1-866-267-6255 CALL TO ACCESS FREE, UNLIMITED COUNSELLING Stress on the farm Family or relationships Financial pressure Anxiety or depression Managing your workload Substance use Loneliness or isolation Supporting loved ones Processing traumatic events FREE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR ONTARIO FARMERS, FARM WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES FARMERWELLNESSINITIATIVE.CA SCAN THE BAR CODE TO ADD THE LINE TO YOUR CONTACTS 21 Story Idea? Email Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Farming | September 2024 Pre-Harvest Tips also important to remember it travels on roadways as well. “Check your SMV signs on equipment. Are they faded? You need to replace them if they are. Remember, 40 km/h is the speed limit with the SMV sign,” Anderson reminds us. Scouting for pests Scouting fields for pests ahead of harvest time is essential to help you determine any weed issues that need to be addressed, and identify potential problems with crop performance and insect damage. Adam Pfeffer, producer, Certified Crop Advisor, and market development manager with Bayer CropScience says that “farmers should know what is in their fields long before harvest. This allows you to find the right chemistries for your field and crop ahead of time.” Renaud adds, “It is common to do pre-harvest burndowns. We will also take notes when harvesting corn if there are some weed escapes. We will write down the field area and what weeds are presenting. That helps plan for next year’s herbicide program.” Importance of weed control Along with scouting for pests, weed control plays a significant role in determining the success of yield and ensuring harvest runs smoothly. A weed control calendar allows producers to develop a program with proper organization and time management. Putting in the time, effort and resources leads to more desirable soil conditions and less crop interference. Pfeffer advises that “if the necessary weed control hasn’t been applied, the producer can run into several issues. This year especially we have seen lots of Canada thistle and Canada fleabane, among other weeds.” He points out that “you are never going to get your combine through a field of weeds. “Having too many weeds also leads to the depreciation of equipment, increases time spent in the field, the fuel to run the equipment, and ulti-
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