Agronomist Notes

The past week saw most producers bring harvest to a close and those trailing behind due to wet weather and hail get closer to the finish line. Producers south and east of Calgary have roughly 15% left to go and hopefully they can finish up this week.

We did get one good day of spraying in last week after one night without frost and a 17oC day. If you plan on spraying now, I suggest you tackle the fields that don’t have Canada thistle. If weeds like narrow-leaved hawk’s beard, dandelion, flixweed and stinkweed are your concern, then Pre-Pass may still be an option if weeds look green and healthy. Unfortunately, Dow’s deadline for fall application of Pre-Pass is October 15th, so I’d be inclined to call your local representative to see what they’re recommending in your area.

This week we’ll look at the Guinness World Record for harvesting the most tonnes in eight hours and the field notes that tell the story. From there, we’ll jump to a discussion on ways to improve harvest efficiency without having to buy more iron. I’ve also included my notes from a meeting with Farmer’s in Progress, the group of producers importing cheaper urea. Last, as always, is international crop weather news.

Agronomy

New Holland reclaims 2008 combining world record

Once again, a New Holland CR9090 Elevation combine holds the Guinness World Record for harvesting the most tonnes in eight hours. This year the record was broken by Mountfair Farming at Castle Heaton Estates in Northumberland, England, who harvested 551.6 tonnes (20,268 bushels) between 1:50pm and 8:50pm on September 26th.

Operating the CR9090 combine from New Holland, the team harvested 53.5 hectares (132ac), achieving an average rate of 68.95 tonnes (2,533bu) per hour in Robigus winter wheat. The combine consumed just 13.3 litres of fuel per hectare. At $1.05 per litre diesel, that’s $5.65 per acre. Not bad!

The record took place harvesting three fields of 25ha, 14ha and 20ha which yielded an average of 10.32 tonnes/ha (154bu/ac) with an average moisture content of 17%. The straw length was between 58 and 63cm (23 to 25in) and stubble height left was between 20 and 30cm (8 to 12in). The loss level throughout the day was a low 0.5% (0.75bu).

For the first three hours of the record the CR9090 was averaging 77.3 tonnes (2,840bu) per hour but this figure dropped due to more undulating fields.

Earlier in the month, Farmeco had achieved 532.14 tonnes in eight hours with a Claas Lexion 580 Plus TT complete with 10.5m (35ft) cutterbar in Lincolnshire. This was a second wheat crop of Alchemy that had an average yield of 11.5 tonnes/ha (171bu/ac) with all the straw being chopped. Average fuel consumption was 15 litres per hour.

Source: Mervyn Bailey, Farmers Guardian 

How do you improve combine efficiency without buying more iron?

There are a number of ways to improve harvest efficiencies mechanically, like the use of grain carts, larger augers, larger bins, higher capacity machines or wider straight-cut headers just to name a few. These options can increase efficiencies to some extent, but I think we really need to look outside of iron to find the solution. Iron costs money and if we can find a solution that minimizes costs, well, I think we’ll find an answer.

If you read the article above which describes the details of the world record grain harvest, there were a few small facts that got me thinking. The CR9090 was able to combine an impressive 2,500 bushels per hour. The grain loss was only 0.5% on a 154-bushel winter wheat crop taken off with a 35-foot straight-cut header. This is all very impressive but what intrigues me the most is the crop height relative to the yield. Let me expand on that.

The height of the crop on the record breaking harvest in Northumberland, England ranged from 23 to 25 inches tall with an average yield of 154 bushels an acre. In our area (Drumheller to Calgary) we produce a spring wheat crop that yields 65% less on straw that is 9 to 11 inches taller. That being the case, it’s little wonder we’re disappointed in the amount of grain we lose behind the combine and the lack of capacity our machines have when we move to wider headers. All we’re really doing is pushing more straw through the machine, more than any of them are designed to handle. If we want speed and efficiency, we need to thrash more heads and less straw.
 
If the average spike of wheat is 3.5 inches long and our straw is 32 to 36 inches tall, then my quick math tells me that 90% of what we put through the combine is straw. The simplest solution: reduce the amount of straw we produce relative to the yield we harvest. As I see it, we have two options. We either a) reduce plant height or b) cut our stubble higher and match the right air drill to that system. Let’s look at the options available today.   

1. Choose a variety with shorter height relative to grain yield: AC Harvest and CDC Go are two of the highest yielding varieties that offer short, strong straw along with excellent yield potential and very similar height. You might even say that CDC Go has a higher grain to straw ratio than AC Harvest as this year most CDC Go out yielded AC Harvest by 10 to 15% and they are both of similar height. There are a few other varieties available like AC Superb and CDC Imagine that offer shorter plant height but both have either disease issues or late maturity. To see a list of varieties and plant height comparisons go to: http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/app95/loadCrop?action=display&id=58
2. Increase seeding rates. This is a tricky proposition because the amount of seed it takes to shorten crop height varies from region to region and by seeding tool. In my experience, there seems to be an unknown point where crops continue to grow taller and then begin to shorten as seeding rates increase.  For example, if you use a narrow 1-inch opener on 12-inch row spacing, you’re forcing more inter-row plant competition, causing plants to grow taller as they compete for sunlight. With respect to different regions, some areas produce more straw than others because the climate and fertility programs are well suited to producing taller plants.  I suggest you experiment with seeding rates on your own farm with your own seeding tool to fine tune what works for you.
3. Cut stubble higher and purchase seeding equipment that moves through taller stubble and still places seed and fertilizer effectively. To see a list of precision air drills that could fit this scenario see the November 20, 2007 issue of Beyond Agronomy News. [http://www.beyondagronomy.com/newsletter/20_11_2007.htm]
4. Begin the use of inter-row seeding, a new concept that uses RTK GPS guidance to seed in between last year’s rows. I really like this concept! To see more on this technique go to: http://www.grdc.com.au/director/events/groundcover?item_id=2A8CEE86D3B988926AF25FD9CF8E49D3&article_id=3969631E961AB67B6C80A2A07AF79615 
5. Use growth regulators. There are growth regulating products on the market today like Cerone and Ethrel that effectively reduce plant height. Growth regulators can be risky when rainfall is limited after application and yield can be reduced if applied at the wrong time. Also, the cost of growth regulators may be the same or more than what you’re gaining in harvest efficiency. I’d have to do research on cost and return of growth regulators in our area to give you any concrete numbers.  
6. Seed early. I realize that everything should be seeded early, but seeding wheat early may be the best the choice when trying to shorten plant height because barley and canola are not as much of a concern. The goal is to time stem elongation with cooler temperatures in June which effectively shortens plant height. Seeding early in combination with other strategies can work well.
7. Split apply nitrogen. Reducing the amount of available nitrogen during stem elongation can be done through split applications of nitrogen. Applying 50 lbs of N at seeding with a 30 or 40 lbs top dress can be very effective in shortening plant height. However, I’m all for split applying nitrogen in sandy or sandy loam soils but not so much in heavy textured clay soils. The window of application to split apply nitrogen is roughly ten days, somewhere between late tillering and stem elongation. On clay soils, unfortunately, any amount of rain can delay your application and you’ll end up losing your window and with it yield potential.

On our farm this year, we seeded CDC Go at 145 pounds an acre and our straw was no more than 25 inches tall after 9 inches of rain in May and June. We were able to harvest 60-bushel wheat at 5 miles an hour with an N7 Gleaner using a 30-foot straight-cut header. Not too shabby for an old girl! With a crop height of 25 inches and an average head length of 3 inches, we left 12 inches of stubble and put 13 inches of material through the machine. That was roughly 40% less than the surrounding fields in our area. Improving harvest efficiencies is not easy, but I believe with the right kind of management, we can maintain or increase yields, reduce straw and improve efficiencies without buying another piece of iron. It’s food for thought anyways. SL

$600 urea becoming a reality

I had the opportunity to attend a meeting with Farmers in Progress Ltd. (FIP) last Friday, the company bringing in urea from the Ukraine. This company was formed by a group of Hutterite Colonies with the sole purpose of importing less expensive urea from overseas. FIP had three representatives on hand to answer questions. One gentleman was the logistics coordinator for overseas shipments for CN International. The second gentleman was a salesman for Eco-Chem, a fertilizer and seed treatment company. The third gentleman was a Hutterite financial boss.

There were over 40 producers in the hall asking tough questions for over two hours and I must say, they answered the questions very well. They provided a written business overview along with money back guarantee. Now, I know that many a farmer has been offered a money back guarantee that isn’t worth the paper it was written on. However, it looks like this group has their ducks in a row and is one week away from ordering the first boat load. They’ve been negotiating with the seller for some time as both ocean freight and urea prices have been falling in the last few weeks.

The plan is to order one boat load of urea, which holds 25,000 tonnes and have it here early in the New Year. Before the urea is shipped it will be inspected at the manufacturer by SGS, an independent assurance company, as well as by members of FIP. Also, the CFIA will be inspecting the product once it enters the Canadian port, which will most likely be Montreal. It’ll be railed by CN to Calgary and Edmonton unloading facilities.

If you are interested in participating in this opportunity, please feel free to call George Hofer at (403)742-4946. I have PDF copies of the business overview, guarantee, and order form. Email me at steve@beyondagronomy.com and I’d be happy to send them to you. SL

Market News

CWB sign-up deadlines coming up

Sign-up deadlines are October 31 for a number of CWB 2007-08 contracts, including Series A delivery, Fixed Price and Basis Payment, the Pre-delivery Top-up and the Delivery Exchange program.

International Crop Weather News

United States: In the West, warm, dry weather is accelerating winter wheat planting and emergence. However, cool, unsettled conditions are slowing crop development in the Northwest. On the Plains, dry weather is favoring fieldwork and winter wheat emergence. Most of the snow cover from the early-week storm over portions of Montana and western North Dakota has  melted, allowing fieldwork and crop development to resume. In the Corn Belt, scattered light showers are slowing summer crop maturation and harvesting across western growing areas, while drier weather is benefitting fieldwork in the Ohio Valley. In the South, showers are slowing summer crop harvesting and early-season winter wheat planting, although dry weather continues to promote rapid fieldwork on the Atlantic Coastal Plain.

Europe: Showers in northern and southeastern Europe slow summer crop harvesting and winter crop planting. Dry weather in Poland and the Baltics favors winter rapeseed planting.

Former Soviet Union: Above-normal temperatures accompany mostly light showers in Ukraine and southern Russia, where summer crop harvesting and winter wheat planting continue to progress. In eastern spring wheat areas of Russia, several days of warm, dry weather help harvest activities.

East Asia: A freeze in Manchuria ends the growing season. Mostly dry weather throughout China continues to aid summer crop harvesting and winter wheat and rapeseed planting.

Southeast Asia: Unseasonably heavy showers in Thailand slow corn maturation. Drier weather in the northern Philippines benefits rice and corn harvesting.

Middle East: Drier weather in Turkey enables winter grain planting after several weeks of rain.

Australia: In eastern Australia, showers benefit filling wheat and boost topsoil moisture for summer crop sowing. In southern Australia, unfavorably dry weather continues to stress filling winter grains. In Western Australia, unseasonably cool, dry weather favors filling winter wheat and barley.

South America: In southern and central Brazil, moderate to heavy rain increases moisture for corn and soybean planting. Drier weather would be welcome in the south, however, for winter wheat maturation and harvesting. Late-week showers aid reproductive wheat in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Canada: Conditions favor the final stages of spring grain and oilseed harvesting across the Prairies.

Mexico: Locally heavy showers in Veracruz and some northwestern watersheds increase irrigation reserves for winter grains and vegetables.