weight and not size. A seed cleaner that separates by size doesn’t clean out the ergot as effectively. The Three Hills seed cleaning plant has gravity and camais-type gravity tables. Check with your local seed plant to find out what equipment they use.
Ergot Management Strategy and Control
- Mow headland grasses on a regular, annual basis well before seed set. This will prevent ergot production. Meadow foxtail is extremely susceptible to ergot.
- Test soils for copper availability. An application of copper fertilizer may be needed if levels are below 1 ppm in many soils.
- Use a rotation with non-host crops to reduce inoculum levels. Ergots rarely survive more than a year in the soil.
- Delay swathing, particularly in headland areas if possible, because windy weather will shake out the ergots from standing grain.
- Harvest headland area swaths separately because they are likely to have the highest ergot contamination.
- Store ergoty grain intended for seed for two years. The ergots will die, but the grain will remain viable for many more years.
- Bury crop residue 2.5 cm or more into soil to prevent spore-producing "mushrooms" from emerging above ground.
Source: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$Department/deptdocs.nsf/all/prm2402
Source: http://www.grainscanada.gc.ca/Pubs/ergot/ergot99-e.htm
Growing Winter Wheat
Many producers are looking at seeding winter wheat on their unseeded acres and some are just looking to try something new. It’s no surprise that piqued interest in winter wheat coincides with its current all-time high price. If you do intend to seed winter wheat, it might be a good strategy to hedge a portion of your intended production while prices are high. If our neighbors are talking about growing winter wheat, so are the rest of the farmers worldwide. For a list of winter wheat growers in Alberta see: http://www.reducedtillage.ca/article343.aspx
Top Tips for Successful Winter Wheat Production
- A pre-seed burn off may be required to keep weed competition minimal during early establishment of winter wheat.
- Leave as much standing stubble as possible. Set the swather as high as possible.
- Direct seed into standing stubble. Best results have been obtained when winter cereals are direct seeded into the standing stubble of an early maturing crop such as early seeded barley or canola.
- Seed winter wheat between Aug 22 and September 15. Earlier seeding within this window has given most consistent results.
- Seeding rates should be targeted to achieving fall winter wheat populations of 30 plants per square foot. Generally, seeding rates of 1.5 to 2.5 bushels per acre of a recommended variety should accomplish this goal.
- Seed shallow (less than 2 cm or 1 inch) with on row packing to ensure good seed to soil contact.
- Apply phosphorous fertilizer with the seed and nitrogen away from the seed.
- You can apply all the required nitrogen in one pass in the fall. However, in higher moisture areas you may want to split apply nitrogen to reduce lodging.
- Assess need for fall winter annual weed control in late September to early October. An application of 2, 4-D or MCPA is the best option to combat winter annual weeds.
- 10) In the spring, when you assess the winter wheat, the plants may look as if all the leaves and roots are dead. This appearance does not mean the plants cannot recover. Dig up a few plants in the early spring, take them into the house and try to grow them for 7 to 10 days. If new roots develop, the plants are alive.
Source: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$Department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex94
Source: http://www.wintercereals.ca/tools/index.html
Pre-Harvesting Canola
Growers who have decided to straight combine some of their canola may also be considering pre-harvest weed control or desiccation. Apply your chosen herbicide when the crop has 30% or less seed moisture content. At this stage, the pods are green to yellow and most seeds have turned from green to yellow or brown. Wait three full days (72 hours) after application before cutting to allow thorough translocation of the herbicide to ensure extended long-term weed control.
Source: Canola Council of Canada
Ten Tips for Combine Tune Up
-
Check all fluid levels, condition of fluids and vents.
a) Transmission
b) Final drives
c) Cylinder drive, 2-speed gear case
d) Clean grain gear case
e) Engine gear case
f) Engine oil
g) Engine coolant
h) Hydraulic oil reservoir -
Check elevator chains tension and condition.
a) Feeder house
b) Return
c) Clean grain -
Check drive belts and drive chains.
a) Check bearings at the same time for abnormalities -
Check all filters.
a) Cab air filters and ducting for proper AC airflow - Inspect radiator and coolers for restrictions or damage.
-
Check batteries.
a) Cables and connections
b) Electrolyte level -
Cycle all functions in both directions.
a) Open and close threshing elements
b) Run cylinder at all speeds
c) Adjust concave with stone trap open
d) Operate sieves and chaffer
e) Run cleaning fan trough range of speed - Grease all fittings.
-
Check safety devices.
a) All shields in place
b) SMV sign in place
c) Fire extinguishers ready for use - Know the operators manual.
Source: Jens Madsen, Deer Valley Implements Ltd., Drumheller, AB
Market News
Wilted wheat is driving prices to record highs, Australia
A historically tight global grain supply already has wheat futures in other parts of the world at or near record levels and, if drought does not quickly release its grip on this year's New South Wales crop, the story will soon be the same for Australian wheat.
USDA Outlook: Oilseeds
Global oilseed production for 2007/08 is projected at 391.3 million tons, down 4.4 million tons from last month, and down 13.7 million tons from 2006/07. Foreign production is reduced 4.4 million tons from last month. Soybean production for China is projected at 15.2 million tons, down 0.4 million due to dry weather in the northeastern producing area. Rapeseed production is reduced for Canada and EU-27. Hot, dry weather in Canada and wet harvest weather in EU-27 have reduced yield prospects.
Source: http://www.allaboutfeed.net/news/id102-18604/usda_outlook_oilseeds.html
Commodity Price Boom to Stay till `09
Surging demand for food, low stock levels and unfavourable weather conditions, coupled with competition for acreage, may propel commodity prices up all over the world in the next two years, according to a report by UK-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The report says that the commodity price boom is far from over and will continue in 2008-09. In 2007 alone, the food, feedstuffs and beverages (FFB) index is set to rise by 16 per cent. The fundamentals for grains and oilseeds have become increasingly bullish and prices will rise higher and for longer than previously expected as stocks remain low.
For the full story see:
http://www.businessstandard.com/smartinvestor/storypage.php?leftnm=lmnu6&subLeft=11&autono=294636&tab=r
World Wheat Weather
Poor weather over the summer in some major wheat growing areas, including the E.U. and Ukraine, has resulted in their lower export potential and has increased demand for U.S. wheat. Also, in Argentina and Australia there is a desperate need for rain in order to save the wheat there. Argentina announced today that as dry weather continues to plague the young wheat crop, they have lowered their 2007-2008 wheat-planting area estimate to 5.5 million hectares, down from 5.55 million hectares last month.
World Wheat Production Down 2 Million Tons This Month
World wheat production forecast for 2007/08 was reduced 2 million tons to 610 million. Foreign wheat production declined 1.2 million tons this month to 552.9 million. The largest drop was for the EU-27, down 1.7 million tons to 124.9 million. Excessive rains across Northern Europe contrasted with drought in the Southeast, neither favorable for crop production, and forecasts for wheat production were reduced for France, Bulgaria, Germany, Romania, and Hungary.
Full story: http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/WHS/WHS-08-14-2007.pdf
Major Stress to Soybeans Continues over the South-central US
The overall pattern with hot, dry weather is expected to return during the mid to latter part of the week increasing stress once again on pod filling soybeans. Major crop stress will continue for filling soybeans in the Delta and Southeast states during the next seven days.
