40 The Business of Ontario Agriculture Better Farming | August 2024 tassel has not appeared, here is a practice from Purdue University on how to time spray for corn tasseling: Unroll the whorls of three plants from a typical area of the field. Count the number of leaves tightly covering the tassel. Take this number and multiply by 3, and then add 2. For example, if on July 27 a field has two leaves covering the tassel: 2 x 3 = 6 + 2 = 8 days, or Aug. 4 for corn to tassel. Therefore, schedule the application for ear mould protection between Aug. 4 to 6. This calculation is based on the premise that it takes 60 growing degree days (GDD) to develop a leaf, and an average GDD of 20 per day. Corn rootworm check If you are growing corn after corn, check for corn rootworm. This past season, many insects were an issue, partially due to a mild winter where more than a normal amount of insects survived the winter. This means there may be a significant number of rootworms feeding on corn roots. It is especially important to check for rootworm feeding if you’ve used a genetic resistant hybrid. There are many fields where the genetic resistance is breaking down. Can I no-till alfalfa after wheat harvest? This has been done successfully many times. The target date is Aug. 15 to 20. The most often used drill is a John Deere, but there’s no reason why other makes won’t work. Seeding depth is critical. I have seen where the drill was set one notch deeper and the stand did not catch. You want to seed one-quarter to onehalf inch deep. Check often to be sure. Do not spread solid manure before planting Weed control is a very high priority. For this reason, a burndown (glyphosate) is critical beforehand (like any other crop being no-tilled). Consider HarvXtra alfalfa if the field has a heavy infestation of chickweed. Other winter annuals are easy to control. Some growers use John Deere air seeders and apply a small amount of phosphorus with the seed (40 pounds per acre of MAP or MESZ fertilizer). The rest is broadcasted. If the combine used does not have a chaff spreader, you will likely have to work the field. Finally, here is a short list of other “to do” things: Plan your next two years of crop rotations and decide where you will plant fall wheat. This will help decide on a soybean variety to be planted in spring 2025 on that field. If you’ve finished wheat harvest, go over the combine and get it ready for bean harvest. If no-tilling winter wheat, be sure the combine will chop and spread chaff/soybean straw evenly. Once that’s done, check the drill and get it ready for putting in winter wheat. If the opening blades were barely cutting corn stalks in the spring when drilling beans, they will not be cutting soybean residue. Review this year’s herbicide program to make changes for next year. Record weed escapes and problem weeds by field/farm. I know it may be wishful thinking, but you should start recording what group of herbicides you used on each field/farm. Consider using scouting software that keeps track of your herbicide group used each year on the field/ farm. If you have red clover, consider clipping it as soon as possible after wheat harvest. This will stimulate the red clover to grow and clips the weeds so that red clover will have a better chance. BF crops: the lynch fileS PATRICK LYNCH Patrick writes a weekly crop production newsletter and is a popular speaker at farm meetings. Opinionated, controversial; formerly with OMAFRA and Cargill. CCA-ON.
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