41 The Business of Ontario Agriculture Better Farming | October 2024 viability varies with temperature, length of heat, and weed species, but these systems can still leave two to 10 per cent of weed seeds being viable. A survey of fresh dairy manure in New York found an average of 75,000 viable seeds per ton, and a range of 0 to 400,000 seeds. A two per cent survival of 75,000 would leave 1,500 viable seeds remaining per ton. Applied at eight tons per acre, that would increase the weed seedbank by 12,000 seeds per acre. Solution? Constantly watch fields for new weeds. They may come in feed or bedding, from your neighbour, or blowing in on the wind. Reading your soil report Hopefully you have some of your first soil test reports back. You can compare the results to the last report. Some things to take into account … Soil organic matter could change by 0.1 per cent over 10 years. If you see a dramatic rise or drop in the organic matter level, this is not real. They use a sample about the size of a thimble to measure organic matter. Soil pH levels change during the year. If you have a pH level change from 6.9 to 7.2 or from 7.2 to 6.9, this is a normal pH change. But if your soil is testing low enough to require lime, be sure to get lime applied. And the lime has to be worked in. There is research suggesting that if you have been no-tilling for a long time, the biggest pH change will be in the top few inches. Under these circumstances, not working lime in or doing a very shallow incorporation can work. It is hard to get phosphorous and potash levels to move by a large amount. If your phosphorous levels have dropped from high to low 20s, this is not possible by normal crop removal. Either the current test or the previous test was in error. Most labs keep soil samples for a period of time De Dell Seeds The Leaders in Non-GMO Corn De Dell Seeds • 7095 Century Drive • Melbourne, ON • N0L 1T0 P: 519-264-CORN (2676) • F: 519-264-2672 • info@dedellseeds.com • www.dedellseeds.com We are confident you will make MORE PROFIT growing De Dell seed corn. Vince Trudell, President crops: the lynch fileS Soil reports give valuable insight into the condition of your fields.
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