If you haven't had the chance to pick up a copy of OMAFRA's Guide to Weed Control - Pub 75, you should make the time.
Mike Cowbrough and his crew have done a great job revamping Pub 75 to bring more relevant and important information. Some of the changes are:
1) Right off the start, the new Chapter One examines rotational solutions to problem perennial weeds. Weeds include alfalfa, bindweed, Canada thistle, perennial sow thistle, horse nettle and yellow nut sedge. The chapter breaks down a corn-soys-wheat rotation to provide the best known solutions with chemical control in conventional and glyphosate resistant systems.
2) Throughout the guide you will find QR codes that you can scan with your smart phone to link you to more relevant information such as videos concerning spray drift.
3) In the weeds controlled charts for the different crops you will find some weeds marked with an "R". This is to indicate that populations of this weed exist in Ontario that are resistant to the chemical listed and may not be controlled by that option.
4) Chapter 18 should be renamed the "REVENGE" chapter. This chapter provides updated information on chemical control options for invasive, nuisance weeds in non cropped areas. Time to take out that Poison Ivy!
5) An electronic version is available to download for free onto your PC or tablet at:
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/pub75/Pub75-2012-2013-EN.pdf
6) A new feature is the listing of the salt type on the different glyphosates available in Ontario. This can be helpful when looking at off label tank mixes and could save you from having to clean out your sprayer when things go wrong.
A word on tank mixes: Last year, the PMRA relaxed it's regulations on tank mixes. No longer does the tank mix need to be listed on the label. As long as all chemicals in the tank mix are approved by the PMRA to be applied to the crop in the same way (example: post emergent soybeans) it is ok to apply by the PMRA's standards. Now that does not always mean that these chemicals are ok to mix together. By mixing them together or out of a certain order you might be taking a rather large chance of plugging up your screens or ending up with a big ball of jelly in your tank. Always check your off label tank mix with your local chem rep before trying it!
Enough said - Download Pub 75 or pick up a copy at your local OMAFRA office today!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Did you know?
It's winter, which means it's time to review the research that was completed over the last season. Every year, Pioneer not only tests new emerging hybrids and varieties, but also does research on agronomic practices. Here's a few facts I gleaned from Pioneer's 2011 Agronomy Research Summary.
1) For 8 years now, Pioneer has used it's proprietary wind machine "Boreas" in field to evaluate corn hybrid responses to high winds. This 20 ton machine can produce winds up to 100 Mile/hour.
2)Newer Hybrids can take higher populations. Here is a chart of a study comparing hybrids back to 1930 to today's with different populations. You can see that the newer the hybrid, the better it can take the stress of population (higher disease, competition for water and sunlight, stalk strength).
As we move forward with new hybrids, it is important to take a second look at how population effects yields.
3)This is not new research, however it is a chart that you should think about every once in a while. Below, the chart outlines how pH effects availability of nutrients.
One step further is to keep in mind how the concentration of one nutrient can effect the availability of others.
It's only January, there's lots more for me to learn this winter!
1) For 8 years now, Pioneer has used it's proprietary wind machine "Boreas" in field to evaluate corn hybrid responses to high winds. This 20 ton machine can produce winds up to 100 Mile/hour.
2)Newer Hybrids can take higher populations. Here is a chart of a study comparing hybrids back to 1930 to today's with different populations. You can see that the newer the hybrid, the better it can take the stress of population (higher disease, competition for water and sunlight, stalk strength).
As we move forward with new hybrids, it is important to take a second look at how population effects yields.
3)This is not new research, however it is a chart that you should think about every once in a while. Below, the chart outlines how pH effects availability of nutrients.
One step further is to keep in mind how the concentration of one nutrient can effect the availability of others.
It's only January, there's lots more for me to learn this winter!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Kochia Resistance found in Western Canada
Unfortunately, this is the kind of news that we had better get used to hearing. The big surprise, as you will read in the article below is that the resistance did not develop in a Roundup Ready cropping system. Rather, it developed in areas of chemical fallow. This is a prime example of how resistance to glyphosate could have been avoided by using multiple modes of action. What really bothers me about this case is that in fallow, there are no in-crop restrictions - any registered chemical could have been used. This is a straight forward case of taking the easy way out with the cheapest chemical available.
Glyphosate-resistant kochia found in the West
by D. Larraine Andrews
Weed scientists at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada have confirmed the first case of a glyphosate-resistant weed in Western Canada.
The conclusions are based on samples of kochia from three fields from three different producers in Southern Alberta.
Dr. Robert Blackshaw, a researcher with AAFC in Lethbridge, says the samples were collected from chemical fallow fields displaying reduced kochia control despite multiple applications. Generic glyphosates are commonly used as many as three times a season for weed control.
Blackshaw notes that resistance in Roundup Ready corn and soybeans has been known in the United States for several years, but these cases do not appear to have developed in a Roundup Ready cropping system.
He says, in the past, the message was often that Roundup Ready crops were contributing to the problem of resistance, but this example shows it is also happening in other situations where no Roundup Ready crops are involved.
AAFC says it will continue research in the area in 2012, in addition to ongoing collaboration with the University of Alberta and Monsanto to find specific solutions to address the problem of glyphosate-resistant kochia.
In conjunction with AAFC and the university, Monsanto has also developed an online weed resistance risk assessment tool for Western Canadian farmers. The tool can be found at www.weedtool.com. Through a series of questions, the tool helps producers assess their risk of developing glyphosate-resistant weeds and provides strategies to manage those risks.
Blackshaw says it is not a total surprise that the resistance has been found in Western Canada. He admits it is a concern, but believes the problem should be manageable with good management practices, although they may come at an increased cost.
Glyphosate resistance has been found in southwestern Ontario in two weed species – giant ragweed in 2009 and Canada fleabane in 2011. Glyphosate-resistant kochia has also been confirmed in Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska, while investigations continue in North and South Dakota and Montana.
Glyphosate-resistant kochia found in the West
by D. Larraine Andrews
Weed scientists at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada have confirmed the first case of a glyphosate-resistant weed in Western Canada.
The conclusions are based on samples of kochia from three fields from three different producers in Southern Alberta.
Dr. Robert Blackshaw, a researcher with AAFC in Lethbridge, says the samples were collected from chemical fallow fields displaying reduced kochia control despite multiple applications. Generic glyphosates are commonly used as many as three times a season for weed control.
Blackshaw notes that resistance in Roundup Ready corn and soybeans has been known in the United States for several years, but these cases do not appear to have developed in a Roundup Ready cropping system.
He says, in the past, the message was often that Roundup Ready crops were contributing to the problem of resistance, but this example shows it is also happening in other situations where no Roundup Ready crops are involved.
AAFC says it will continue research in the area in 2012, in addition to ongoing collaboration with the University of Alberta and Monsanto to find specific solutions to address the problem of glyphosate-resistant kochia.
In conjunction with AAFC and the university, Monsanto has also developed an online weed resistance risk assessment tool for Western Canadian farmers. The tool can be found at www.weedtool.com. Through a series of questions, the tool helps producers assess their risk of developing glyphosate-resistant weeds and provides strategies to manage those risks.
Blackshaw says it is not a total surprise that the resistance has been found in Western Canada. He admits it is a concern, but believes the problem should be manageable with good management practices, although they may come at an increased cost.
Glyphosate resistance has been found in southwestern Ontario in two weed species – giant ragweed in 2009 and Canada fleabane in 2011. Glyphosate-resistant kochia has also been confirmed in Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska, while investigations continue in North and South Dakota and Montana.
Monday, January 16, 2012
What Does This Weather Mean?
It's January 19th. there is about 3 inches of snow blowing around out there and it's probably going to rain again in the next week. The temperature has fluctuated between +10C to -25C, with no consistency. So what does this mean for our growing season next year?
Bugs
Bugs
I don't think that I can provide a firm answer on this one but I can share some theories.
-If we get a solid 10 days of below -10C, Ontario's overwintering insect population is greatly thinned out, however, it is not too often that we have those conditions.
-Since we had a later than normal fall, there is the chance that some insect populations increased and we could see that continue into 2012.
-The weather conditions present at the reproductive stage of an insect effect population much more that the conditions over the winter.
Soil Moisture Levels
Soil Moisture Levels
-I haven't made up my mind on this one yet. My initial thoughts are that we are still receiving the same amount of precipitation in the form of a rain/snow mix as we would in pure snow. I think the rain/snow mix is actually better for the soil as we won't have the big run off of surface water that comes after 3 feet of snow melts. What do you think?
Wheat Vernalization
Wheat Vernalization
Most Winter Wheat varieties grown in Ontario need at least 4 to 6 weeks of temperatures under 10C to initiate their reproductive cycle. We have that and will continue to get that. For best vernalization, the temperature should be between 0-5C. The best stage for the plant to go into vernalization is 5 leaf, however, vernalization still occurs from germination on. This means that even if your wheat has not emerged, as long as it has germed, vernalization will occur.
Soil Health
Soil Health
-Winter's freeze thaw cycle breaks up compacted layers. This year, we seem to see a freeze thaw every week However, the frost has not gone very deep yet so while the shallow compaction may be broken up, nothing is happening to the deeper compaction yet.
-This winter there are some theories that with warmer wetter soils that we are loosing more Nitrate than usual. I don't think that this is the case. Nitrification of ammonia does occur in warm wet soils however the bacteria that carry out the process are greatly slowed when soil temperatures fall below 10C.
Heaving
Heaving
-As I said, we have seen a lot of freeze thaw cycles this winter and our soils do have a fair amount of moisture in them. This can cause some problems for plants in the ground already such as wheat and alfalfa. In a normal winter with snow cover, the solid actually dries under the soil, this year it is staying quite wet.
-Heaving in wheat is going to depend on seeding depth and plant stage. The shallower the seed, the more likely for that seed to pop right out of the ground. A safe depth for heaving is around 1.25 inches. Also, the larger the root system on the wheat seedling - the better the anchor.
-Heaving in alfalfa depends on the type of root system. A tap root is more likely to be heaved out of the ground than a branched root system. Root disease pressure can also effect heaving in alfalfa.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Stories from the Help Line
Happy New Year! As a new year's treat, I thought that I would provide a laugh or two by sharing some stories from a customer service help line that I worked on.
Fresh out of University, I took a job with a company that provided the helpline support for numerous Agricultural and Residential chemical companies. I started out on a help line for a certain residential chemical and fertilizer company that will remain un-named but I am sure that you all have a product or two of theirs under your kitchen sink or out in your garage. Most of the calls were customers calling to double check application rates or such but there was a few complaints everyday too. Here's a few that I remember.
Fresh out of University, I took a job with a company that provided the helpline support for numerous Agricultural and Residential chemical companies. I started out on a help line for a certain residential chemical and fertilizer company that will remain un-named but I am sure that you all have a product or two of theirs under your kitchen sink or out in your garage. Most of the calls were customers calling to double check application rates or such but there was a few complaints everyday too. Here's a few that I remember.
One day I received a complaint call from a customer who had applied the companies standard lawn fertilizer (30-0-3) about a week previous. His lawn was now covered in brown and crispy streaks.
Me - How many bags did you use?
Him - 1
Me - What size is your lawn?
Him - Well, the average city lawn.
Me - Could estimate the measurements?
Him - Oh, probably 20 foot by 20 foot or something like that.
Me - Did you read the label before you applied the fertilizer? You applied 10x the rate needed.
Me - Did you read the label before you applied the fertilizer? You applied 10x the rate needed.
Him - No, the bag said it was guaranteed not to burn so I used it all.
Me - What kind of spreader did you use to apply it?
Him - I didn't want to buy one so I just opened the bag and spread it with my hands.
Another complaint call that is one of my all time favorites was from a woman who had applied a certain glyphosate product to her nice green growing lawn about two weeks earlier. As you could imagine, her lawn was now brown and dead.
Me - Did you read the label on the product it says "will control any green living plant"
Her - I know, that's why I applied it to my lawn.
Me - But since the label says "any green living plant" you should not have applied it to your grass.
Her - I don't consider grass a plant, it is something else.
Me - Grass is a plant, and the glyposate controls all living plants.
Her - No, grass is like astro turf and the product shouldn't have killed it. You guarantee it so you will be putting a new lawn in for me.
One more. A customer had called with a complaint. She had applied an broad leaf herbicide to her lawn to control dandelions a few days earlier and now there were circles of dead grass where the dandelions used to be.
Me - How did you mix the chemical?
Her - I mixed the concentrate half and half with water and applied it.
Me- Did you read the label first? You only needed 60ml concentrate with 1L of water.
Her - I thought that half and half would be better for spot treatments.
Me - What kind of sprayer did you use?
Her - Oh, I don't have a sprayer so I used my watering can and poured it on.
To be serious now, this is why I support a pesticide ban for residential property owners unless they are properly trained in the product usage or have the pesticides applied by a licensed applicator.
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