40 Farm News First > BetterFarming.com Better Farming August 2016 CROPS: YIELD MATTER$ for April-planted corn in the south- west part of Ontario to accumulate that many CHUs . . . no mystery here. Nitrogen management also has a huge environmental component. The nitrogen cycle is driven by moisture and temperature, both of which influence mineralization and the level of plant-available nitrogen. These factors influence the timing of nitrate soil sampling and as a result greatly influence the recommended rates of applied nitrogen. Yield potential is also an important factor. Higher yield potential increases the demand for nitrogen. Combining weather data with drone imagery adds in a spatial component that can help assess areas of differing crop growth and nitrogen levels as well as support a variable rate nitrogen application strategy. Plant disease development is another area that is reasonably predictable with a little more field- scouting effort. Most of our fungal diseases (except rust) are endemic in our soils. All that is needed for a Combining weather data with drone imagery adds in a spatial component that can help assess areas of differing crop growth and nitrogen levels. Congratulations, Dale! Better Farming writer Dale Cowan has been awarded the International Certified Crop Adviser’s ADVISER OF THE YEAR award. The award recognizes a certified crop adviser who delivers exceptional customer service, is highly innovative, has shown leadership in their field, and has contributed substantially to the exchange of ideas and the transfer of agronomic knowledge within the industry. Better Farming readers benefit from Dale’s regular advice and insight in his popular YIELD MATTER$ column, and he is expanding his focus in the magazine to include weather analysis. Dale is also a senior agronomist and sales manager with AGRIS and Wanstead. In addition to advising large growers, he mentors 14 CCAs. Well done and congrats, Dale. We salute you on this honour!