Recently in Seeding Category
I took over as editor of Grainews nearly a year ago. Just as I was getting into the swing of things, the endless seeding season of 2010 reared its ugly head and I could focus on little else. Of course, I live near Regina — not everyone faced such a dire growing season, but many did. Now, we've passed the half way point of winter (according to me) and the snow outside my door looks more like winter in the Red River Valley than "bone-dry Saskatchewan." (I was told last summer not to complain about the rain or it would stop for three years. Should I still be so careful? Maybe.) I'm hoping that my second year at the helm of this pub isn't nearly as exciting as the first. Really.
Difficult growing conditions here and abroad have done what they should for crop prices. Many farmers who missed out on production are taking some solace in price run ups of nearly every commodity (thank goodness). But wet weather leads to heavy disease pressure and low levels of quality seed stock. The farmer who fails to plan their crop selection early may find themselves short on their first choice or highest quality of seed.
While booking canola seed largely wrapped up in the late fall, many of you are still hammering out crop rotations or, to put it bluntly, returning to them.(I've said it before and I'll say it again, one in two is not a rotation.) The good news is many of the tried and true staples of western Canadian farming should be profitable this year at current pricing levels, the bad news is much of Manitoba and Saskatchewan are going to need perfect spring drying weather to get crops in on time.
Even timely seeding can't entirely make up for the dangers of seeding into wet conditions with (potentially) high levels of disease inoculum in the soil. It'd be prudent to pencil in a seed treatment, if you don't already, to this year's budget, I'd say.
Then there are those of you anticipating really wet conditions. In upcoming issues of Grainews, we'll be tackling the success rate of scratching in canola as well as highlighting cropping options that either don't mind wet feet, use a lot of water or will at least offer some ground cover and water use for 2011. For many, this cycle of wet weather is set to continue for a bit yet. Longer-term planning outside of your comfort zone, such as with winter wheat, forage and cover crops or big water users, may prove a wise move.
Of course, I say all of this and plan all these articles in the hopes that most of you don't need to employ these tactics. But the reality is, you may.
Happy planning!
Difficult growing conditions here and abroad have done what they should for crop prices. Many farmers who missed out on production are taking some solace in price run ups of nearly every commodity (thank goodness). But wet weather leads to heavy disease pressure and low levels of quality seed stock. The farmer who fails to plan their crop selection early may find themselves short on their first choice or highest quality of seed.
While booking canola seed largely wrapped up in the late fall, many of you are still hammering out crop rotations or, to put it bluntly, returning to them.(I've said it before and I'll say it again, one in two is not a rotation.) The good news is many of the tried and true staples of western Canadian farming should be profitable this year at current pricing levels, the bad news is much of Manitoba and Saskatchewan are going to need perfect spring drying weather to get crops in on time.
Even timely seeding can't entirely make up for the dangers of seeding into wet conditions with (potentially) high levels of disease inoculum in the soil. It'd be prudent to pencil in a seed treatment, if you don't already, to this year's budget, I'd say.
Then there are those of you anticipating really wet conditions. In upcoming issues of Grainews, we'll be tackling the success rate of scratching in canola as well as highlighting cropping options that either don't mind wet feet, use a lot of water or will at least offer some ground cover and water use for 2011. For many, this cycle of wet weather is set to continue for a bit yet. Longer-term planning outside of your comfort zone, such as with winter wheat, forage and cover crops or big water users, may prove a wise move.
Of course, I say all of this and plan all these articles in the hopes that most of you don't need to employ these tactics. But the reality is, you may.
Happy planning!
There's nothing worse than devoting time, energy and money to something only to have it ruined by a completely preventable occurrence. In this case, I'm talking about crops heating in the bin and diseased seed ending up in the ground without a seed treatment.
Sure, turning, aerating or drying grain also takes some time, energy and money, but after all the work you put in to growing the darn crop, it'd be a shame to lose a portion of it in storage.
All crops can spoil, even ones that went in dry, and fall isn't the only time to watch for heating either. The Canola Council recently put out the call to farmers to get back out there and check their bins; a very warm April is causing heating problems, even in canola that went into the winter dry. Bins with higher than ideal moisture, very large bins or bins with high dockage are at even higher risk.
Do yourself a favour and make the rounds today. If you've got fans, you might just need to turn them on for a spell. Breaking up any hot spots or compacted areas can also be done by removing about a third of the grain then replacing it up top. Rinse and repeat as necessary.
And while we're on the topic of investment protection, let's talk about seed treating. I know it's pretty common practice, and that's good, but unless you test or treat 100% of seed lots (does anyone?), there's a risk of seedling disease. For a very graphic display of the difference a seed treatment can make, check out this seven-day time lapse video on Bayer CropScience's website.
The reduced germination, vigour and survival rates of diseased, untreated seed is significant. If you're going to spend all that time, energy and money putting a crop in the ground, a seed treatment is simply affordable insurance.
Sure, turning, aerating or drying grain also takes some time, energy and money, but after all the work you put in to growing the darn crop, it'd be a shame to lose a portion of it in storage.
All crops can spoil, even ones that went in dry, and fall isn't the only time to watch for heating either. The Canola Council recently put out the call to farmers to get back out there and check their bins; a very warm April is causing heating problems, even in canola that went into the winter dry. Bins with higher than ideal moisture, very large bins or bins with high dockage are at even higher risk.
Do yourself a favour and make the rounds today. If you've got fans, you might just need to turn them on for a spell. Breaking up any hot spots or compacted areas can also be done by removing about a third of the grain then replacing it up top. Rinse and repeat as necessary.
And while we're on the topic of investment protection, let's talk about seed treating. I know it's pretty common practice, and that's good, but unless you test or treat 100% of seed lots (does anyone?), there's a risk of seedling disease. For a very graphic display of the difference a seed treatment can make, check out this seven-day time lapse video on Bayer CropScience's website.
The reduced germination, vigour and survival rates of diseased, untreated seed is significant. If you're going to spend all that time, energy and money putting a crop in the ground, a seed treatment is simply affordable insurance.
This is my first full spring in Saskatchewan. I'd like to think it'll always be this gorgeous, but my Winnipeg roots won't ever let me believe spring is truly here until the May long weekend. And yes, I was once camping on said weekend and was snowed on. Such is spring on the Prairies.
Still, I made the bold move of changing the winter tires today. Am I truly an April fool? Time will tell.
For me, swapping the tires and deciding when to switch from rubber boots (or gum boots as my two-year old calls them) to just boots are really the toughest spring decisions I have to make.
For you, it's when to really, truly fire up the tractor and start putting seed in the ground. A much more weighty decision that's for sure. How early is too early? What if it really stays this dry? What about snow or, worse, frost? What if I stick with my regular time line and regret it?
If you're looking for answers, I don't have them, but I'd love to know: Are you planning on seeding significantly earlier this year? What will be the deciding factors for you? (soil temp? the calendar? your neighbour?)
Still, I made the bold move of changing the winter tires today. Am I truly an April fool? Time will tell.
For me, swapping the tires and deciding when to switch from rubber boots (or gum boots as my two-year old calls them) to just boots are really the toughest spring decisions I have to make.
For you, it's when to really, truly fire up the tractor and start putting seed in the ground. A much more weighty decision that's for sure. How early is too early? What if it really stays this dry? What about snow or, worse, frost? What if I stick with my regular time line and regret it?
If you're looking for answers, I don't have them, but I'd love to know: Are you planning on seeding significantly earlier this year? What will be the deciding factors for you? (soil temp? the calendar? your neighbour?)
Profile
Grainews editor Lyndsey Smith answers readers' questions, asks her own and, now and then, discusses what's new and interesting in western Canadian production agriculture.
