Agronomist Notes
The last 30% of seeding is slow to come, as most of the fields that were left until now are still too wet. Regardless, producers continue to “plug†away and get stuck often. I had one producer get stuck 13 times in a 300 acre field! On average, we’re 85% finished compared to those near the Highway #2 corridor who are between 0% and 50% completed.
I’ve started checking the early seeded cereals. Surprisingly, wheat is at the four-leaf and two-tiller stage and barley is at three-leaf one-tiller. I typically scout the fields with histories of wild oats early to avoid any runaways. The wild oats are anywhere from one to three-leaf and tillering, so don’t assume its only your crop coming up; it may be the wild oats as well. This heat should bring things along very quickly, so be sure to start checking fields even though you’re not finished seeding. It would be worth your while to have your early seeded crops custom sprayed so that you don’t have to leave the tractor seat.
I’ve had one call about pea leaf weevils southeast of Calgary and one call about flea beetles on canola in the Hussar area. Both calls ended with the decision to control the insects due to the damage present. I know there’s been wireworm activity around Drumheller and eastwards as well. In spite of these insects, the biggest issues this spring have been lighter plant stand densities and poor emergence due to cool wet soil conditions. In fact, our soil temperatures have remained around 10 to 12 0C since we started seeding May 2. Don’t assume the poor emergence to be from compaction or crusting, you may also have poor emergence due to disease or insect damage. We’ll take a look at cereal and oilseed seedling diseases in this weeks issue.
Agronomy
This week in Scouting:
- Continue monitoring for wireworm damage. Look for areas with weak or wilted plants.
- Continue checking for flea beetle damage. Flea beetles become more active with increasing temperatures.
Start scouting early seeded fields for weeds, insects and diseases.
- Check for emergence issues with soil compaction, crusting, disease and insects.
- Increase seeding rates by 10 to 20% if you are still seeding to increase maturity.
Pea leaf Weevil - Identification
The pea leaf weevil is a nocturnal feeder hiding in soil cracks during the day. The adult weevil has a short snout and is a greyish-brown colour. It is about 5 mm in length with three light stripes on the thorax and the hardened wing covers (elytra) on the abdomen. Due to its feeding habits and colour, it is difficult to find the weevil in the soil during the day.
Threshold
Leaf damage is the best way to determine economic levels. At least 10 plants at a minimum of 5 locations at the edge of the field and at about 100 metres into the field should be sampled. The current level at which control should be considered is when at least 1 out of 3 plants shows damage on the terminal leaves.
Control
Control measures appear to be most effective if an insecticide is applied prior to the 5th to 6th node stage of the crop. The only foliar insecticide currently registered is Matador®. Since the mode of action of Matador is primarily through contact, application should be made in the evening, although good results can be achieved during the day if temperatures are between 10 and 25°C. The lower temperature is to ensure the weevils are active and the higher limit is due to reduced efficacy of Matador at high temperatures.
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture & Food
Link: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/prm11287
Seedling Diseases
Cool and wet soil conditions + poor emergence = seedling disease risk. I’ve included a few common ones below to watch out for. Take your trowel and dig up the plants to investigate the causes of poor emergence. There isn’t anything we can do to control seedling diseases after emergence but very important to take note and select preventative management practices for the future.
Take-all Root Rot - Wheat & Barley
The take-all fungus survives between susceptible crops in the root and tiller bases of previously infected plants. Take-all is favoured by wet conditions. A wet spring will increase take-all inoculum while a dry summer will reduce the amount of inoculum.Â
What to look for
The most characteristic symptom of take-all is a blackening of the sub-crown internode and roots. Plants affected by take-all usually occur in patches within a crop, but may also be scattered randomly throughout. In a severe outbreak, the entire crop may be affected. The take-all fungus blocks the water conducting tissue in the plant and restricts water uptake causing infected plants to ripen prematurely. This often results in deadheads or whiteheads with little or no grain filled.
Source: GRDC
Link:http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/prm2433
Seedling Disease Complex - Canola
Seedling disease complex exhibits several symptoms including seed decay, pre and post-emergence damping-off (wirestem), seedling blight and seedling root rot. Soil moisture and temperature influence disease severity. Cold damp soils favour Fusarium species while loose; cold, dry, well-worked soils favour Rhizoctonia solani; and wet, heavy soils favour Pythium species.
What to look for
Look for stands that are slow to emerge, thin or patchy. These symptoms occur during the first 4 weeks or by the four-leaf stage. Seeds may fail to germinate or die shortly after emergence. Seedlings that emerge may appear normal but can have significant root rot. Damping-off occurs when root decay or rot moves up the stem causing a girdling or pinching of the stem at or near the soil surface. The stem is weakened and is susceptible to breakage or toppling, where the characteristic reddish-brown lesions are formed.
Source: Canola Council & OMAFRA
Links: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/pub811/8sling.htm
Links: http://www.canola-council.org/seeddiseasecycle.aspx
Mycosphaerella Blight and Ascochyta Foot Rot – Peas
Infested seed and previously infected crop debris are sources for this organism. The fungus does not overwinter in soil. Cool, wet conditions favour disease development. Both fungi thrive in wet environments.
What to look for
Ascochyta symptoms start with a brown speckling of the lower leaves, eventually spreading upwards to the newer leaves and pods. These lesions are often dotted with small fruiting bodies called pycnidia. Mycosphaerella blight may be found on the leaves and stems as purple spots. Foot rot symptoms usually appear on the stem near the soil surface as bluish black discolorations.
Source: Alberta Agriculture Food & Rural Development
Link: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex2990
Seedling Blight of Cereals
Common root rot, seedling blight and prematurity blight of cereals are caused by the same species of soil-inhibiting fungi. Affected crops include wheat, barley, oats and many grasses. The root rot causing fungi are widespread in prairie soils and virtually all cereal crops will show some degree of symptoms.
What to look for
Seedling blight occurs when seedlings are attacked before or shortly after emergence. There may be brown spots on the coleoptile, roots and culms. Seedlings may be killed or stunted by early infections. Damping-off often occurs when the disease is seed-borne.
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture & Food
Link: http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/production/Scc0190.asp
How Glyphosate Generics Stack Up Against the Original
"All herbicides provided excellent weed control (> 90%) regardless of the rate or brand name. For example, there was no significant difference in the level of weed control for Roundup Ultra Dry and the generic Clearout41 Plus. The level of weed control was not significantly different for Roundup WeatherMax and the generic product Clearout41 Plus, or any other herbicide tested."
That being said: When glyphosates do not perform, many of the Brand name glyphosate companies back up their product 100%. Often times I make one phone call and the cost of the glyphosate is refunded when it does not perform. You can’t get that kind of service or guarantee in a generic glyphosate.
Full Article:http://cropwatch.unl.edu/
Market News
World Wheat Market
The Ukrainian government will only allow 900,000 metric tons for export this year. So much of this years wheat has been damaged or destroyed by the drought that the government is putting a ban on exports of their 2007- 2008 crop until 2.0 mmt’s MT of reserves are built. This caused prices to climb considerably because the Black Sea has been a major seller of wheat on the world market.
Along with the Ukraine, Russia has experienced abnormal heat and dryness this spring. The heat has impacted nearly two-thirds of Ukraine’s winter wheat areas and 40% of Russia’s. “It makes anybody with exportable surpluses of wheat face a better demand picture from buyers in the world."
Source: CBOT News
Bullish on Wheat
The International Grains Council predicts world carryout for 2007-2008 to be down 3 million from last year, the lowest level since 1981. SL
Traders Will Focus on US Corn Belt Weather – First 2 Weeks of July
Our weather forecaster projects the following pollination dates across the Cornbelt. The entire major growing area is expected to reach 50% pollination during July 10-17. The early planting delays in the Western Cornbelt have bunched corn maturity, which will allow an unusually large portion of the crop to pollinate during a very small time. Weather during this time frame will be very important for corn pollination.
Source: FIMAT
Canola Trend
According to DTN analysts, canola futures are poised in an upward trend and do not recommend any pricing at this time until the market shows signs of tiring. I always ask my clients these questions when their grain buyer calls with a “great priceâ€: what’s a good price and what’s telling you to sell? I locked in 25% of my canola for September delivery at $8.00/bu for cash flow and that’s all the production risk I’m willing to carry at this point. In hindsight I should have locked in the basis and left the futures ride in a sideways market with a bullish undertone. However, 40 bu/ac x $8.00/bu = $320/ac; a 49% return on my $215/ac investment. SL
Barley Futures
Look at the retracement that’s gone on since May 21st. Barley has surged towards the previous high of $156/tonne in late February. This may be another opportunity to price more barley now that it’s planted. I believe we will have several chances to price barley throughout the summer as the hedge funds kill and revive the US corn crop over and over. I feel that barley prices will remain at a small discount to corn, which is on average $0.36 bu less, and basis levels will widen out significantly. SL
Pea leaf Weevil - Identification
The pea leaf weevil is a nocturnal feeder hiding in soil cracks during the day. The adult weevil has a short snout and is a greyish-brown colour. It is about 5 mm in length with three light stripes on the thorax and the hardened wing covers (elytra) on the abdomen. Due to its feeding habits and colour, it is difficult to find the weevil in the soil during the day.
Threshold
Leaf damage is the best way to determine economic levels. At least 10 plants at a minimum of 5 locations at the edge of the field and at about 100 metres into the field should be sampled. The current level at which control should be considered is when at least 1 out of 3 plants shows damage on the terminal leaves.
Control
Control measures appear to be most effective if an insecticide is applied prior to the 5th to 6th node stage of the crop. The only foliar insecticide currently registered is Matador®. Since the mode of action of Matador is primarily through contact, application should be made in the evening, although good results can be achieved during the day if temperatures are between 10 and 25°C. The lower temperature is to ensure the weevils are active and the higher limit is due to reduced efficacy of Matador at high temperatures.
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture & Food
Link: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/prm11287
Seedling Diseases
Cool and wet soil conditions + poor emergence = seedling disease risk. I’ve included a few common ones below to watch out for. Take your trowel and dig up the plants to investigate the causes of poor emergence. There isn’t anything we can do to control seedling diseases after emergence but very important to take note and select preventative management practices for the future.
Take-all Root Rot - Wheat & Barley
The take-all fungus survives between susceptible crops in the root and tiller bases of previously infected plants. Take-all is favoured by wet conditions. A wet spring will increase take-all inoculum while a dry summer will reduce the amount of inoculum.Â
What to look for
The most characteristic symptom of take-all is a blackening of the sub-crown internode and roots. Plants affected by take-all usually occur in patches within a crop, but may also be scattered randomly throughout. In a severe outbreak, the entire crop may be affected. The take-all fungus blocks the water conducting tissue in the plant and restricts water uptake causing infected plants to ripen prematurely. This often results in deadheads or whiteheads with little or no grain filled.
Source: GRDC
Link:http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/prm2433
Seedling Disease Complex - Canola
Seedling disease complex exhibits several symptoms including seed decay, pre and post-emergence damping-off (wirestem), seedling blight and seedling root rot. Soil moisture and temperature influence disease severity. Cold damp soils favour Fusarium species while loose; cold, dry, well-worked soils favour Rhizoctonia solani; and wet, heavy soils favour Pythium species.
What to look for
Look for stands that are slow to emerge, thin or patchy. These symptoms occur during the first 4 weeks or by the four-leaf stage. Seeds may fail to germinate or die shortly after emergence. Seedlings that emerge may appear normal but can have significant root rot. Damping-off occurs when root decay or rot moves up the stem causing a girdling or pinching of the stem at or near the soil surface. The stem is weakened and is susceptible to breakage or toppling, where the characteristic reddish-brown lesions are formed.
Source: Canola Council & OMAFRA
Links: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/pub811/8sling.htm
Links: http://www.canola-council.org/seeddiseasecycle.aspx
Mycosphaerella Blight and Ascochyta Foot Rot – Peas
Infested seed and previously infected crop debris are sources for this organism. The fungus does not overwinter in soil. Cool, wet conditions favour disease development. Both fungi thrive in wet environments.
What to look for
Ascochyta symptoms start with a brown speckling of the lower leaves, eventually spreading upwards to the newer leaves and pods. These lesions are often dotted with small fruiting bodies called pycnidia. Mycosphaerella blight may be found on the leaves and stems as purple spots. Foot rot symptoms usually appear on the stem near the soil surface as bluish black discolorations.
Source: Alberta Agriculture Food & Rural Development
Link: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex2990
Seedling Blight of Cereals
Common root rot, seedling blight and prematurity blight of cereals are caused by the same species of soil-inhibiting fungi. Affected crops include wheat, barley, oats and many grasses. The root rot causing fungi are widespread in prairie soils and virtually all cereal crops will show some degree of symptoms.
What to look for
Seedling blight occurs when seedlings are attacked before or shortly after emergence. There may be brown spots on the coleoptile, roots and culms. Seedlings may be killed or stunted by early infections. Damping-off often occurs when the disease is seed-borne.
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture & Food
Link: http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/production/Scc0190.asp
How Glyphosate Generics Stack Up Against the Original
"All herbicides provided excellent weed control (> 90%) regardless of the rate or brand name. For example, there was no significant difference in the level of weed control for Roundup Ultra Dry and the generic Clearout41 Plus. The level of weed control was not significantly different for Roundup WeatherMax and the generic product Clearout41 Plus, or any other herbicide tested."
That being said: When glyphosates do not perform, many of the Brand name glyphosate companies back up their product 100%. Often times I make one phone call and the cost of the glyphosate is refunded when it does not perform. You can’t get that kind of service or guarantee in a generic glyphosate.
Full Article:http://cropwatch.unl.edu/
Market News
World Wheat Market
The Ukrainian government will only allow 900,000 metric tons for export this year. So much of this years wheat has been damaged or destroyed by the drought that the government is putting a ban on exports of their 2007- 2008 crop until 2.0 mmt’s MT of reserves are built. This caused prices to climb considerably because the Black Sea has been a major seller of wheat on the world market.
Along with the Ukraine, Russia has experienced abnormal heat and dryness this spring. The heat has impacted nearly two-thirds of Ukraine’s winter wheat areas and 40% of Russia’s. “It makes anybody with exportable surpluses of wheat face a better demand picture from buyers in the world."
Source: CBOT News
Bullish on Wheat
The International Grains Council predicts world carryout for 2007-2008 to be down 3 million from last year, the lowest level since 1981. SL
Traders Will Focus on US Corn Belt Weather – First 2 Weeks of July
Our weather forecaster projects the following pollination dates across the Cornbelt. The entire major growing area is expected to reach 50% pollination during July 10-17. The early planting delays in the Western Cornbelt have bunched corn maturity, which will allow an unusually large portion of the crop to pollinate during a very small time. Weather during this time frame will be very important for corn pollination.
Source: FIMAT
Canola Trend
According to DTN analysts, canola futures are poised in an upward trend and do not recommend any pricing at this time until the market shows signs of tiring. I always ask my clients these questions when their grain buyer calls with a “great priceâ€: what’s a good price and what’s telling you to sell? I locked in 25% of my canola for September delivery at $8.00/bu for cash flow and that’s all the production risk I’m willing to carry at this point. In hindsight I should have locked in the basis and left the futures ride in a sideways market with a bullish undertone. However, 40 bu/ac x $8.00/bu = $320/ac; a 49% return on my $215/ac investment. SL
Barley Futures
Look at the retracement that’s gone on since May 21st. Barley has surged towards the previous high of $156/tonne in late February. This may be another opportunity to price more barley now that it’s planted. I believe we will have several chances to price barley throughout the summer as the hedge funds kill and revive the US corn crop over and over. I feel that barley prices will remain at a small discount to corn, which is on average $0.36 bu less, and basis levels will widen out significantly. SL
