Agronomist Notes

I’ve spent the last week conversing with clients and industry reps about everything from fertility recommendations to seeding rates, liquid fertilizer products and growing economies of scale. On the crop input side, it looks like glyphosate prices will remain steady or drop slightly coming into spring but fertilizer prices may begin to increase in the meantime.

In this week’s newsletter, we’ll discuss how to fine tune seeding rates in wheat to help improve crop maturity while maximizing yield potential. Next, we’ll compare the costs of the Can-Net wireless RTK system versus your own RTK base station system. Last, we’ll look a little closer at the added benefits of Syngenta’s Cruiser Maxx seed treatment. As always, we’ll end with fundamental and technical grain market news. Have a great week.

Agronomy

Fine tuning seeding rates: taking it to the next level

Combining maximum yield potential with early maturity in our 90 to 120 day growing season begins with proper plant stand densities. We target specific plant stand densities in order to generate the right number of plants, heads and kernels to drive yield and push maturity. After calculating seeding rates and measuring emergence on over 200,000 acres of cereals, pulses and oilseeds, I know we can tweak our seeding rates even further.

If you look at the chart below, you’ll see a randomly selected sample of fields with wheat-wheat and canola-wheat rotations in 2009. You’ll notice there is an average of 18% seedling mortality in the wheat-wheat rotations compared to 12% mortality in the canola-wheat rotations. Cool, dry soils and high residue levels made 2009 a tough year for crop emergence. However, I see the same pattern of higher seedling mortality every year with wheat-wheat rotations. That’s why I increase seeding rates in wheat-wheat rotations, to push maturity and maintain maximum yield potential through optimal plant stand densities regardless of the rotation or conditions.

I can’t give you an accurate measure of the maturity lost when you end up with lower plant stand densities but I can show the yield losses you may expect. Here’s a quick example comparing plant stand densities and its effect on yield. In this example, we’ll compare 24 plants/ft2 to 30 plants/ft2.

Wheat yield = heads/ft2 × seeds/head × thousand kernel weight × 0.04356 ÷ 27.215

24 plants/ft2: (24 plants x 3 heads/plant) x 22 seeds/head x 30 grams tkw x 0.04356 ÷ 27.215 kg/bu = 76 bu/ac
30 plants/ft2: (30 plants × 3 heads/plant) × 22 seeds/head × 30 grams tkw × 0.04356 ÷ 27.215 kg/bu = 95 bu/ac

In this example we’ve lost 20% in yield potential alone and likely lost several days in maturity from prolonged tillering. I can’t stress enough how important it is to get plant stand densities right. I also urge you to calculate your seeding rates before planting and measure your plant stand densities in early June to calculate your seedling mortality rates across all rotations and soil types. Then you can begin to fine tune your seeding rates and maintain optimal yield potential and crop maturity, a winning combination. SL

Weighing the costs of RTK base stations vs. wireless RTK

I was talking to Chris Nelson from AccuFarm [http://www.accufarm.ca/ ] in Strathmore about purchasing our own RTK system or using the wireless VRS system. He informed me of the Can-Net wireless RTK network available throughout Alberta and Canada, a wireless network that has been used by surveyors for the past eight years. He provided me with a map of all the wireless network locations across Canada [http://www.can-net.ca/ ] but informed me it’s not current as new wireless locations are added each month. 

Unfortunately, we won’t have access to the Can-Net wireless RTK network at the farm in Morrin, so we’ll be looking into purchasing an RTK base station. Cha ching! For those trying to decide between their own base stations versus the wireless network route, here’s a rough break down of capital costs: 

RTK system
Base station: $13,000
Rover radio: $2,800
Trimble RTK receiver: $7,700
Unlock key for Trimble RTK signal (If you already own a Trimble receiver): $4,400
Lightening, damage or theft insurance?
Total: $20,200 to $23,500 + GST

Wireless Can-Net RTK network
CDMA wireless modem: $1,000
Trimble RTK receiver: $7,700
Unlock key for Trimble RTK signal (If you already own a Trimble receiver): $4,400
Can-Net annual subscription: $1,500
Data plan through Telus: $35 per month
Total: $5,400 to $8,700 + $1,920 per year (cell phone plan + subscription) + GST

The Can-Net wireless system looks attractive compared to the base station until you start running multiple units on RTK. For example, setting up your own RTK unit on two pieces of equipment including the base station will cost you roughly $34,000. This is a one time cost and can be amortized over the lifespan of the machinery. The first year cost of using the wireless network on two pieces of equipment is $10,620 and $3,840 each year thereafter. Once you start running three or more units on RTK, the costs owning your own RTK system begins to outweigh the cost of using a wireless network.   

To find out more on the Can-Net network, you can contact AccuFarm at 1-877-912-6444 or info@accufarm.ca. Chris Nelson He provides GPS equipment and technical support to many of my clients and does a great job. SL

Thiamethoxam offers more than disease and insect control

I’ve been looking into the active ingredient called Thiamethoxam recently, which is one of the active ingredients in Cruiser Maxx seed treatment from Syngenta that provides wireworm control. Since Lindane was removed from the market, Thiamethoxam is the only active ingredient that controls wireworms in cereals and oilseeds. Interestingly enough, additional positive side effects have been discovered with its use. Research by Syngenta and Ag Canada has found plants treated with Thiamethoxam exhibit faster emergence, stronger plant stands, increased root mass and earlier crop canopy when seeded into cold soils between 5 and 15 degrees Celsius.
Scientific research shows that once Thiamethoxam enters the plant’s cells it triggers a physiological reaction that improves the plants defence mechanisms. The response is a more vigorous plant that is better able to cope with stresses like frost, drought, low pH, heat stress, salinity and toxic levels of aluminium. This response results in the plants ability to reach its full genetic yield potential under a number of stressful growing conditions.

In the picture above you can see research trials from 2009 detailing the yield difference in wheat using Cruiser Maxx (TMX) compared to Dividend XL (Fungicide CK). The yield increase in a very dry and stressful year was 29%. The picture below was taken in Trampling Lake, SK on July 4th, 56 days after planting and shows increased crop maturity and vigour on the Cruiser Maxx treatment versus Dividend XL. Fairly decent results from a cold, dry and stressful year like 2009!   

Now let’s talk about the economics of using Cruiser Maxx versus Dividend or Raxil MD fungicide seed treatments. I will note that Syngenta will not recommend using Cruiser Maxx other than targeting wireworms, although I’m sure they’d hint at it.

The 10 gram/ac of Cruiser Maxx would cost $4.49 a bushel in wheat and $3.59 a bushel in barley. The 20 gram/ac rate of Cruiser Maxx would cost you $5.75 per bushel in wheat and $4.86 per bushel in barley. Raxil MD would cost you $2.56 a bushel in wheat and $2.05 in barley. Dividend XL would cost you $2.69 a bushel in wheat and $2.15 a bushel in barley. To use Cruiser Maxx at the 20 g/ac rate, it would cost you an extra $3.20 a bushel in wheat and $2.80 a bushel in barley. That’s a 60% increase in seed treatment costs of roughly $5.00 to $6.50 an acre for both wheat and barley.

The flip side is the return on investment. A 29% yield increase is pretty dramatic and I wouldn’t expect that each year, but if you’re seeding early into cold soils, perhaps your early seeded wheat and barley could be treated with Cruiser Maxx. It would take a 3% yield increase on a 50 bu/ac crop to generate a 2:1 return on your investment. On an 80 bu/ac barley crop, it would take a 2.4% yield increase to generate a 2:1 return. I know the numbers add up fast when you’re looking at $5.00 to $6.00 per acre increases in input costs but perhaps it`s time to give it a try and see for yourself. SL  

Source: Syngenta Crop Protection

Market News

Technical Analysis

Canola: March futures. Short term trend is up. Long term trend is down.
HRS Wheat: March futures. Short term trend is up. Long term trend is down.
Corn: March futures. Short term trend is up. Long term trend is down.
Soybeans: March futures. Short term trend is choppy. Long term trend is down.
Canadian Dollar: March futures. Long and short term trends are up.
US Dollar Index: March futures. Short term trend looks toppy and long term trend is up. 
Crude Oil: March futures. Short term trend is down. Long term trend is up.