Agronomist Notes
I heard a great statement last week that fits perfectly into our maximum yield journey. The producer told me he wanted a system that would allow him to seed 60 acres an hour with one unit, fill with seed and fertilizer in 15 minutes and apply everything in one pass. In today’s economy where the lowest cost producer wins, this strategy makes perfect sense. Or does it? In this week’s newsletter, I’ll focus on the seeding technologies that give us the opportunity to bump our yields and lower our costs. I have also included my continuing journey with variable rate technology and have some exciting results to show you.
Agronomy
Achieving Maximum Yield – Precision Seeding
Precision seeding is defined as the placing of a desired numbers of seeds at a precise depth and spacing. We spend $100,000 to $300,000 on seeding implements and yet how many can boast the type of accuracy defined in the previous sentence? Our biggest challenge as direct seeders is maintaining accurate seed and fertilizer placement across each field. There are some very accurate seeding tools available today but most are limited to vegetable, corn and soybean production. The focus in small grain seeding equipment development has moved away from precision technologies and over to big acre farming. Fortunately, there are technologies available that will help us move towards precision seeding with our existing equipment.
Some of the advantages of precision seeding are:
- Potential yield improvements of 8% to 20% because each plant has optimum space for growth and development.
- Consistent within row spacing between plants reduces competition for water, nutrients and sunlight.
- Reduced seedling mortality and reduced seed costs.
- Shorter plant height due to less inter-row competition. Plants grow taller when planted close together as they compete for sunlight.
- Greater harvest efficiency with increased crop uniformity and less lodging.
- Improved weed control with consistent crop competition across the field and between rows.
- Reduced inter-row plant density reduces disease pressure through better air movement.
- Improved crop maturity.
Seed Placement Effects on Seedling Vigour in Zero-till Soils
Research by GRDC http://www.grdc.com.au/director/research/ in Australia found that despite all the improvements made through long term zero-tillage practices, wheat crops consistently had less early season vigour than conventionally tilled fields. Sound familiar? This effect was found to be widespread and the usual suspects such as cool soil temperature, nutrients, water and increased soil strength were all ruled out!
The answer became clearer when soil fumigation overcame growth problems, which pointed to a biological constraint. They found that close contact between new roots and dead roots (each of which can harbour many different organisms, beneficial or harmful) can influence nutrient transfer, disease infection, symbiotic interactions and other unknown effects on plant growth. Studies revealed that new root growth was slowed due to harmful bacteria surrounding the root tips. The majority of potentially active soil organisms at seeding time are stuck to dead roots from previous crops, and the new crop roots release carbon and biological signals that feed and stimulate these harmful organisms.
With everything we know about crop rotations the results of the study make sense. So what does it have to do with precision seed placement?
The research stated the use of inter-row seeding as the most likely solution to improving early season crop vigour and yield. Inter-row seeding uses GPS technology to keep openers centered between the stubble so seed is placed between last year’s crop rows. Results from AAFC in Indian Head Saskatchewan shows this technology gives you a cleaner seed bed, better seed to soil contact and more consistent seed depth, leading to a more uniform crop that competes better against weeds. The GRDC performed similar studies taken to yield and found inter-row seeding produced a 9% higher yield in wheat on wheat with improvements in protein and dockage. Inter-row seeding works well with wheat on wheat or barley on barley rotations. However, it does not always provide the same benefits when seeding cereals into oilseed or pulse stubble. In fact, seeding cereals closer to last year’s pulse or oilseed stubble will optimize crop growth and yield.
The name for inter-row technology in Canada is called the Smart Hitch http://www.strawtrack.ca/default.aspx?page=8&submit=true. I think the concept could be adapted with the use of Auto-Steer and a sub-inch accurate GPS receiver.
The Easy but Difficult Answer to Precision Seeding
By now you may be wondering why I haven’t written about seeding implements and ground openers. Achieving uniform seed and fertilizer placement is a very challenging task for producers, especially as equipment gets larger. No matter what seeding tool you use, though, I think one of the greatest skills you can learn is to understand the conditions you’re seeding in and adjust accordingly. Learning to adjust seeding depth and speed to match changes in stubble, residue, moisture, soil type, topography, and seed size takes time and effort but it is possible.
In summary, the ability to place seed with greater accuracy is not beyond our reach with technologies like inter-row seeding. The added benefits of precision placement stack up: a cleaner seed bed, better seed to soil contact, more consistent seed depth, a more uniform crop that competes better against weeds with 9% higher yields and reduced seed costs. This technology is not new to me, but the results are, not to mention their relevance in separate studies, half a world apart.
Sources:
http://www.aginfonet.com/news/html/news3460.html
http://www.grdc.com.au/director/events/groundcover?item_id=2A8CEE86D3B988926AF25FD9CF8E49D3&article_id=3969631E961AB67B6C80A2A07AF79615
http://www.grdc.com.au/director/events/groundcover?item_id=E69EAC49ABD53B3A589E129A2C7303F5&article_id=E71291670B58E17C6056C2247BC1355B
VRT Soil Sample Results
I was pleasantly surprised at the soil test results from the first VRT field I sampled. If you look at the chart, it descends from the lowest yielding areas of Zone 1 to the highest yielding areas of Zone 5. Pay close attention to the organic matter (OM) content and the nitrogen levels. The lowest yielding areas of Zone 1 have 1.3% OM and 42 lbs/ac of N compared to the highest yielding areas of Zone 5 that have 6.9% OM and 249 lbs/ac of N! This particular field will lodge in Zone 5 in most years, and it’s clear why it does. Finally, we can do something about it.
Preliminary Cost Savings
Take a look at Zone 5 which includes eight acres and holds 249 lbs of nitrogen with 6.9% OM. These areas will supply roughly 80 lbs of nitrogen per year through mineralization of organic matter. If we do not apply nitrogen in Zone 5 we’ll reduce lodging, improve harvest efficiency, increase yield from reduced lodging and save $29.40 acre in nitrogen costs. This is just the beginning. Next week we will break down each zone and provide yield targets and estimated cost savings for the entire field.
Carbon Credit Trading Update
Carbon trading is now a real deal in Alberta. Protocols are in place and aggregators are setting up shop in Alberta and signing up acres. We've set up a Carbon Credits & Trading Resource Centre that will link you to many of the resources that you need to begin understanding the rules and regulations that are in place.
A few of the key things you need to know about carbon trading are:
- You can get credit for reduced tillage back to 2002
- You do not have to sell any of them now
- You can sell as many or as few as you wish
- There are two different markets - the Alberta market and the Chicago Climate Exchange
- Make sure you know where you are selling
- There are different types of protocols - ones that are already approved and custom ones that need to be approved for the Alberta market
- Do your homework and get to know your aggregator
- READ any contract carefully and understand everything from acres being held in reserve to liability issues
It’s taken almost a decade to get carbon trading from concept to reality, but it’s really still in its infancy. Many aggregators are working on custom protocols and the rules are certainly subject to change in the future. The current approved tillage protocols have co-efficients that are much lower than what was discussed in the past. They have been designed to remove most of the risk and therefore the numbers are lower.
Source: Reduced Tillage Linkages, http://www.reducedtillage.ca/
Market News
Commodity Prices Moving To New Plateau
Despite commodity prices at sharply above normal levels, prices are not seen moving back, but instead moving to new plateaus. Strong global economic growth, weakness in the US dollar, energy demand, geo-political risk and the food-for-fuel battle will keep prices from reverting back to their mean values of the past 25 years. In the food for fuel battle, fuel is winning, with crude oil the dominate influence on world commodity prices. However, weather is a key variable for crops, and regardless of increased acreage, crop prices are not safe from further upward moves. The battle for acres will be repeated in 2008 and will sustain price increases.
Source: CBOT News
Feed Barley and Feed Wheat Prices
The price for feed wheat in the Calgary and Red Deer area is hovering around $205 to $210 a tonne, down 5$ a tonne form last week for November delivery. Feed barley prices range from $184 to $186 a tonne for December delivery. Corn purchased in the Calgary area last week for November delivery averaged $185 a tonne and $200 a tonne delivered to Red Deer. SL
Dryness in US Winter Wheat Belt
CropCast expects scattered showers early next week to improve moisture in north-central Texas and south-central Oklahoma. However, the dryness will continue to stress wheat establishment across east-central Colorado, northwestern Texas, southwestern Kansas, and western Oklahoma. This is affecting over a third of the Plains winter wheat belt. Unfortunately, little meaningful relief is seen in the next two weeks.
Source: Farm Futures Daily
Soybeans & Canola Setting Up For a Bullish Run
This year’s soybean usage is expected to exceed production by nearly 370 million bushels, so acreage would need to increase by nearly 9 million next year to keep stocks at a tight level if demand were to remain constant in the 2008-09 marketing year and if the US were to reach trend yields next year. With strong demand for oilseeds around the world, and countries like China stepping up to buy oilseeds to help reduce food inflation before their 2008 Olympics, I think we’ll see more demand in oilseeds than the USDA can predict at this point. Even with the strong Canadian dollar, I think canola is set to take off on a bullish run within the next few months. SL
Reference: Farm Futures Daily
Oilseed Fundamentals Are the Best in 30 Years
If South America sees adverse weather problems during its growing season in the coming months, soybean prices could hit the $11-$12 level. The fundamentals for oilseeds point to the most bullish situation in oilseed in 30 years.
Source: CBOT News
Slowing Demand for Wheat
The market continues to drift lower as demand remains sluggish. End-users remain well covered pre-Christmas showing little enthusiasm in extending their cover positions for 2008. Reports of increased wheat plantings and no current weather related problems could limit any potential upside price movement, for old and new crop.
Source: Gleadell
World Wheat Weather
Dryness is a growing threat to early development of the winter wheat crop over Western Europe and much of the North China Plain. Meanwhile, late heading wheat in Argentina will face a frost threat on Wednesday and Thursday mornings when temperatures are expected to drop close to 30oF in southern areas.
Source: Farm Futures Daily
USDA Reports
This link is your one-stop spot for all the details to USDA's Crop Production and S&D Reports.
Link: http://www.agweb.com/ME2/Sites/Default.asp?SiteID=C91C85700F3C45CB87B0D54105245430
Bin-run Clearfield Wheat Seed now Approved by BASF
Prairie wheat growers who grow BASF's Clearfield wheat can save their harvested seed to plant as many future crops as they wish, starting in 2008. The seed and chemical company outlined its new plans for the Clearfield production system for wheat in a release Wednesday. Clearfield wheat is bred for tolerance to BASF's herbicides Altitude FX and Adrenalin SC and is not considered a genetically modified (GMO) crop. "Growers can now use this seed to produce and grow unlimited quantities in subsequent years," BASF said in a release.
