Agronomist Notes

I spent three full days in the local library last week writing my Nuffield report on controlled traffic farming which is, ah, way over due. I hope to conclude it by Friday and let you have a read next week. After yesterday’s presentation to the Battle River Research group, I have just one more presentation to make before the winter season ends, or when spring begins. The first seed to hit the ground last spring was on March 28th. I dare say we are at least 30 days away from planting and that’s my optimistic side showing. Oh look, more snow today.

This week we’ll look at some really interesting research on reducing ergot infections in wheat. Next, I have some amazing imagery from southern Alberta showing compaction damage from combine traffic. We’ll also look at this year’s Spring Price Endorsements to see how crop insurance fairs and I’ll provide my updated cost of production estimates based on the new crop insurance premiums. Last we’ll finish with fundamental and technical grain market news.

Agronomy

On “track” to reducing ergot infections

Ergot infections across my territory have increased dramatically over the last five years, especially my eastern territory in the heavier clay soils. The suggested control options are mow your headlands, grow something other than wheat or treat a suspected copper deficiency. What if I told you that wheel track damage and low plant densities have a huge impact on ergot infection?

In a four year study done by HGCA of England, researchers found that 99% of ergot infections were found on late tillers in wheat. When counting ergot bodies, 82% of the ergot was found along tram lines compared to inside the field where no wheel tracks existed. Also, of those areas infected with ergot 99% were found on late tillers.

My logic:

• We create a great deal of compaction on headlands from turning equipment around at each end.  Extra wheel traffic and added ergot innoculum from grass headlands increases the risk of ergot infection on headlands.
• 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 have been fairly wet years which has increased the potential for compaction from sprayers and air drills. About 20% of our fields are covered by pre-burn and in-crop spraying plus seeding activities, the heaviest equipment traveling across fields at the wettest time of year.
• High seedling mortality rates are often experienced in heavy clay soils. Upwards of 20% mortality is typical and leaves most stands with 20-25 plants per ft2 when using an average 120 lb or 2 bu/ac seeding rate.
• Low plant stand densities leave room for late tiller development.
• Wheel tracks leave room for late tiller development. 

I’m convinced attention must be focused on reducing late tiller development in wheat to reduce ergot infection. After all, 99% of ergot bodies are found on late tillers according to this new research. Reducing wheel track damage can only be done through controlled traffic farming or through temporary tram lines. CTF won’t eliminate ergot in the headlands but it can address the ergot creeping its way inside the field like we’ve seen. Next, increasing plant densities to achieve more main stems and reduce late tillers is another way to reduce ergot infection. Every farm will have to play with target plant densities and see what’s optimal with their row spacing and opener width. 

If you’re interested in the research document please reply to this email and I’d be happy to email you the report. At 173 pages long you’ll have to set aside a few minutes to read it. SL

New imagery sheds light on the compaction caused by harvest traffic in Alberta

I had a great discussion last Friday with Doug Clemens who farms by Mossleigh, AB. Doug is a subscriber to Beyond Agronomy News and has been following our controlled traffic farming endeavor. He was kind enough to share what I call the missing link in my research: evidence on the disputed impact of harvest traffic on crop yield.

In 2007, Doug’s local John Deere dealer offered him 1M high resolution NDVI imagery as a scouting tool to see what they could discover. The image you see here is a 1M resolution NDVI image of a mile long field. The second image below is a close up of the west side showing a number of red lines than run on a NE/SW diagonal, although red lines can be seen throughout. With this NDVI imagery the high yielding areas show up as green and the poor yielding areas show as red. Take notice of the red lines that run on a diagonal across the entire field with the most severe being along the west side.

The red lines you see in the image were caused by two John Deere CTS combines, one with a 30 ft header and one with a 36 ft header. The most interesting part about this imagery is that Doug harvested this field on the diagonal in 2005 during a wet year because the crop had lodged. The image was taken two years later in July 2007 and the damage is still showing up two and a half years later! I know, I know, you’re wondering what kind of topography it is and what the soil texture is, etc. It must be low ground and clay soil but it’s quite the opposite.

Here are the details:

Crop rotation: 2005 wheat – 2006 canola – 2007 wheat
Soil type: Sandy loam with a sandy ridge running through the middle. Sub soil is silty clay.
Rainfall April - October:  2005, 19 inches; 2006, 13 inches; 2007, 15 inches      
Drainage: Excellent
Topography: Elevation drops 30 ft over a mile. 
Combine damage in 2005, NDVI image taken July 2007

This is a sandy loam soil that is relatively flat, has gone through two freeze thaw cycles on well drained soil and there is still wheel track damage from two years previous. I’ve been told we don’t have a compaction problem in Alberta and our loamy soils don’t usually compact easily and the freeze thaw cycles take care of any compaction that may occur. I’d day the evidence is mounting in favour of controlled traffic farming all the time, whether you farm clay soils or sandy loam. It’s just a matter of getting our heads wrapped around an entirely foreign and new farming system. No worries, Mitch and I will be happy to stick to the bleeding edge for a while so you can jump in on the leading edge in a few years with ease. Thanks, Doug, for providing a vital link. SL

AFSC Spring price endorsements

Every spring AFSC comes out with their premiums on crop, hail and pricing insurance and ensuing sticker shock hits many of us. Having visited countries that don’t have crop insurance, I no longer complain as much as I used to about premiums.

Here are the 2011 AFSC SPE values at 80% coverage:

Canola: SPE: $11.00/bu	Premium: $6.92/ac
Feed barley: SPE $3.70/bu	Premium: $6.89/ac
Fababeans: SPE $0.10/lb	Premium: $5.51/ac
Lentils: SPE $0.25/lb	Premium: $7.84/ac
Yellow Mustard: $12.70/bu	Premium: $5.29/ac
Field peas: SPE $5.44/bu	Premium: $7.92/ac
HRS wheat high pro: SPE $6.53/bu	Premium: $12.42/ac

Of all the insured prices and premiums, canola is about the only one I would consider buying price insurance for and even then I’m leaning towards no price insurance at all. I think the premium for high protein HRS wheat is out of this world and not realisic. In the case of peas, even with the high yields experienced last fall, prices below $6.50 a bushel were unheard of. In the end, the farmer in me will sit on the sideline for this one and hope for the best. SL

Updated 2011 cost of production spreadsheet

With the recent AFSC crop insurance pricing, I’ve updated my spreadsheet to look at potential profit potentials on each crop. Take a look at the crop insurance premium for growing lentils in my area! Spring wheat, CPS wheat, malt barley and canola are in the top spots. Funny how wheat is in number one spot and canola is still number four on the profitability chart. I hear a lot of people are tightening their canola rotation, I sure hope they’re not taking out wheat. SL
 
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