Random Thoughts by Joanna Wallace

Not quite as humorous as the old SNL bits but good enough for a stormy Feb 29th.

*Other than planter settings, seed size does not really effect yield. Yes, if your planter is throwing out a lot of doubles or skips, you yield will be impacted but if everything is working perfectly with a small round or a large flat, there is no difference. Theoretically, a larger seed may provide extra starch reserves for a seedling in wet cool weather, or a smaller seed may germinate faster than a larger seed in dry weather due to a thinner seed coat but there has never been any consecutive studies with a statistical yield difference to prove it.

*I can't tell you how many times I have heard "but it's a leap year you know" when referring to the upcoming growing season. OK, so 1992 was a leap year too, but 2009 and 2011 weren't so maybe we'll luck out with this one.

*How early is too early to get things started in the field? The next time the fields are bare, it's a great time to get some clover down on the wheat or to try frost seeding spring grains if the field is fit. Hold off on Nitrogen on the wheat starts to green up and can actually use it. As for corn, the risk of frost damaging corn planted after April 15th is relatively low compared to the potential yield increase for planting full season hybrids early. Soys can be planted anytime after the 20th of April if the conditions are right.

*Did you know that if you compare applications of 5000gal/ac of Hog finisher manure in Aug compared to Nov; there is 53lb/ac more of N available for the following years corn crop? At $0.70/lb N that is a $37/ac savings in fertilizer if you can hold off on the application till the late fall. Try out your manure numbers on the Ontario manure calculator at www.gocorn.net.

*We cleaned up our act too much! With all the clean air initiatives, we are no longer seeing sulphur being deposited on our fields by acid rain. It used to be that we saw up to 30lb/ac a year deposited, now we are lucky to get 10lb/ac. Under the wet conditions of last year, sulphur deficiency was showing in the wheat crop. This year, there will be lots of experimenting with mixing ammonium sulphate with urea, and ammonium thiosulphate with their 28%. Watch for results this fall.

Enough randomness, Jack Handy would be proud.