A: Agriculture and food production has benefited from weed control with herbicides for many decades. Careful use of herbicides is a safe, quick and effective means to stop weeds from competing for water, nutrients and light. This is not a perfect system, as natural tolerance of certain weeds to certain herbicide groups can occur quite quickly. This becomes a severe issue if a very common weed becomes resistant to more than one common and effective herbicide group. 

We have seen this happen with wild oat resistance to both Group 1 and 2 herbicides and kochia resistance to both Group 2 and 9 herbicides. The first step we often consider is rotating herbicide groups. Rotation of herbicides is important to mitigate the risk of resistance, but we often ignore the other weed control tools. 

Good seeding and farm practices will reduce weed success and will extend the use of herbicides for many more years. Many practices cost the farm nothing or are inexpensive. When developing a weed control plan with herbicide rotation in mind, consider the following steps to help your herbicides: 

• Be aware of your weeds. Scout fields, identify and remove new weed species, control weed patches and keep records for control in the future.
• Grow crops suited to your farm and fields and the weed pressure present. If you know there is a specific weed problem in a field, plan control before seeding.
• Create a competitive seedling stand. Use clean, certified seed, do not use a low seeding rate, do not use wide row spacing and do not seed too deep.
• Ensure your crop has adequate soil and fertilizer nutrients and do not broadcast fertilizer. This will provide weeds equal access to nutrients. 
• Proactively control other pests as required. For example, use the best of seed-applied insecticides to control flea beetles in canola rather than wait for damage to occur. 
• Do not create weed seed factories. Seed saline and other marginal areas to forages and maintain weed control in non-seeded areas and compacted field entries. 
• Practice sanitation at harvest. Prevent weeds from forming mature seed, do not transport weed seed on headers between fields and take note of severe weed problems during harvest. 

– Lyle Cowell, PAg, CCA, is the manager of agronomy solutions in northeast Saskatchewan for Nutrien Ag Solutions. 

The post Weed resistance management is not just about herbicide rotation appeared first on Grainews.

A: Using the three-legged stool analogy, the three legs of a good soil test are a good collection of the sample, the choice of an appropriate lab and the final interpretation of results. 

There is risk to variance and error in each step, so we should never assume the result is absolutely correct, but rather a useful tool to determine the right rate of fertilizer use for your farm, fields and crops. 

A recommendation of fertilizer based on a soil test should not be a simple answer. Soils are variable, farm management is variable and risk per farm varies. It is easy to recommend excessively high rates of fertilizer, but we need to consider farm economy and the local environment in the recommendations. 

Before providing the “final answer” for a fertilizer recommendation, these tips will help lead you to better conclusions:

• Soil tests provide averages of nutrient levels within the area you sample. If you sampled about 15 cores, the variance of the results will be about 25 to 30 per cent. If your soil test indicates 50 pounds of nitrogen per acre, it is more likely in a range of 35 to 60 pounds of nitrogen. This is still accurate enough to provide a good recommendation. 
• There tends to be a bias toward high nutrient levels in small areas of a field. If your soil test indicates a low level of a nutrient, the result is likely right. If the average nutrient level is high, it may be due to one or two samples with very high levels. This can lead to fertilizer recommendations that are too low. 
• One of the biggest errors made in recommendations is the target yield. Be reasonable and set target yields that you know can be produced on each field. A target yield of 10 to 15 per cent higher than your 10-year average yield is reasonable. 
• Always consider field history: past crop rotations, manure application and fertilizer rates. For example, if a soil test indicates 50 pounds of nitrogen per acre, recommendations will be different depending on whether the past crop was a forage legume or wheat- canola rotation. 
• Recommended rates should also consider application methods — low rates of potassium or phosphorus near the seed row are far more efficient than if broadcast. 

These are only a few of the steps to consider when using a soil test to provide a good fertilizer recommendation. Soil tests are a valuable tool, but you need to sharpen that tool with a good understanding of soil, agronomy and the economy of each farm and field. 

– Lyle Cowell, PAg, CCA, is the manager of agronomy solutions in northeast Saskatchewan for Nutrien Ag Solutions. 

The post Tips to interpret soil test results appeared first on Grainews.

A: As equipment becomes bigger and total loaded weight becomes heavier, our soils are often subjected to compaction. When equipment was lighter, this compaction tended not to extend very deep into the soil, and the effect was often resolved by frost cycles that fractured and turned the surface soil. Now, compaction often extends to the subsoil and leads to multiple years of soil damage. Compaction from wheel tracks is often visible two or three years later. 

Compacted soil limits root growth and can lead to limited water and nutrient uptake. The compacted layer will also limit water drainage, causing plants to suffer from both more flooding and then reduced water uptake. Compacted soil also has less ability to exchange soil air, and roots suffer from both air movement and disease infection. The many effects of compaction can cause a productive soil to lose long- term quality and lower yields for many years. Efforts to run implements through wet areas can lead to even more flooding in the future as sub- surface drainage is limited. 

Wheel damage can occur from any equipment — combines and grain carts in the fall may cause deep compaction, while tractors and sprayers cause both deep compaction plus smearing of the soil if wheels begin to spin. Even tillage implements that press down on soil can cause significant soil compaction. 

Can we fix compaction? It is not easy, and the best choice is to avoid the problem. Deep, compacted layers are very difficult to alleviate. Shallow tillage or harrowing to “dry soils” is never a good solution — it always makes the problem worse. Deep tillage rarely can help, partly because it needs to be done when it’s dry to fracture the soil. Crops with taproots such as alfalfa or sweet clover may penetrate the layer, but annual species are not effective for deep layers of compaction. Subsurface tile drainage can provide a long-term solution, though this is expensive and is difficult to execute in low-lying or clay soils that are most often affected by compaction. 

We will continue to be faced with compaction issues in the future, and these can severely reduce crop yield. Like so many cases in agronomy, there are no simple solutions to fix the problem, but being aware of the risk is important to help avoid the problem. 

– Lyle Cowell, PAg, CCA, is the manager of agronomy solutions in northeast Saskatchewan for Nutrien Ag Solutions.

The post When wheels cause soil damage  appeared first on Grainews.

A: We know that when peas are inoculated with the proper rhizobia bacteria, they can fix their own nitrogen, which means no additional nitrogen fertilizer is required. Therefore, when planning your fertilizer needs, the question is do peas need phosphorus (P) fertilizer? The answer is, yes, peas require more phosphorus per bushel than most crops grown in Western Canada. 

A 40-bushel-per-acre crop of peas will remove between 25 and 30 pounds of P2O5  with the seed, which can only be replaced in the soil by the application of fertilizer. Good phosphorus nutrition is especially important to provide the high energy required for efficient nitrogen fixation and early crop maturity in peas. 

To better understand the role of phosphorus nutrition in field peas, let’s review a few important points we know about phosphorus in the soil, including the following: 

• Our soils are naturally deficient in phosphorus, with very large yield responses measured in early field research. Annual fertilizer application provides only a small residual pool of available phosphorus for future plant use.
• Crops use only about 20 to 40 per cent of the phosphorus fertilizer applied each year and rely on residual phosphorus fertilizer for the rest of their requirements.
• All of our annual crops will remove 25 to 35 pounds of P2O5 per acre each year.
• Phosphorus fertilizers are not very soluble in soil water and move very little from the fertilizer pellet.
• Phosphate movement and plant uptake are slowest in cold conditions.
• Phosphates are most important for rapid growth in seedlings. 

This combination of factors is the reason we have adopted a standard annual application of phosphorus fertilizer in the seed row, which provides maximum phosphorus fertilizer efficiency for crop seedlings in cold Prairie soils. Since phosphorus fertilizer is not very soluble in soil water, it is also relatively safe to place near the seed. As the soil warms and the crop’s root system grows, the plants will be capable of using the residual phosphates in the soil. 

What would be the consequence of removing phosphorus fertilizer for pea crops (or other crops)? First, this may lead to a small immediate yield loss or delayed maturity in the pea crop. Also, this will reduce the pool of residual soil phosphate for subsequent crops. Overall, our best management practice is to maintain the small pool of available soil phosphate with annual applications of phosphorus with all crops, including peas. 

The post P is for peas appeared first on Grainews.

A: Agricultural field pesticides are valuable tools to help growers control weeds, certain insects and crop disease. It is imperative that pesticides be used safely to protect both the applicator and the local environment.

Each pesticide will have details as to its safe use on the label. Symbols will give a first warning to the type of risk and the degree of risk. In addition, there will be important information on each label to help you understand the best method for handling a pesticide to minimize exposure. Before a new field season begins, it is wise to become familiar with these risks for each product you use on your farm.

When you prepare your sprayer trailer, it is an excellent idea to have a storage unit with personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing. These should include chemical-resistant coveralls, gloves, hats and boots designed to protect you from pesticides. You should also have goggles, respirators and face shields available to the person mixing and applying pesticides. Finally, it’s important to have a means for handwashing with soap and contact information for local medical services and poison control.

Be prepared to contain and clean up any pesticide spills. Errant pesticide on a spray deck or soil quickly becomes a hazard to the health of the environment and people. Direct handling of a spill can expose a person to a high dose of pesticide, and contamination of surface or groundwater creates risk in the future. The first step is to prevent any spills, but it is as important to prepare for errors.

Training is important for the safe use of pesticides and the proper use of PPE. Before family members or farm employees begin handling pesticides, they should be fully aware and trained on all of the safety procedures specific to the product. Injury due to pesticides can be avoided, but only if the proper tools are available.

There are ways to be prepared if something goes wrong — first aid training for farms should include what you will do if contact is made with a pesticide. Have emergency numbers posted in easy-to-see places and make sure to invest in good PPE wherever possible — it could make a huge difference in a time of need.

Be pesticide smart — the health and safety of people and the environment depends on it.

Lyle Cowell, PAg, CCA, is a manager of agronomic services with Nutrien Ag Solutions in northeast Saskatchewan.

The post Tips for the safe use of crop protection products appeared first on Grainews.

A. My best advice is not about pest control or nutrient management, but to remember where we farm. Western Canadian farmers are not blessed with a long growing season. We grow crops with maturity that often barely fit between the bookends of the last spring and the first fall frosts. Seeding is often interrupted by weather, equipment failure, and sometimes not enough of a plan. In this sense, farming in Western Canada is like a race. If you’re not prepared, you will be last out of the blocks and behind for the entire race. We also know that fall harvest is unpredictable, so a slow start often leads to extra yards added to the race. When it comes to good agronomy, keep our short season in mind.

To grow a crop in a short season you need to plan in advance. If we hope to have a successful spring season, pre-seed planning should start well before the snow melts. Too often I see days lost in spring due to a lack of planning. And this is definitely a concern as a seeding delay will result in other crop management challenges such as poor weed management, and very often lower yield potential and quality.

If a crop plan is made well in advance of seeding, you can start to complete the puzzle. Time spent with a crop adviser will always help ensure you have not overlooked problems. Reviewing your crop plan may identify crop rotation issues and you may avoid herbicide errors such as residues from the previous year. Ensure you have the right seed varieties and quantities booked for all your acres. Look at your fertilizer plans and consider the most efficient and effective products and application.

These pre-seed crop planning steps will save you time, errors and money. And remember that it’s OK to ask for a trusted second opinion.

Lyle Cowell, P. Ag, CCA, is a manager of agronomic services with Nutrien Ag Solutions in northeast Saskatchewan.

The post Help! How do I get ready for seeding? appeared first on Grainews.

A: Copper is the micronutrient most often found deficient in Western Canada.

In a nutshell, copper deficiency is most often found in deep sandy soils and peat soils, and wheat is the most sensitive crop. Soil tests are a good tool to predict potential copper deficiency. Crops yields are often reduced if soil copper is less than 0.4 to 0.6 parts per million. Copper plays a role in flower fertility, so yields may quickly decline if deficiency occurs.

There are several fertilizer products that can help alleviate copper deficiency. Remember: copper is a micronutrient — a good crop of wheat will remove less than 10 grams of copper per acre. The key is to apply enough copper in an available form so that it is available to the crop during the critical flowering period. Liquid copper at 0.1 to 0.2 pounds per acre applied to the foliage between the sixth and flag leaf of wheat has proven most effective for maximum annual yield response in truly deficient soils. In some cases, it may make sense to also try to build soil reserves of copper — this will require at least one to two pounds of actual copper applied each year. This is far more than crop removal, but high rates are needed to provide uniform distribution of the fertilizer granules, take into consideration low solubility of copper fertilizer and to account for adsorption of copper to the soil.

How do you decide if copper is required? Begin with a soil test of the soil landscape that you think will be most deficient. Then a field response trial with strips of foliar-applied copper on wheat (or other cereal crops) is the best way to confirm the size of crop response.

Lyle Cowell, P. Ag, CCA, is a manager of agronomic services with Nutrien Ag Solutions in northeast Saskatchewan.

The post Copper deficiencies can reduce wheat yields appeared first on Grainews.

A: A weed-free crop at harvest represents the cumulative effort of field management during the season. To manage many weed species, the season begins the previous fall.

Pre-harvest weed control tends to focus glyphosate application on perennial weeds such as quackgrass or Canada thistle. At this point in the season these species grow rapidly and will move glyphosate to the spreading root systems. There may also be some control of simple perennials such as dandelion and foxtail barley, and even late-emerging annual weeds. Be aware of proper crop staging to ensure the seed is fully mature so there is no impact on yield and no risk of herbicide residues above maximum residue limits (MRLs) in the harvested grain.

In pre-harvest herbicide application, there must be a distinction between weed control and crop desiccation. Glyphosate is intended for weed removal and is not a true desiccant. Be sure your goals align with the products you use.

Weed control after harvest depends on which weed species are targeted, weather conditions and the crop planned for next year. In fall, we target weeds that will survive winter. Perennials such as Canada thistle require time to regrow before control is attempted. Low-growing perennials such as dandelions are ideally sprayed soon after harvest when fully exposed. Winter annuals including stinkweed and narrow-leaf hawksbeard can be controlled later in fall to allow time to germinate and emerge. Weather will dictate timing as frost will begin to damage the leaves of weeds, depending on species. We often add another herbicide to glyphosate to improve weed control and introduce another mode of action. However, be sure that any added herbicide will not damage next year’s crop.

Fall weed control is a big step in reducing weed competition for soil, water and nutrients the following year.

Lyle Cowell, M. Agric., P. Ag, CCA, is a manager of agronomic services with Crop Production Services in northeast Saskatchewan.

The post Pre- and post-harvest weed control appeared first on Grainews.