November 27, 2012

Agronomists Notes

Hello Reader,

My recent run of presentations is nearly finished. Last week was the Pulse Growers Association on the benefits of inter-row seeding pulse crops and this week is the Alberta Barley Commission and our high yield barley trials.

Fertilizer prices have dropped somewhat with urea priced around $580 MT, phoshate (MAP) at $650, potash $600 and sulphur $470 MT. There is a lot of demand for CPS wheat in my area given how well it performed and I did mention months ago that it would be a hot commodity in this new medium quality world of wheat we live in post-CWB. Be sure to do your thousand kernels weights when cleaning seed as seed weights are down from last year, meaning seeding rates won’t likely be as high as they were in 2012.

This week we’ll look at some interesting data on water infiltration rates comparing CTF versus random traffic. Next, I’ll give you an update on the latest GPS correction signal from Trimble called RTX. I’ll give you an example of using sunspot activity to predict trends in global wheat prices. Last, I’ll share a Nuffield report about the use of cover crops to reduce our reliance on monoculture cropping system. We’ll finish with technical grain market news.

Have a great week,

Water infiltration improves quickly with CTF

Year Two trials compares CTF vs. random traffic

Part of the on-going research with the Controlled Traffic Farming Alberta trials is to measure the difference in water infiltration rates between CTF and random traffic. We want to find out if a reduction in wheel traffic leads to improved water infiltration over time and by how much.

Peter Gamache, CTFA project lead and soils consultant, Roger Andreiuk, took measurements on three co-operator sites to compare the water infiltration rates between random traffic and CTF. All three sites have split fields, half with random traffic patterns on one side and CTF on the other. Each co-operator is using a 30-foot wide CTF system that gives up 18% to 20% of the field to tram lines. The random traffic sites would see between 40% and 50% covered in random wheel traffic each year.

Water infiltration measurements were taken in two areas, one between the wheel tracks and one along the wing of the air drill. This was repeated on each side of the field split. In each area, four infiltration tests were completed with a 7-inch pipe and the equivalent of one inch of water. Each test was timed in seconds to see how long it would take the water to disappear from the ring. The graph shows the results of the CTF side in blue and the random traffic in red. The left axis shows the number of seconds it took for the water to infiltrate.

As you can see in just two short years infiltration rates have almost tripled on two farms. The soil types on these particular farms are very different with the farm on the left a clay-loam and farm on the right a loam soil with some peat. Both soils took up to 160 seconds for water to infiltrate on the random traffic plot compared to the CTF plot where water disappeared within 40 to 60 seconds. The soil type in the middle of the graph showed less of a difference and was the wettest throughout the season (drowned out crops in the low spots). The soil texture is a sandy-loam and if compacted will take some time to repair as sandy soils do not swell and contract like a loam or clay soils. The swelling and contraction of wet-dry cycles helps to repair compacted soils.

In just two short years, two out three farms tested have tripled their soil's ability to absorb water. The only change has been a reduction in wheel traffic from 80% in a random system to just under 20% in a CTF system. With a CTF system in place, the soil can now withstand heavy rainfall events better, reduce surface water ponding and store more moisture in the soil. This translates into better root development, reduced nitrous oxide emissions from less surface ponding, a reduction in soil erosion from less runoff and increased yields from better soil moisture storage. Adding up these advantages I can’t help but wonder how well CTF will perform. Brilliantly. SL

Chart: Water infiltration test done by CTFA including Jamie Christie's farm on the left at Trochu, Craig Shaw's farm at Lacombe in the middle and James Jackson's farm on the right.

Trimble offers new GPS solution with CenterPoint RTX

Trimble has developed a new GPS correction signal called CenterPoint RTX which boasts 1.5-inch accuracy and repeatability. This product offers GPS correction accuracy above its OmniStar service but below RTK. CenterPoint RTK gives you 1.5-inch accuracy and repeatability without the need for a RTK base station, radio or cellular data plans.

The RTX signal will be a fit for producers looking to keep the same A-B lines each year which makes logistics with multiple pieces of equipment and operators easier. It will also help those trying to inter-row seed or do controlled traffic farming without having to buy base stations, radios, RTK unlocks because it gives repeatability. Trimble is confident they can offer horizontal (side to side) repeatability but not vertical which means it works great for autosteer but not ideal for laying tile drains or drainage operations.

If you already own a Trimble CFX-750 or FmX display with OmniStar correction service it will cost $1,650 USD annually versus the $1,500 USD annually for OmniStar. If you own an EZ-Guide 500 there are some attractive upgrade opportunities as well. If you’re looking for more accuracy in your GPS signal without the added cost of RTK, CentrePoint RTX is a great solution. There is nothing on the market like it. SL

For more info on the details and benefits of the RTX signal click here.

Picture: JD swather displaying accurate GPS correction. Brian Miller, Okotoks

Sunspot activity linked to wheat prices

Sunspot activity moving higher indicating wheat prices may fall

Many of you likely know the connection between sunspot activity and high wheat prices. Studies going back to the 1700's reveal that high wheat prices are strongly correlated with low sunspot activity. Low sunspot activity leads to higher global cloud cover and more precipitation. One would think that would lead to higher grain production but it actually leads to less area harvested, lower quality wheat and lower global ending stocks.

To give you an example, if you look at the graph here, you can see that 1996-97 and 2007-08 were periods of low sunspot activity. Coincidentally, both marketing years had global wheat stock to use ratios of 19.3% and 19.55 respectively, the lowest in over 30 years. These record low ending stocks coincided with above average wheat prices. So what does this mean to use today? Well, 2013 is shaping up to be the highest sunspot activity in the eleven-year cycle. The probability of high wheat prices are very unlikely considering the strong correlation between the two.

Everything on earth seems to run in cycles and low sunspot activity runs on an eleven year cycle. If you look at the graph you’ll see that 2008, 2009 and 2010 recorded the lowest sunspot activity in the eleven year cycle and coincidentally wheat prices hit at all time high, just as they did in 1996-1997. Looking at the charts we are moving into a period of high sunspot activity with the peak in 2013. Wheat prices may continue to decline as the world begins to produce more during this period. SL

Research

Cover crops offer benefits inside heavy monoculture cropping systems

A 2011 Australian Nuffield Scholar tells why

There is growing popularity in the use of cover crops as means of introducing diversity, reducing erosion and adding carbon, increasing fertility and accessing deep nitrogen in some cases. Here’s a Nuffield report written by Robert Blatchford from NSW, Australia, which addresses the use of cover crops. If you’re up for an interesting read check out his report online here.

Beyond Agronomy Smartphone Apps

The seeding rate calculator app allows you to enter your desired plant density, thousand kernel weight, germination, seedling mortality and instantly provides the correct seeding rate in lbs/ac.

The herbicide tank mix and rainfast guide app tells you what order to mix each herbicide and how long you have until it rains. This quick and easy to use app is tailored to Western Canadian farmers.

These apps will make your life easier and who doesn’t need a little ease? Hop on over to www.beyondagronomy.com to get yours today. Then tell your friends!