Aussies Fine-Tune Precision Approach. Using online software, researchers from Australia's Centre for Precision Agriculture have developed a simplified protocol to teach growers how to convert complex yield and soil data into pertinent information. The resulting data and maps, when interpreted with local agronomic knowledge, can be used to make very specific management decisions, according to an ACPA press release. The work, published in the most recent issue of Agronomy Journal details their work in advancing field management, in particular their efforts to move away from treating all zones uniformly to more site-specific management. You can check out the online software tools they used by visiting www.usyd.edu.au/su/agric/acpa/pag.htm

Super Powering Profits

This special section examines how managerial accounting can superpower profits. In addition to future magazine coverage and additional online resources, a series of educational workshops is being planned for after fall harvest.

See Article: http://www.agriculture.com/ag/category.jhtml?categoryid=/templatedata/ag/category/data/1190524748383.xml

Yield Variability Not Always Due to Lack of Nutrients

Take a look at this soil profile I took on a farm south of Big Valley. There is roughly four inches of sandy loam soil sitting on top of pure sand. If you have any fields or field areas that just don’t perform, I suggest you take a shovel and dig down a foot and make note of what you see. In my occupation I am soil sampling down to two feet on over 150 fields so I have the opportunity to look well below the surface and see changes in soil texture. I recommend different nutrient applications pertaining to each fields yield potential as much as I can depending on the producers situation.

Who is DUC looking for?

We are looking for direct seeders who maintain winter wheat in their rotation. Producers with progressive production practices, located in target areas. Progressive and involved producers who will advocate winter wheat production.

What will the Core Grower Program do for me the producer?

Core Growers have access to $5000 over three years through DUC, to finance on farm demonstrations and experimentation, as well as training opportunities in the form of local meetings or workshops, tours and conferences.  DUC can provide agronomic support. DUC will assist producers in accessing winter wheat technology, which has the potential to achieve higher yields or greater net returns for the Core Grower.

Call DUCKS UNLIMITED CANADA

Contact: Melissa Stanford, Winter Cereals Specialist
Tel: 403-327-1363
Fax: 403-327-1363
Cell: 403-795-5017
email: m_stanford@ducks.ca

InVigor Varieties for 2008

InVigor 5440: $6.99 / lb
InVigor 8440: $6.79 / lb
InVigor 9590: To be announced by Viterra
InVigor 1140: To be announced by Cargill
InVigor 5108, 5020, 5030, 5070: $6.79 / lb

New checks are 46A65 and Q2

InVigor 5440:

• InVigor 5440 offers the highest yield potential of all Hybrids and of any canola offered to WCC/RRC trials.  As a top yielding Hybrid, InVigor 5440         yielded 135% of the new checks(46A65 and Q2) at official WCC/RRC co-op trials
• InVigor 5440 is similar in plant height and maturity to 5030 and 5070 but yield about 5% higher
• Superior Lodging resistance for ease of harvesting
• R rating for Blackleg
• R rating for Fusarium
• Distribution: open to all distribution
• Price: $6.99 / lb

InVigor 8440:

• Yielded 132% of the new checks in official WCC/RRC trials.
• Similar in plant height and maturity to 5020 but yields about 5% to 6% higher
• Superior Lodging resistance for ease of harvesting
• R rating for Blackleg
• R rating for Fusarium
• Distribution: sold by independents only
• Price: $6.79 / lb

InVigor 9590:

• Yielded 130% of the new checks in official WCC/RRC trials.
• Similar in plant height and maturity to 5020 but yields about 4% to 5% higher
• Superior Lodging resistance for ease of harvesting
• R rating for Blackleg
• R rating for Fusarium
• Distribution: sold by Viterra retails only
• Price: To be determined by Viterra

InVigor 1140:

• First commercial release of the New InVigor Health line-up
• Yielded 120% of the new checks in official WCC/RRC trials
• R rating for Blackleg
• R rating for Fusarium
• High Oleic oil content designed to maintain stability in high heat food processing applications
• Distribution: Sold by Cargill retails only
• Price: To be determined by Cargill

InVigor 5108 (limited supply), 5020, 5030, and 5070

• Distribution: open to all distribution
• Price: $6.79 / lb

Tips on Top Yields

• Plant the best genetics you can
• Spray weeds early
• Protect your crop with a fungicide and insecticide program
• Aerial apply 3 to 5 gallons
• Big Seeds = big yields
• Keep the ground cooler with crop cover and vigorous plants

Success will be limited if just a few of the proven BMPs are adopted while average management is used on others. Only when all controllable factors are used at proven BMP levels will the optimum yield potential be achieved and the greatest economic and environmental benefits realized. Results from a BMP Club whose twenty members adopted a BMP wheat production package provide a good example.

Phosphorous Availability and Soil pH

When reviewing soil test results, one of the things I make note of is the pH. Soil pH is significant indicator of potential nutrient availability or nutrient deficiencies in a given field. The chart below shows the nutrient availability at given pH levels and the optimum pH range for each nutrient. For example, if you look at phosphorus, you will notice it’s availability decreases in pH`s above 7 and below 5.5. Therefore, the optimum pH range sits between 5.5 and 7 pH.

Why is this significant? Because phosphorous uptake is effected by:

Dry soils slow diffusion or movement of P

Wet or cold soils slow absorption

So what can we do about it?

First, we can soil test to help us monitor changes in soil pH over time. Ammonium based fertilizers slowly acidify the soil after years of use. In the not too distant future, we may require lime applications to help maintain a neutral pH.

In high pH soils, or low soil test phosphorus soils the seed placement of phosphorus is critical to create a higher concentration band beside the root. Most double shoot fertilizer systems are used with a blend of nitrogen and phosphorous together where 70% is placed below the seed and 30% is placed with the seed. The inherent problem with this system on high pH and low soil test phosphorous soils is the poor concentration of phosphorous around the roots. If you apply a 70-25-0-0 blend of fertilizer, where 30% is seedplaced, you’ve effectively placed only 7.5 lbs of P205 per acre and seedplaced only 30% of it, it leaves you with 7.5 lbs of P per acre. Now couple that with the inefficiency of phosphorous fertilizer of which only 10 to 30% is available to the plant.

Strategies to help improve phosphorus uptake are:

1. Place phosphorous with         

Testing for Soil Organic Matter - Sjoerd Duiker, Soil Management Specialist

Most agronomists are keenly aware of the need to maintain optimum levels of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, and micronutrients in the soil. Manure, lime, and fertilizer applications are determined based on yield potential and soil testing for pH and available nutrients. Despite the fact that we are aware of its importance, we often neglect to monitor the levels of  organic matter in our agricultural soils. Why would we bother? It is difficult to put a dollar-value or yield increase on increasing soil organic matter levels, but we do know that our soils will be more productive when they have higher organic matter contents.  This was again confirmed in the Maryland study I reviewed in FCN 29 (Sept 19th), where soils with organic carbon contents of 1.76% to 6” depth (approx 3.5% organic matter) yielded 107 bu/A corn, instead of 92 bu/A on fields with organic carbon contents of 1.33% (2.7% organic matter) – a 15 bu/A yield increase due to 0.8% increase in organic matter. Humus itself is an important contributor to improved soil physical properties, such as soil structural stability, porosity, tilth, infiltrability, and water holding capacity. In addition, organic matter also contains nutrients that are released gradually during the growing season depending on climatic conditions. For example, the nitrogen contained in organic matter of a soil with 2% OM is about 1667 lbs/A whereas it would contain 2500 lbs/A nitrogen if the organic matter content would be 3%. Suppose 10% would be released in a season, this would be 167 lbs/A N in the first, compared with 250 lbs/A in the latter case. Synchronization of the release of nitrogen from soil organic matter is usually well synchronized with the needs of summer crops such as corn. As a start, farmers should be encouraged to determine the organic matter contents in their soils. The Penn State organic matter test costs $5 and can be requested when sending in a soil sample for fertility analysis  (http://www.aasl.psu.edu/SSFT.HTM). It would be advisable to measure organic matter every 3-5 years. More frequent testing is not justified because organic matter content changes very slowly. The next question on our mind is of course what can be done to increase soil organic matter contents, but we will keep that for the next issue of FCN.

Market News

Acreage Fight, Discounted Price Support New-Crop US Wheat

With corn and soybeans also fighting for acres, new-crop wheat futures need to show more strength to ensure additional wheat acres go in the ground, analysts said. Traders are increasingly talking of the need for new-crop prices to be competitive with corn and soybean prices through the winter.
For sure, some producers have already responded to record prices by seeding extra wheat acres. U.S. wheat futures soared to all-time highs as unfavourable weather in growing areas around the world tightened supplies and sent export business to the U.S. However, other producers are still undecided about what they will plant on their land, wheat industry members said. Indeed, producers and seed dealers have said new-crop wheat at $6 was not going to add all the acreage the markets wanted, Britt said. With CBOT December wheat trading above $9 at the end of September, growers were questioning why the new-crop price didn’t keep up with old-crop if the market wants greater wheat production.

Source: CBOT News

Ritchie Brothers Auctions: http://www.rbauction.com/index_agr.jsp

Wheat Volatility to Rise this Week

Given the current emotions, wheat could be quite volatile ahead of USDA’s next world supply/demand revisions on October 12. The USDA announced that it won’t offer early withdrawal CRP program, but producers shouldn’t forget to have 40-45% of 2007/08 crop priced. Current prices are likely to expand U.S. & World planting substantially in next 7-8 months.

Source: NARMS Update

Argentina’s Wheat Crop in Decent Shape

According to the Buenos Aires Exchange, 73 percent of the wheat crop is in good or very good condition, up from 68 percent last week. About 20 percent is in average condition, 6 percent is in poor condition and 1 percent is in very poor condition. Although weather prevented fungicide application this week, the crop condition is much better this year than last year. The Buenos Aires Exchange said farmers planted 5.4 million hectares of wheat this year. The USDA sees production of 14 million metric tons, down from 14.6 million metric tons last year.

Source: FIMAT