Some Clarification on the OCYT

Today, I had the chance to speak to Greg Stewart with OMAFRA. Greg is the Corn Production Lead with OMFRA and runs the Ontario Corn Yield Trials.

The OCYT are conducted in 21 different plots separated into 7 different areas depending on heat units. The seed corn companies select and provide the hybrids for the trials. OMAFRA takes all the hybrids and randomizes them over three repetitions. Only two rows of the hybrid are planted, and both rows are harvested. The harvested length of the rows is about 20 feet. The average yield of the each plot is tallied and from there, the individual index for each hybrid is calculated.

A few thoughts to ponder on the trials:

1)Since the trial is randomized, you could have a very short hybrid beside a tall one resulting in less sunlight for the short one. You would therefor have a lower index of the shaded hybrid on the two rows harvested than in a full scale field trial. Greg did mention that next year, there will be four rows of each hybrid planted and only the centre two rows will be harvested for the index. This will eliminate some of the shade effect.

2) Twenty feet of two rows harvested is 0.0023 acres. Since there is 100+ hybrids in the OCYT, I understand that there is no way to harvest any larger area per Hybrid. Randomizing the three repetitions does help to eliminate field variability but not all of it.

I am not discounting the OCYT, they are a great tool to use and Greg and his team put a lot of work into planning, planting, harvesting and tallying the results. The OCYT should be just one of many tools used to come to a decision on what hybrid is best for your farm - not the only one.

Why planting refuge is important

At this time of year, we are all trying to decide on what the best corn hybrid to plant is going to be. Looking for the highest yield, the best standability and plant health. In the back of your mind, you think - I really should comply with the refuge requirements but I don't want a yield drag. I'll get to that, but first off - here's some reasons why to comply.

1) Populations of Corn Root Worm in the US have developed resistance to the Cry3Bb1 BT gene. A complete article can be found at:
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0022629
The resistance developed in fields that were consecutively planted to corn at least three years in a row and did not follow refuge requirements. The resistance is not totally unexpected as it could be selected for in laboratory studies, however with compliance to refuge requirements it would have been delayed.

2) European Corn Borer could develop resistance.
http://www.cornpest.ca/index.cfm/bt-corn/resistance-development/resistance-in-ecb/
If every acre of corn in North America was planted to BT corn, it could take as little as 3-5 years for the population of ECB to become resistant.

3) The CFIA is watching. Over the last few years, the compliance to refuge requirements has fallen sharply. The CFIA is performing random audits on Ontario grower's compliance.

So it is not all bad news - you do not have to give up yield to be in compliance. Pioneer is offering a lineup of CFIA approved Optimum Acremax products to suit you needs for ECB. These products are 95% of a leading hybrid with 5% refuge in the bag. For example the optimum Acremax version of 35F40 is 35F50AM-R. This product even with it's 5% refuge has been tested to perform at the same level as pure 35F40. No need to worry about selecting the proper refuge, having enough refuge or where to plant the refuge block. The Optimum Acremax lineup make planning and planting simple and in compliance.

Ontario Corn Yeild Trials

The Ontario Corn Yield Trials were released late last week. They can be found at:

http://www.gocorn.net/v2006/CornReports/2011cornreport/2011performancetrials.html#

Looking at Areas 3 & 4, Pioneer had a good showing. Notables in Area 3 include P9623HR, P9519HR, P9675XR, P9855HR, and P9910XR. In Area 4, have a look at P0118HR, P0216HR and P0474HR.

The Ontario Yield trials are a valuable tool in the tool box but it is important to base your hybrid selection on multiple sources of information.

November Wheat Almost Two Weeks Later

Today, I went out to check on some November wheat that was planted Nov 4th.

The field was cultivated prior to seeding, to give it a chance to dry out a little more. Depth was a little inconsistent due to the no till drill on the loose soil but it averaged about 1.25". Seeding rate was upped to account for the lateness. Since the 4th, the field had received just over and inch of rain and overall, the weather has not been horrible - a nice mix of sun and cloud for the most part.

When I arrived at the field there was a nice layer of white snow and no green to be found. This is not good I thought. The soil was quite wet, sticking to my shoes.

I began to dig and low and behold, there were the seeds with roots about an inch long and a nice shoot of about 1/4".

I predict once the January thaw comes this field will be green. I'll post pics then!

radish radish everywhere...

Wow, there is a lot of radish out there!

It is especially noticeable with it's bright yellow colour now that it has been either sprayed down or frosted. Currently, there are two main types of radishes being grown as cover crops in Ontario. Below is a comparison of the roots:

Tillage radish tends to grow a tap root straight down without any fibrous roots branching out. Oilseed radish can grow a more rounded tap root with a few more fibrous roots. There are claims that both forms can break up compaction and add to soil health.

For me, the jury is still out on Radishes. Here's why:

-I'm all for adding organic matter to the soil but am not so sure that radishes are any better than a cover crop of clover. I need to see some more research on it.

-One of the first lesson that I learned in science was that "matter can not be created or destroyed". Planting radishes is not going to magically increase your soil fertility if you are not adding any commercial fertilizers or manure. Radishes do not fixate atmospheric nitrogen like clover does. They will trap nutrients from manure applications for future crops but the availability of those nutrients is dependant on the rate of breakdown of the radishes.

-the price of seed is still a major restriction for use.

-radishes are not the silver bullet for compaction. Yes adding organic matter to the soil will help but think about how the root of the tillage radish grows. Rather than compacting the soil vertically, the root is spreading the soil sideways creating horizontal compaction, almost like driving a post into the ground. The best solution for compaction is a fibrous root system that works it's way through the compaction in many small channels rather than one big one.

-one last point. Remember, those big tap roots need to break down in the field to do the soil any good and when they breakdown they rot... and stink.... if you do use them, don't plant them too close to your home or your neighbours!

November Wheat

The combine just left, it's November 3rd and you are out standing in your field that the beans just came off of. The grounds not too wet but Agricorp's fall seeded wheat winterkill deadline was 3 days ago. What to do, what to do.....

Short answer: If the ground is fit, put the seed in the ground.

Long answer: There are a few things to consider -the ground, the depth and population of the seed.

If the ground is ready, it is ok to plant wheat even if it is November. If there is any smearing or the slot is not closing over the seed, put the drill away. Mudding the seed in is not going to give you a good stand in the spring.

Planting late means that it is more important to watch your seed depth. 1.25" is optimum for November seeding. Anything less than 1.25" runs the risk of the seed being popped right out of the ground by the frost. Anything more than 1.25" runs the risk of the shoot running out of nutrients and failing to emerge.

Finally, the later you plant wheat, the less time it has in the fall to tiller. Depending on variety, in September and early October you would be planting anywhere from 1.2 to 1.5 Million seed per acre. November planted wheat needs 1.8 to 2 Million seeds per acre to have a full stand in the spring.

As a note: Speak to Agricorp to see how your November wheat will qualify for production insurance with inspection in the spring.