Insights

Studies show yield advantage to extra nitrogen on wheat

Pat Lynch

Once wheat starts to green up it is time for you to apply nitrogen.

For years Ontario research indicated that maximum yield came from about 90-100 pounds per acre of actual nitrogen. Work by Dr David Hooker University of Guelph the past two years and farm plots by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association under the direction of Peter Johnston, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ cereals specialist, suggest that there may be an economic advantage to applying more than this.

Posted on: 
March 31, 2010

Check forage fields now rather than six weeks from now

Pat Lynch

The snow is gone and fields are starting to green. Spring 2009 we had cold nights and warm days. This caused the sap to run well in 2009. That weather also caused spring kill in many forage fields in 2009.

The sap ran well this spring also. But during the first run this year there was enough snow on the ground to minimize forage heaving.

Posted on: 
March 22, 2010

New Bt refuge rules

Pat Lynch

INSIGHT — Monsanto has just announced changes to its Bt refuge rules. Specifically if you do not follow the refuge as laid out by Monsanto you will not have access to their Bt genetics.
   
They plan to monitor growers. Growers who are not following the refuge rules will be sent a letter. Growers not in compliance will be monitored again next year. If in the second year you are found not to be in compliance then you will not be allowed to buy Monsanto Bt genetics.   

Posted on: 
March 9, 2010

Mother in the ‘middle’

Richard Cressman

There is an old school yard game that was called “piggy in the middle” where two people try to keep the ball away from a third person

Posted on: 
March 9, 2010

Red clover now or later

Pat Lynch

INSIGHT - The winter snows are leaving so it is time to think of crops. One of the first field jobs is spreading red clover into winter wheat. The seeding rate is five to six pounds per acre. I do not know why some folks seed more than this. I know that if your stand does not catch, using a higher seeding rate will not help.

When you seed five to six lbs/ac that gives about 30 seeds per square foot. Even if only half of these germinate that is still 15 per square foot. You only need eight to 10 plants per square foot to have a good stand.

Posted on: 
February 24, 2010

The challenge of becoming the daughter-in-law

Richard Cressman

Becoming a daughter-in-law for most women means their lives will change – new husband, new home, in-laws, and possibly a partial new identity through a change of surname. The stories of the late Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson (daughters-in-law in the British royal family) highlight the difficulty some women experience as they try to fit into their husbands’ family

Posted on: 
February 8, 2010

What do you need in a corn starter?

Pat Lynch

Many believe phosphorous is the main ingredient. I believe nitrogen is even more important. Nitrogen is essential for early growth. It is helps plants take up phosphorous. It produces root growth that helps early establishment. You should have 20-30 lbs actual nitrogen. Then add phosphorous at 20-30 lbs per acre. This is for most of Ontario. Potash in a starter is optional. Since the corn plant does not need potash until later in its life, potash can be broadcast.

Posted on: 
February 8, 2010

Do you waste corn seed?

Pat Lynch

Most growers do. So you probably do too. You probably don’t mean to. You may believe that you are one of the few growers who doesn’t waste corn seed.

I have never been into a corn field where corn seed was not wasted. With corn seed running around $1.50-$2.00 per 1,000 kernels you do not want to waste too much. Most growers waste 1,000 kernels per acre. That is probably an acceptable level. Lots of growers are wasting 2,000 kernels per acre. I have seen 4,000-5,000 kernels per acre wasted. When you waste that much it’s like wasting $6.00-10.00 per acre. Too much waste.

Posted on: 
February 2, 2010

Should you order treated soybean seed?

Pat Lynch

These past few years there are more options for treating soybean seeds. You can now buy soybean seed that is treated with any or all of an inoculant, fungicide and or insecticide.

Ontario on-farm-trials indicate that inoculants give better than one bu/ac yield increase. Fungicides and insecticides also increase yields by about one to 1.2 bu/ac for both fungicides and insecticides. So the answer is yes.

If you have planted treated seed in the past then keep planting it. If you have not planted treated seed before then try some this year.

Posted on: 
January 25, 2010

Time to reconsider corn after corn

Pat Lynch

Want to increase your wheat and soy yields? Then grow more corn.

You may not believe that if Ontario producers grew more corn overall yields will improve. But I suggest to you that is what can happen.

Currently our corn yields are higher than most would have thought possible. Provincial average for the last three years has been great. The average corn yield during the past five years has increased by about 29 bu/ac compared to the previous five year average.

Posted on: 
January 18, 2010